[Some secondary sources give our subject first name, "John."  So far, I have found no contemporary or primary records giving him that first name.]

In the 1900 Census, Delilah's son, George, says his mother was born in Virginia.  This location seems highly unlikely given that her father was in the 1790 census of Pendleton Co., SC, and was a taxpayer in Christian Co., KY, by 1797.  In the 1880 census, Delilah's son, John A.C., says his mother was born in KY; and in the 1900 and 1920 censuses, Delilah's daughter, Mary Ann, says her mother was born in KY.  Kentucky seems far more likely to be correct, on several counts.

— born in Boone Co., MO:
  5.  Sarah M. "Sallie" THOMPSON, b. ca. 8 Aug 1819/20/21/22
  6.  John Alexander Campbell THOMPSON, b. 10 Dec 1825 
  7.  Mary Ann THOMPSON, b. 10 Feb 1829
  8.  Thomas B. THOMPSON, b. 1831 

— born in Paris, Monroe Co., MO
  9.  George Washington THOMPSON, b. 30 Oct 1835 
10.  Margaret Frances THOMPSON, b. 1836
11.  William Henry Harrison THOMPSON, b. 20 Nov 1840 
12?  (Son B) THOMPSON, b. 1840-44; d. early 1850, CA
 

Except for the ages and birthplaces of his children as given in the 1850 and later censuses, there is a total void of information on the whereabouts of Thomas THOMPSON between his marriage to Delilah DAVIS in 1815 in Christian/Todd, Co., KY, and his 1821 land patent in Boone Co., MO.   Daughter Sallie's birthplace should help us, but there is a conflict among sources as to her birthyear.  The big question is:  if Thomas was in KY between 1815 and 1821, why does he not appear in the census or on the tax rolls?  One may escape the census — and Thomas's father surely did in 1820 in Todd Co. — but you rarely escape the tax collector, and certainly not for six years.

Another Timeline:  The CLARK/DAVIS/JONES/etc. "Track" from SC/NC/TN > KY

The Connections between Daniel BOONE and Delilah DAVIS. 

The Convoluted Connection between Adam THOMPSON and Thomas THOMPSON. 

These are the photographs/portraits of Thomas THOMPSON both known to be and said to be in existence, as far as I know: 

1)  A photograph of "Mr. and Mrs. Thomas THOMPSON," the origin of which is unknown to me, though it is clearly from a book.  In the photograph, both Thomas and Mildred are elderly and in a seated position, shown from about hip-level upwards.  Thomas appears to be holding his "gold-headed cane," the one mentioned in E.B. Ware's book. 

2)  A photograph of "Thomas THOMPSON and Wife" that is the frontispiece of E.B. Ware's (1916) book on the History of the Disciples of Christ in California.  This is a full figure portrait, with Thomas sitting and his wife, Mildred, standing; both are elderly. 

3)  A group photo of "Pioneer Preachers" in E.B. Ware's book (1916) on the History of the Disciples of Christ in California.  Thomas THOMPSON is seated front row, center, holding a cane. 

4)  There is a photograph of Thomas THOMPSON taken just of his head and shoulders.  He appears to be at his most advanced age with a great shock of white beard and long flowing hair.  The photo appears as the frontispiece of Now and Then, a 1977 book by Norman Warren on the history of the Christian Churches in Stockton, CA. 

5)  There is a photograph of a young man named "THOMPSON" from Jonathan Smith's book, The Campbellite Story (kindly provided by the Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Nashville, TN).   I do not believe it to be a photograph of Thomas THOMPSON, but it may be an image of John THOMPSON, noted figure in the early Campbellite movement. 

6)  My late grandmother, Anna California (ROSE) MATTHIESEN, recalled to us that when she was a girl, she remembered visiting a church where there was a painting of Thomas THOMPSON and his wife, Mildred, prominently displayed.  One reason the visit stuck in her memory was that "quite a fuss" was made over her and her sister, as descendents of this great man.  Amongst Ann's descendants, there seem to be two versions of where and which church this was.  One is that it is/was the Christian Church in Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA, and the other is that it is/was the "Vue du Lac" Christian Church in/near Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Co., CA.  When I get back to California (some day <sigh>), I hope to locate the church and the portrait to take a good photograph of it (assuming I would be allowed to do so), in which case I will make prints available (at cost) to anyone who wants one.  If you are in California and can beat me to it, please feel free to do so!

