Samuel E. Thompson

Samuel E. Thompson was born on August 11, 1831, in New Brunswick, Canada.

Samuel was married to New York native Salinda or Calinda (1843-1935), and they had at least four children: Nancy (b. 1860), Hattie B. (1862-1906) and Myrtie E. (1869-1885) and Willard E. (b. 1874).

Samuel left Canada and came to the United States where he met and married Salinda, possibly in New York. In any case he and his wife had settled in western Michigan by 1860 when he was working as a carpenter and living with his wife in Blendon, Ottawa County.

Samuel stood 5’8” with black eyes, brown hair and a light complexion and was a 29-year-old carpenter probably living in Blendon or Holland, Ottawa County when he enlisted in Company I on May 13, 1861. (Company I was made up largely of men from Ottawa County, particularly from the eastern side of the County.)

Samuel was discharged for consumption on August 27, 1861, at Fort Albany, Virginia.

After he was discharged Samuel eventually returned to Michigan settling back in Blendon. He was working as a carpenter and living with his wife and children in Blendon in 1870, but by 1880 he was working as a carpenter and living with his wife and children in Grand Rapids’ Sixth Ward, Kent County. He was back in Blendon in 1888, 1890 and 1894.

Samuel applied for and received a pension (no. 581071).

Samuel died on November 14, 1905, presumably in Blendon, and was buried in Blendon cemetery.

In December of 1905 his widow applied for and received a pension (no. 616322).