James A. Thomson (1865 - 1921)

Born 1865 in Middlesex County, Canada West

Ancestors

Husband of Ida Lauterwasser — married 1889 in California, USA

Descendants

Died 19 Jul 1921 at about age 56 in Alameda County, California

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Fred Nix [send private message]

Biography

James is born in 1865, likely in McGillivray Township, Middlesex County, Canada West (north and west of London). His two older siblings had been born in Scarborough Township (now a part of Toronto, Ontario) and there are baptism records for them in St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Bendale, Scarborough. The fact that there is no baptism record for James at St. Andrews suggests the family had moved to McGillivray prior to 1865. The land making up McGillivray had been conveyed to the British Crown in 1825. The Canada Company was formed in London, England in 1824 with the purpose of purchasing crown land in Upper Canada and then selling it to settlers. (Upper Canada becomes Canada West in 1841 which, in turn, becomes Ontario in 1867.) One of the directors was Simon McGillivary, and this is where the township derived its name.

James is the son of Robert William Thomson (1835-1877) and Helen Jane (or Jane Helen) Tindill (1840-1919). His father was born in Scarborough, descended from the brother of the first settler in the township. Both of his paternal grandparents were among the earliest Scottish settlers in Scarborough. His mother was born in England and had come to Canada West with her family in 1850.

James is in the 1871 census records, as a six year old, living with his family in McGillivray Township. His father dies in 1877 and his mother leaves the farm to move into the village of Parkhill. Parkhill is in West Williams Township, about on the border with McGillivray. James is in Parkhill with his mother and five siblings in the 1881 census. He is now 16-years old and he is a blacksmith.

Sometime after 1881 his mother and some of his brothers and sisters move to Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is not known if James went with his family to Winnipeg or whether he stayed behind in Ontario as some of his siblings did. Whatever happened, in 1886 he leaves for the United States. And, in December 1889, he marries Ida Gossman Lauterwasser (1870-1944) in California.

In the US 1900 census, the James and Ida are living in Oakland City – Peralta Precinct. While the precise location of this area is not known, presumably it is near the current Peralta Blvd which, if true, puts it just to the west of the Interstate 580 (MacArthur Freeway). This is a couple of kilometres straight west of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. James is a machinist. They have a nine-year old daughter, Stella. (Stella is also the name of one of Ida’s sisters.) The family is still in Oakland in the 1910 census and their daughter, “Estella,” is now 19 years old.

Stella Theodore Thomson marries Winfield Alexander Benner in the summer of 1910. The newly weds move in with James and Ida – at least they are living with them in the 1920 census. This 1920 census record shows James and Ida living in Berkley (a bit north of where they lived in 1900) and, in addition to their daughter and son-in-law, they have a six-year old grandson living with them.

James dies on July 19, 1921. He was only 56 years old. Ida is a widow in the 1930 census records. She is still living in Oakland. And she is still there in the 1940 census, living by herself at 764 61st Street – about a kilometre south of the University of California, Berkley. She dies in 1944. It is not known where either James or Ida are buried.

James and Ida had one child:

• Stella Theodora Thomson 1891-1963 + (1910) Winfield Alexander Benner 1885-1959

Sources

[1] The 1968 Paterson family tree shows James as the 3rd child of Robert Thomson & Helen Tindall [Tindill]; it shows his spouse as Ida Lanterwasser [correct spelling is “Lauterwasser”]; it shows one child, Stella Thomson + Winfield Benner. And it shows 2 grandchildren and several great grandchildren.

[2] Ian Glendinning’s web site http://www.glendinning.name/ancestry/thomsfam/pafg38.htm#37725 Shows James A. Thomson born in 1865 and dying 19 July 1921. He was born in Ontario, Canada and he died in Alameda, California. He married Isa (sic) Gossman Lauterwasser in Dec 1889 in California. Isa was born 31 May 1871 in California. She died 15 Jan 1944 in Alameda. They had one child: Stella Theodora Thomson 1891-? + Winnfield A. Benner 1885-?