1.  Family Group Sheet compiled by Georgie TOLLESON, Betty Ann (MATTHIESEN) COGLIATI, and Maude Irene (THOMPSON) ROSE, granddaughter of Thomas THOMPSON.

1a.  Marriage Bond of Thomas THOMPSON & Delilah DAVIS. 

1b.  Marriage License and Minister's Return of Thomas THOMPSON & Delilah DAVIS. 

1c.  D.L. Murray & N.R. Murray.  1995.  Marriage Index: IL, IN, KY, OH, TN, 1720-1926.  (Broderbund CD-2):

Thompson, Thomas

Davis, Deliah

11 Dec 1815

KY

Christian Co.

1d.  Jordan R. Dodd, ed.  1993.  Kentucky Marriages: Early to 1850.  Liahona Research, Orem, UT (Broderbund CD-229):

Thompson, Thomas

Davis, Delilah

21 Dec 1815

Christian Co.

1e.  Christian County, KY.  Marriage Bonds 1-A, 1797-1817, White.  LDS Film No. 0465562 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen).  On p. 168:

Thompson, Thomas & Delilah Davis

11 Dec 1815

21 Dec 1815

Finis Ewing

Finis EWING is the preacher who married them (see link to minister's return, above).

1f.  Elizabeth Prather Ellsberry.  [nd]  Marriage Records of Christian County, Kentucky, 1795-1825.  Typescript (LDS Film No. 0908037, Item #6).  On p. 57:

Thompson, Thomas to Deliah Davis

11 Dec 1815

Henry C. Davis

Henry Clark DAVIS is Delilah's brother.  Based on the marriage bond itself (see link above), Henry and Thomas, together, posted bond.

1g.  Jordan R. Dodd, ed.  1993.  Missouri Marriages:  Early to 1850.  Liahona Research, Orem, UT (Broderbund CD-227):

Thompson, Thomas	Jones, Susunnah	19 Feb 1845	Monroe Co.
Thompson, Thomas	Lane, Milley	31 Aug 1847	Boone Co.

2.  1820 U.S. Census Index (online at GenealogyLibrary.com):  not found in Christian or Todd Co., KY, but neither was Thomas's father, Peter THOMPSON, and we know Peter was there because he shows up on the tax rolls from 1799 to 1826.  Thomas never shows up on the tax rolls of Christian or Todd Co., though the 1818 tax roll of Christian Co. is missing and the 1820 and 1821 tax rolls of Todd Co. are unreadable.  Missouri did not become a state until 1821, so there was no 1820 Census in Missouri.

3.  Family Quest Archives:  Missouri Federal Census 1830.  Heritage Quest CD M19-72 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):¤

1830

MO

Boone Co.

Columbia Twp.

pp. 93A-93B

Ln. 5

Thomas Thompson

121 010 010 - 101 021 000

3010-010

These data indicate:

No. & Sex	Age Class	Therefore Born	Individuals Inferred
1 male	4 or under	1825-1830	= John A.C. (b. 1830)
2 males	5-9	1820-1825	= James Henry (b. 1820/1) = Son A
1 male	10-14	1815-1820	= Isaac (b. 1817)
1 male	20-29	1800-1810	= ?
0 males	30-30	1790-1800	= Thomas (b. 1797)
1 male	50-59	1770-1780	= ?
1 female	4 or under	1825-1830	= Mary Ann (b. 1829)
1 female	10-14	1815-1820	= Sarah (b. 1819)
2 females	20-29	1800-1810	= ? = ?
1 female	30-39	1790-1800	= Delilah
3 male slaves	9 or under	1820-1830	= names unknown
1 male slave	24-35	1794-1805	= name unknown
1 female slave	10-23	1806-1820	= name unknown

This record raises some questions.  You hate to attribute everything to enumerator error, but they certainly made them.  Then again, it's more the rule than the exception for a household to contain individuals who were not part of the nuclear family, and this is especially true in the household of a clergyman because they, more than anyone else, are likely to take in non-family members.  So, despite being tallied in the wrong age class, it's difficult to believe this is not our subject because 1) he is supposed to be in Boone Co. at this time; 2) this household is just 16 lines from widow Mildred (CAVE) WESTERFIELD (Thomas's future third wife) and Henry CAVE (Mildred's father) and 3) some enumerators really were careless.  The two older girls cannot be their daughters.  They are the right age to be Thomas's or Delilah's siblings.  Are these two of their unwed sisters?  There is no other Thomas THOMPSON indexed in Missouri. 

