Stephen L. Tompkins

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: TOMPKINS, STEPHENSON, ABRAHAM, BESORE, MOUN

STEPHEN L. TOMPKINS is the owner of a quarter of section 17, Harwood Township, which comprises a body of choice land, and under a good state of cultivation. It was but partly improved when it came into his possession, and he has fitted it up with fences and neat buildings, planted an apple orchard, and also trees of finer fruits, and has in all respects one of the pleasantest homesteads in Harwood Township. He has a splendid assortment of stock and good machinery, all well cared for, and everything about the premises is a credit to the proprietor.

Mr. Tompkins was born in Clermont County, Ohio, April 5, 1845. He is the second child of Nicholas W. and Nackey (STEPHENSON) TOMPKINS, and his father, a native of Ohio, was the son of Jonathan and Rebecca TOMPKINS, who were natives of the same State and born there while it was a Territory. The mother of our subject, also a native of Ohio, was the daughter of Lemuel and Florence (ABRAHAM) STEPHENSON. The former was a native of Delaware and moved to Pennsylvania when a young man, and there married. His wife was a native of that State. After his marriage Nicholas Tompkins located in Clermont County, Ohio, where he had formerly engaged in farming, and took up mercantile pursuits at Point Isabelle, where he remained until the close of his life, Dec. 10, 1867. His widow is still living on the old homestead, at the latter-named place.

The boyhood of our subject was spent in the rural districts and his education secured in the common schools of that period. He had reached his majority at the time of his father's death and was appointed administrator of the estate. He continued with his mother five or six years later, until their property affairs had been adjusted satisfactorily, and then started for the West to seek his fortune. Upon arriving in Central Illinois he purchased eighty acres of partly improved land in Stanton Township, this county, of which he took possession and began its improvement. Two years later he sold out and secured possession of the land embraced in his present homestead.

Mr. Tompkins' marriage with Miss Mary E. BESORE took place at her brother George's residence, in Urbana, Sept. 16, 1875. His wife was the youngest child of John and Mary (MOUN) BESIRE, whose offspring were twelve in number. Her parents spent the earlier part of their lives in the agricultural districts of Western Pennsylvania, where Mr. Besore was recognized as a man of more than ordinary ability and of high Christian character. He and his estimable wife have both passed to their long home. The two eldest children of Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins are Minne May and Edmund Earl. The baby, who has but just learned to know her name, is called Lutie Orvalean.

In regard to political affairs Mr. Tompkins avails himself of the rights of the free American citizen and votes independently, aiming to give his support to the best man. He has steadily declined becoming an office-seeker, although upon various occasions having been elected to discharge the duties of Town Clerk or Treasurer, maintaining that he could serve his fellow-citizens fully as well by his vote and his influence as in the more conspicuous positions in which they would have placed him. In State and National affairs his sympathies are decidedly with the Democratic party. Mrs. Tompkins, a lady of much worth and amiability, is a valued member of the Christian Church.