[3] 1871 census, Ontario, Middlesex North, 8, McGillivray, e, pg 16, household 58. Robert Thompson (sic) (36) farmer; Ellen (30) born in England; Elizabeth (10); Agnes (8); James (6); Esther (4). The family is “Scotch” and “Presbyterian.”

[4] 1881 census, Ontario, North Middlesex, Parkhill village, pg 37-38, household 174: Mrs Ellen Thompson (sic)( 40), born England, widow; Elizabeth M. (20), [occupation appears to be “servant”]; Agnes P. (18); James A. (16), blacksmith; George H (12), in school; Esther A. (14), in school; David C. (7), in school; Thomas Hamilton (22), painter, Ch of Eng, Irish All the children were born in Ontario and they are all labelled “Scotch.” The Thompson [Thomson] family’s religion is C. Presb [Canadian Presbyterian].

[5] San Francisco Chronicle, Dec 9, 1889, pg 6 (paraphrase): “Mr. & Mrs C.L. Lauterwasser, 925 Capp Street, wedding of their daughter, Ida Lauterwasser, to James Thomson late of Canada. Their new home is 622 First Street”

[6] "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9PS-GV4 : accessed 05 Nov 2014), James A Thompson, Peralta Precinct Oakland city Ward 1, Alameda, California, United States; citing sheet 5B, family 113, NARA microfilm publication T623, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; FHL microfilm 1240081. The record shows James A. Thompson (sic) (37) living in Oakland, California. It gives his birth date as July 1863 [it was probably 1865] in Canada and it shows his father born in Scotland [he was born in Upper Canada] and his mother born in England. The record indicates that he has been married 10 yrs and that he immigrated in 1886. His occupation is a machinist. It shows his wife as Ida G. Thompson (29) who was born in May 1871 in California. Her father was born in Germany and her mother was born in Pennsylvania. The couple has one daughter, Stella (9) who was born in California in May 1891.

[7] "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MV2C-2R7 : accessed 08 Nov 2014), Jas A Thomson, Berkely, Alameda, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 61, sheet 4B, family 197, NARA microfilm publication T624, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; FHL microfilm 1374085. The record shows Jas A Thomson (45), born in abt 1865 in Canada. He immigrated in 1890. His father was born in Canada; his mother in England. It shows his occupation as a machinist for a railroad company. His wife is Ida Thomson who was born in abt 1872 in California. Her father was born in Germany; her mother in Pennsylvania. They have a daughter, Estella, who is 19 and who was born in California.

[8] http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SFC19100812.2.78.8# San Francisco Call, Volume 108, Number 73, 12 August 1910 “Miss Stella Theodora Thomson has chosen Aug 25 for the date of her marriage to Winfield Benner. It will be in a Methodist Church. The bride elect is the daughter of Mr & Mrs J. A. Thomson of Berkley. Benner is connected in business in Oakland.”

[9] "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MH3D-4Y2 : accessed 08 Nov 2014), James A Thomson, Berkeley, Alameda, California, United States; citing sheet 5B, family 170, NARA microfilm publication T625, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 1820092. The record shows a James A. Thomson (55) in Berkley who was born in abt 1865 in Canada. He owns his own house. He immigrated in 1888. His father was born in Scotland [Canada]; his mother in England. His occupation is a machinist. His wife is Ida G. Thomson (48) who was born in California. They have living with them their married daughter, Stella B. Burner (29), their son-in-law Winfield A. Burner (34) and a grandson James E. Burner (6). [the surname is actually Benner] Winifield was born in 1886 in California; his father was born in Maine; his mother was born in Missouri.

[10] familysearch: California Death Index 1905-1939: James A. Thomson died on 19 July 1921 in Alameda, California. He was 56 years old.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Katharine E for creating WikiTree profile Thomson-2130 through the import of andrew thomson.ged on Jun 7, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Katharine and others.

The current biography was prepared by Fred Paterson Nix in Nov. 2014 (with major up-dates in May 2020)