4.  1840 U.S. Census Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #1 of 2; official enumeration began 1 Jun 1840; extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):

1840

MO

Livingston [then Grundy, now Mercer] Co.

Washington Twp.

Roll 225

p. 262

Thomas Thompson

002 100 100 - 101 001 100

These data indicate:

No. & Sex	Age Class	Therefore Born	Individuals Inferred
2 males	10-14	1825-1830	= John A.C. (b. 1830) =
1 male	15-19	1820-1825	= James Henry (b. 1820/1)
1 male	40-49	1790-1800	= Thomas (b. 1797)
1 female	4 or under	1835-1840	= Frances (b. 1836)
1 female	10-14	1825-1830	= Mary Ann (b. 1829)
1 female	30-39	1800-1810	= ?
1 female	40-49	1790-1800	= Delilah

Listed two households from daughter Sarah (THOMPSON) REED.  There were only 31 households in all of Washington Twp.  There was one other THOMPSON in the township:  Patrick (age 20-30), with a wife and two children. 

5a.  1850 U.S. mCensus Index/Microfilm (online at GenealogyLibrary.com).  The index on the CD says "Union Town," but the location field on pages 378A to 382A is blank.  The entries for Union Town end on p. 377B; the entries for "South Fork of the American River" begin on p. 382B, and every page before and after is labeled with the location.  The record (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen) reads:  El Dorado Co., CA, p. 378A, 6/6, enumerated 24 Oct 1850.

Thomas Thompson	48	M	Hotel	4200	Ky
Mildred    "	43	F			"
Isaac D    "	33	M	Physician		"
Mary A     "	21	F		150	Mo
Thos  B    "	19	M	None		"
Geo        "	16	M	Laborer		"
Francis F  "	14	F			"
Wm H H     "	10	M			"
Allen W    "	5	M			"
Marcus L Cave	23	M	Miner		"
Wm W Cave	25	M	"		"
John Delzith?	30	M	Clerk		Scotland
Jas McCann	36	M	Miner		Mo?
Chas W Wills	19	M	"		Mo
Elijah A Wills	24	M	Physician		Ky
Richard Redmond	23	M	Miner		Mo
Ben A Woodworth	42	M	"		Nova Scotia

Thomas should be 53 years old and Mildred should be 52.  Mary Ann (THOMPSON) ERVIN/IRVIN is a widow at this point.  Where is her daughter, Delilah?  And why is she not called Mary IRVIN?  The two young CAVE men (sorry, couldn't resist) are the right age to be Mildred's nephews.

5b.  1850 Tax Assessment, El Dorado Co., CA (image courtesy of Carol Mahoney):  Thomas THOMPSON is listed along with his son, Thomas B. THOMPSON.  Their location is given as "Union Town," which clears up the uncertainty of his location in 1850.

6.  1852 California State Census Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #9 of 147):  Santa Clara Co., CA, Roll #5, p. 9, enumerated 13 Oct 1852 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):

1852:  for an explanation of the column headings, please see What the Numbers in the Federal Census Mean (missing columns contained no data.).
Ln	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
35	Thomas Thompson	70	M	White	Farmer	Kentucky	Missouri	/		/
36	Amelia Thompson	50	F	do	"	do	do		/
37	Thomas B Thompson	22	M	do	"	Misssouri	do	/		/
38	Daniel B Thompson	16	M	do	"	do	do	/
39	William H H Thompson	12	M	do	"	do	do	/
40	Allen W Thompson	6	M	do	"	do	do	/
41	Sarah Ann	14	F	Mulatto	"	do	do		/
42	Jane	10	F	do	"	do	do		/

Is Amelia actually Mildred?  If not, who is she and where's Mildred?  Who is Daniel?  Could the girls be some of the THAXTON slaves?

7.  1860 Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #290-291 of 303):  Santa Clara P.O., Santa Clara Twp., Santa Clara Co., CA, Roll M653_65, pp. 512-513, PN 290-291, enumerated 8 Aug 1860, official enumeration date 1 Jun 1860 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):

2324	364	Thos Thompson	62	M		Christian Clergyman		2500	Ky
		Mildred B  "	62	F					"
		W H        "	18	M		farm laborer			Mo
		Ellen W    "	14	F					"
	365	Thos H Lane	27	M		Lawyer			Mo
		Lucy    "	19	F					"
	366	James Anderson	33	M		farm laborer			Ind
		Margaret F  "	23	F					Mo
		Vencent     "	7	M					Cal
		John        "	5	M					Cal
[next page]
		Mary Anderson	1	F					Cal
		Marcus L Cave	30	M		farm laborer			Mo

"Ellen" has to be son "Allen."  Thomas Henry LAINE is Thomas's step-son, the son of Willis & Mildred Bell (CAVE) LAINE; Lucy is his wife.  James ANDERSON is the husband of Margaret Frances THOMPSON, Thomas's daughter.  Listed next to William CAVE (æ 33, b. MO), who is next to William C. JONES (æ 53, b. KY, wife Margaret).

8.  1870 Census Every-Name-Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com, Image #54 of 88):  San Jose P.O., Santa Clara Twp., Santa Clara Co., CA, Roll M593_88, p. 161B, PN 54, 452/423, enumerated 20 Jun 1870, official enumeration date 1 Jun 1870 (extracted by Diana Gale Matthiesen):

Thompson Thomas	73	M	W	Farmer	15000	700	Kentucky
________ Mildred	73	F	W	Keeping House			Kentucky
________ Thomas B	39	M	W	Farm laborer			Missouri
________ William H	30	M	W	Farm laborer			Missouri
________ Allen W	24	M	W	Farm laborer			Missouri
________ Susan	15	F	W				California
________ Sunola	11	F	W				California

Susan and Sunola appear to be the children of Thomas B. THOMPSON, whose wife has apparently died. 

9.  Transcription of the Will of Thomas and Mildred THOMPSON. 

10.  Anon.  1993.  Christian County, Kentucky, Wills and Estates, 1815-1823:  Christian County Will Book C.  T.L.C. Genealogy, Miami Beach, FL.

p. 9	Page 34.  Acct of sale of the personal estate of John McFarland, decd.  Purchasers ... Thomas Thompson ... Recorded Jan Term 1816.
p. 66	Page 248.  Inventory of the sale of the personal estate of John Roberts deceased.  Purchasers ... Thomas Thompson .. Recorded Aug Term 1819.

One or both of these records could apply to the other Thomas THOMPSON in Christian County at this time. 

11.  Diagrammatic Representation of Boone County, Missouri, Land Patent Plat Maps (proximate source:  photocopies courtesy of Betty Ann (Matthiesen) Cogliati; ultimate source:  presumably the book of Original Land Patents kept by the Boone County Recorder of Deeds, as mentioned in the next source). 

13 Sep 1821	Thomas Thompson	80 a	E½	NE¼	S17.T48N.R13W
13 Nov 1824	Thomas Thompson	160 a		NE¼	S18.T50N.R11W
7 May 1831	Thomas Thompson	80 a	W½	NE¼	S25.T51N.R13W

12.  Nadine Hodges, Mrs. John vineyard, & Mrs. Howard W. Woodruff.  1968.  Missouri Pioneers: County and Genealogical Records.  Vol. 2.  Self-published, Kansas City, MO.  Sadly, compilers did not consistently or completely label each list of names; I had to make some deductions based on the contents of the lists.

p. 17	BOONE COUNTY - ORIGINAL LAND PATENTS This book, un-numbered and with no identifying letter, is kept in the vault in the office of Recorder of Deeds.  This is a large book of plats...  The compiler's aim was primarily to present as many early land patents as possible, from the earliest until about 1833...
p. 18	PLAT 5	[TOWNSHIP 50 N - R 11 W]	Isaac Davis	1824
			Thomas Thompson	1824
p. 21		TOWNSHIP 48 N [- R 13 W]	[Thomas Thompson]	[1821]
p. 24	PLAT 13	TOWNSHIP 51 N - R 13 [W]	Benjamin Davis	1824
			James Davis	1827
			Thomas Thompson	1833

Because of the limitation set by the compilers as to date, their indices of these plats name only a fraction of the patent-holders for each plat — although, even (or especially) with the date limitation, they should not have missed Thomas in T48N.R13W.

13.  According to the Bureau of Land Management online Land Patent database, a Thomas THOMPSON received the following Land Patents in Missouri.

To Thomas Thompson "of Boone County" at the Franklin Land Office:
08 Jun 1833	No. 04562	W½	NE¼	S25.T51N.R13W	82.75 a	Boone Co.
To Thomas Thompson "of Boone County" at the Palmyra Land Office:
14 Nov 1833	No. 03536	E½	NE¼	S19.T54N.R11W	80 a	Monroe Co.
	No. 03537	W½	SW¼	S20.T54N.R11W	80 a	Monroe Co.
To Thomas Thompson "of Monroe County" at the Palmyra Land Office:
15 Oct 1834	No. 03766	W½	NE¼	S19.T54N.R11W	80 a	Monroe Co.
13 Oct 1835	No. 04299	E½	SE¼	S20.T54N.R11W	80 a	Monroe Co.
	No. 04300	E½	NW¼	S27.T54N.R11W	80 a	Monroe Co.
21 Oct 1835	No. 06580	W½	SW¼	S22.T54N.R11W	80 a	Monroe Co.
01 Aug 1838	No. 14686	E½	NE¼	S21.T54N.R11W	80 a	Monroe Co.
		W½	SE¼	S21.T54N.R11W	80 a	Monroe Co.
01 Sep 1838	No. 13044	NE¼	SE¼	S21.T54N.R11W	40 a	Monroe Co.
01 Apr 1839	No. 17412	E½	NW¼	S22.T54N.R11W	80 a	Monroe Co.
	No. 18668	E½	SW¼	S9.T53N.R13W	80 a	Randolph Co.
	No. 18669	W½	SE¼	S9.T53N.R13W	80 a	Randolph Co.
To Thomas Thompson "of Livingston County" at the Lexington Land Office:
01 May 1843	No. 17034	W½	SE¼	S18.T63N.R24W	80 a	Grundy Co.
	No. 17035	E½	SE¼	S17.T63N.R24W	80 a	Grundy Co.
	No. 17036		SW¼	S18.T63N.R24W	80 a	Grundy Co.
	No. 17037	W½	NE¼	S19.T63N.R24W	80 a	Grundy Co.
	No. 17076		SE¼	S20.T64N.R24W	160 a	Mercer Co.
	No. 17986	W½	NE¼	S20.T63N.R24W	80 a	Grundy Co.

The county names given in the rightmost column above, after the number of acres, must have been added later, probably when the database was computerized, because the only county name indicated on the original certificates is the county of residence of the purchaser; the location of the land is given only in Aliquot, Section, Township, and Range. 

14.  Diagrammatic Map of the Missouri Land Patents Procured by Thomas THOMPSON. 

15a.  Monroe Co., MO.  Deed Book C, 1837-1838 (data extracted by Phyllis Houlding).  On p. 514:

On 9 Mar 1837 Thomas Thompson and Delilah, his wife, sold, for $3000 paid in cash, to Joseph Forman and John W. Boil, both of Monroe Co., a tract of land containing 400 acres, more or less, in the district of Palmyra.  The tract is described as:    E½ of NE¼, of S21.T54N.R11  W½ of SE¼, of S21.T54N.R11 NE¼ of SE¼, of S21.T54N.R11 and E½ of NW¼, of S22.T54N.R11 W½ of SW¼, of S22.R54N.R11 and SW¼ of NW¼, of S22.R54N.R11 The above was prepared by Samuel Curtright, Justice of the Peace.  Delila signed with an "X"...  The transaction was recorded on 19 Mar 1838 by Tho. S. Miller, Recorder for Monroe Co.

The color-codes match the previous table (Source 12, above) showing land patents of Thomas THOMPSON.  The sale of a parcel not in the table of patents (not colored here) means either the original patent record is missing from the BLM database or, much more likely, that Thomas bought a parcel of land that had already been patented by someone else.

15b.  Monroe Co., MO.  Deed Book D, 1838-1839 (data extracted by Phyllis Houlding).  On pp. 145-146:

On 30 Mar 1838 Thomas Thompson and Delilah, his wife, sold, for $2500 paid in cash, to Harden Yates of Monroe Co., a tract of land containing 240 acres.  The tract is described as:   SW¼ of S16.T54N.R11 and E½ NE¼ of S20.T54N.R11 The same Justice and Recorder prepared this sale.  It was filed 25 Oct 1838.

16.  The 1867 Great Register (of voters).  Extracted 21 Oct 1998 by A. Robert Matthiesen at the San Jose Historical Museum, Pacific Hotel Bldg., Senter Rd., San Jose, CA.

Name	Age	Born	Occupation	Residence	Registered
Thomas THOMPSON	68	KY	Farmer	Town of Santa Clara	1866

Also in register:  son, William Henry Harrison THOMPSON.

1.  T.M. Allen.  1843.  "News from the Churches:  Letter(s) from T.M. Allen."  The Christian Messenger 13(2): 62-63; 13(3): 94-95 [photocopies courtesy of Betty Ann (Matthiesen) Cogliati].  Mention of Thomas THOMPSON and three other family members who were Disciples preachers (viz., Winthrop Hartly HOPSON, William REID, Jr., and Elijah English CHRISMAN). 

2.  T.M. Allen.  1843.  "Religious News:  Letter from T.M. Allen."  The Christian Messenger 13(4): 127-128 [photocopy of p. 128 only, courtesey of Betty Ann (Matthiesen) Cogliati]:

...I received a letter from bro. T. Thompson a few days ago, dated Grundy Co. Mo. July 27, '43, in which he says, "Bro. Jno. Allen and myself commenced our evangelizing operations up here about the 1st of June; up to this time there have been 60 baptized, and 40 added by letter: of the above number there were 5 from the Baptists and 10 from the Methodists.  The good cause is going ahead in our State. [no end quote, but it's the end of letter]

3.  Anon.  24 Apr 1850 (Wednesday).  The Paris Mercury, Paris, Missouri (courtesy of Carol Mahoney):

A number of letters from California were received at this place by Monday evening's mail... We also learn that a son of Elder Thomas Thompson died recently in that country...

This son cannot be Isaac because Isaac died in 1856 in Missouri.  He cannot be James Henry because James was alive and enumerated in the Missouri Census on 5 Aug 1850 — though dead before 1860 because his wife shows up a widow, still in Missouri, in 1860.  This son had to be an unmarried youth without issue because Thomas's will of 1871 mentions only two deceased sons with heirs, and those had to be the children of the deceased Isaac and James. 

4.  W.W. Stevenson.  1852.  [Letter to Alexander Campbell, ed.]  The Millennial Harbinger, p. 536 (photocopy courtesy of Betty Ann (Matthiesen) Cogliati). 

5.  T. Thompson.  1863.  "Obituary Notices: Solomon Rogers."  The Millennial Harbinger 6(10): 479-480 [photocopy courtesy of Betty Ann (Matthiesen) Cogliati. 

4a.  Thomas Thompson.  1871 (January).  [Letter to Bro. Johnston, ed.]  The Bible Expositor 1(1): 38 (microfilm courtesy of Abilene Christian College, TX; photocopy courtesy of Dr. James V. Spickard, University of Redlands, CA). 

4b.  T. Thompson.  1871 (April).  "What Think Ye of Christ? — Whose Son is He?"  The Bible Expositor 1(6): 140-141 (microfilm courtesy of Abilene Christian College, TX; photocopy courtesy of Dr. James V. Spickard, University of Redlands, CA). 

4c.  Martin Peterson.  1871 (July).  [Letter to Bro. Johnston, ed.]  The Bible Expositor 1(7): 268-270 (microfilm courtesy of Abilene Christian College, TX; photocopy courtesy of Dr. James V. Spickard, University of Redlands, CA). 

4d.  T. Thompson.  1871 (August).  [Letter to Bro. Johnston, ed.]  The Bible Expositor  1(8): 313-314 (microfilm courtesy of Abilene Christian College, TX; photocopy courtesy of Dr. James V. Spickard, University of Redlands, CA). 

4e.  J.M. Case & Thomas Thompson.  1871 (September).  "California Annual State Meeting of the Christian Church."  The Bible Expositor 1(9): 353-354 (photocopy courtesy of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA). 

4f.  T. Thompson.  1871 (September).  [Letter to Bro. Johnston, ed.] The Bible Expositor  1(9): 357 (photocopy courtesy of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA). 

5.  William F. Switzler.  1882.  History of Boone County, Missouri.  Western Historical Co., St. Louis, MO.  An excerpt on the Red Top Christian Church mentions Thomas THOMPSON and his father-in-law, Isaac DAVIS, as early pastors of the church.  Note that Thomas McBRIDE was a founding Elder of the Red Top Church, in 1822.  According to Alley (1952), McBRIDE was responsible for Thomas's "conversion" to Christianity.  However Ware (1816) tells us Thomas THOMPSON was first a Baptist and was then converted to Restoration views by McBRIDE.  This latter view is confirmed by Rushford (1980-Part 1) showing, in a letter by Thomas himself, that he, like Alexander CAMPBELL, was initially a Baptist, and that, in 1824, it was Thomas McBRIDE who introduced him to the writings of Alexander CAMPBELL.  By 1825, Thomas THOMPSON was fully won over and in communication with CAMPBELL. 

6.  T.P. Haley.  1888.  Historical and Biographical Sketches of the Early Churches and Pioneer Preachers of the Christian Church in Missouri.  Christian Publ. Co., St. Louis, MO.  Excerpt:   "Elder Thomas Thompson."  (Photocopy courtesy of Disciples of Christ Historical Society, Nashville, TN.) 

7.  Anon.  [c1911]  "Death Notices:  Mary A. Thompson Spickard."  Grundy County Gazette, Grundy Co., MO.  This obituary appears to be the source for Delilah's burial on the Austin Farm in Grundy Co., MO. 

8.  Anon.  4 Nov 1913.  "The Church of Christ in Santa Clara, California." Santa Clara News, Santa Clara, CA (photocopy courtesy of A. Robert Matthiesen). 

9.  E.B. Ware.  1916.  History of the Disciples of Christ in California.  Healdsburg, CA (book inherited from Betty Ann (Matthiesen) Cogliati).  Excerpt under the heading:  "Pioneer Preachers:  Thomas Thompson and J.P. McCorkle." 

10.  Winfred Ernest Garrison.  1931.  Religion Follows the Frontier: a History of the Disciples of Christ.  Harper, New York (photocopy courtesy of the California State Library via Betty Ann (Matthiesen) Cogliati).

p. 216

EMERGING FROM THE PIONEER STAGE... CALIFORNIA Since the purpose of these sketches is not to present a complete series of abbreviated state histories, but rather to illustrate the way in which the advance of the Disciples followed the westward course of the general population

p. 217

movement, it will be sufficient to pass as hastily as possible across the mountain country, as the 'forty-niners themselves did, and come to California.  Within two years after the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill there were two congregations in California, one at Stockton and one at Santa Clara.  These were the product of the work of Thomas Thompson, the first Disciple preacher in the state.  He looked like Horace Greeley, and had money enough to evangelize at his own expense and religious zeal enough to devote his time to that work even when everyone else was in a fever of eagerness to find gold.  The first state meeting of which there is definite record was held in Vaca Valley, in October, 1856, though there are references to an earlier one at Stockton.  The state meeting became annual camp meetings, the first of which was held at Yountville in 1858.  This grew into the assembly at Santa Cruz with its permanent camp-ground upon which the northern California convention is still held.

11.  Benjamin Smith.  c1941.  The March of the Years, 1851-1941.  Mentions Thomas THOMPSON, as quoted by Warren (1977, see below).  Benjamin SMITH (1877-1971) seems to have been a Disciples preacher/writer because he has a biographical folder at the Disciples of Christ Historical Society.  It may be worth tracking down his writings to see if there is futher mention of Thomas.

12.  Anon.  1947 (June).  "Protestant Beginnings in California." California Historical Quarterly 26(2): 170 (courtesy of Carol Mahoney):

September 1849 Elder Thomas Thompson, a preacher of the Disciples of Christ, located at Gold Run in Placer County after his overland trip.

13.  Walter C. Allen.  1948.  The Society of California Pioneers:  Centennial Roster, Commemorative Edition.  Society of California Pioneers, San Francisco, CA.  See this page, in which Thomas H. LAINE gives the arrival date of their wagon train in California as 20 Sep 1849. 

14.  James Matthew Alley.  1952.  "California's First Restoration Preacher."  Christian Standard  J1: 469-470 (photocopy courtesy of Betty Ann (Matthiesen) Cogliati; used by permission of Standard Publishing, Cincinnati, OH). 

15.  Clifford Adair Cole.  c1959.  The Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) of Southern California:  a History.  Christian Board of Publication, St. Louis, MO.  Excerpt mentioning Thomas THOMPSON under the heading, "The Disciples of Christ in Northern California" (transcription courtesy of Carol Mahoney). 

16.  Norman La Grand Warren.  1977.  Now and Then:  an Historical Study of the Times and Events of the Stockton, California, Churches of Christ arranged in a Chronological Order.  Pioneer Publ. Co., Fresno, CA.  Frontispiece and excerpt. 

17.  Jerry Rushford.  1980.  "A Pioneer Preacher in California," published in four parts in Firm Foundation (photocopies courtesy of Betty Ann (Matthiesen) Cogliati; used with permission). 

18  James E. Smith, Jr.  2 Dec 1992.  A Brief History of First Christian Church, Columbia, Missouri.  Online at the web site of the First Christian Church of Columbia, MO.  Brief mention of Thomas THOMPSON:

The Red Top Christian Church had been organized at Hallsville October 5, 1822 (the first in Boone County), and Bear Creek Christian Church, three miles north of Columbia, had been organized June 6, 1824.  It was from Bear Creek that several members came to Columbia to establish a church in 1832.  On August 17, 1836, this congregation purchased a lot on the west side of Seventh Street on which a building was built facing the Court House.  During this time services were held in the Court House and other accommodations. Prior to, and after this time, many noted evangelists and early pioneers of the Christian faith had visited and preached in the Columbia area.  Among these were Joel H. Haden, Thomas Thompson, Alexander Campbell and his father Thomas, and Barton W. Stone.  All of these are, or should be, familiar names to members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

19.  Livingston County History:  Celebrating 150 Years, 1821-1981.  Published by The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (online at the Livingston County Library [Chillicothe, MO] web site):

CHURCHES... FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH The First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Chillicothe, Missouri was organized November 7, 1844, by Reverend J. S. Allen and the Reverend Thomas Thompson.  The organization took place in the old brick court house, built in 1840, and located in the center of where the square is today. The church met there until 1856 when the first building was erected at the southwest corner of Clay and Washington streets...

20.  Anon.  Saturday, 11 May 1872.  "Religious Intelligence." Daily Evening Bulletin (San Francisco, CA), n.p.  (online at Nineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers, via NEHGS):

Eld. Thomas Thompson, of the "Disciples," died in Santa Clara, April 21st, aged 74 years.

A.  Secondary sources universally have Thomas THOMPSON born in Christian [now Todd] Co., KY; however, the facts do not support his birth there:

1792, Kentucky achieved statehood and Logan Co. was formed from Lincoln Co. 1797, Christian Co. formed from Logan Co. [legislatively created 1796; locally organized 1797] 1820, Todd Co. formed from Logan and Christian Cos. [legislatively created 1819; locally organized 1820]

Peter THOMPSON does not appear on any extant tax roll in any county in Kentucky until he appears on the Christian Co. tax rolls in 1799.  There is no reason to doubt Thomas THOMPSON's birth date of 7 Jul 1797; and in the 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses, Thomas consistently gives his birthplace as Kentucky (as do his children in later censuses).  It appears Peter was in Kentucky by 1797, but not in Christian County until 1799.

B.  It has been said that William and Frances Jackson (MILLS) THOMPSON of Virginia are the parents of John Thomas THOMPSON, who is our Thomas THOMPSON.  I discuss that impossibility on their family group sheet. 

C.  Thomas THOMPSON is said to have written an "autobiographical sketch" that was published in The Bible Expositor, a monthly magazine for members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  The editor/publisher was Alexander JOHNSTON, Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co., CA (printed in San Francisco by "Jos. Winterburn & Co., Printers and Electrotypers").  My understanding is that the magazine was published for only four years, from 1871 to 1874 (monthly).  Given that Thomas THOMPSON died in April of 1872, we would expect an autobiography to appear in 1871 or 1872 (Vols. 1 or 2).  This publication is extremely difficult to find, but Karen Ferraro and Carol Mahony managed to locate a microfilm of Vol. 1 (1871) at Abilene Christian College in Abilene, TX.  Dr. James V. Spickard (University of Redlands) was able to borrow the film on interlibrary loan and check it for mention of or writtings by Thomas THOMPSON (these items have been transcribed and links to the transcriptions are in the Sources above).  Vol. 1 did not contain the hoped-for autobiography. We still desperately need to find Vol. 2 (1872) of The Bible Expositor.  It is possible that further issues might be located by writing every Christian/Disciples Church in northern California (or a wider geographic area if necessary), asking if they have the publication in their church library.  It's on my "to do" list, but feel free to beat me to it!

D.  In the LDS  International Genealogical Index (online), there is a Thomas THOMPSON born 1797 in Fleming Co., KY, son of Lawrence and Mary THOMPSON.  He is not our Thomas THOMPSON.  The one in Fleming Co. was still there in the 1830, 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses.  In the 1850 Census of Fleming Co., this Thomas THOMPSON is 53 years old, so there is little doubt that he is the same Thomas THOMPSON who was born there in 1797.