Julia Thompson, the only child of Ella (Dillon) and Daniel W Thompson, was born 13 May 1901 in Bloomington, Illinois.
1910 Census for Randolph Twp, McLean Co, IL May 2, 1910Daniel W Thompson, head of household, age 42, married 10 yrs, born in IL, parents born in OH, Farmer
Ella D Thompson, wife, age 38, married 10 yrs, 1 child born and surviving, born in IL, parents born in IN, teacher, rural school
Julia M Thompson, daughter, age 8, born in IL, parents born in IL
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from Julia's typed Remembrances:
"Dr. Frederick Allen Dillon was appointed as a Government Physician to the Indians in Territorial New Mexico. His designated area covered the Indian villages of Laguna, in which he was based, Acoma, Paquate, Mesita, Casa Blanca and Pareje. There were numerous Mexican villages and outlying settlements which, while not included in his territory, were, nevertheless, served by him.
. . . I lived in Laguna [New Mexico], in the white village. In 1911 the white school in Laguna was without a teacher. With the backing of Mr. Marmon, and others of the village, Dr. Fred [Dillon] sent for his sister, Mrs. Ella D. Thompson, a teacher in Illinois, to come. Mrs. Thompson was my Mother, and it was with a great deal of anticipation that I, a child of ten, accompanied her to what was truly, for me, "The Land of Enchantment".
[many thanks to Susan Patterson for sharing Julia's Remembrances with me.]
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In 1920 Federal Census, Julia and her mother were enumerated in Champaign, Champaign Co, Illinois living at 203 West Church Street.
Ella B Thompson, , boarder, age 47, married, born in IL, parents born in IN, teacher in public work
Julia M Thompson, boarder, age 18, single, born in IL, father born in Iowa, mother born in IL
I haven't located Julia's father, Daniel W. Thompson in the 1920 Federal Census. I assume that he was living in McLean Co, Illinois on his farm.
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| Edmund, Goldie, Myra, Julia, Leroy, Luella, Blanche Lanewood Probably Edgar Co, Illinois Possibly early-mid 1920s |
After teaching school in McLean, Illinois, Julia must have returned to New Mexico about 1925-26. In Clovis, where two of her uncles were living, Julia Thompson was an English teacher at the high school.
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| Evening News Journal Clovis, New Mexico Tuesday, April 30, 1929 Front Page, Column 2 [Source: Newspaper Archive] |
The first amateur radiogram to come to Clovis was received by Miss Julia Thompson, English teacher in the Clovis high school, Monday night when Elgie Nettles, 517 Axtell, delivered a message
from Wilbur Craig, McLean, Ill., a former teacher of the Illinois boy.
Young Nettles, 14 years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Nettles, operates a home-made sending and receiving set. For the past two years he has operated his private radio station under federal permit and has carried on conversation with other operators in various sections of the United States, but this is the first instance where the rather personal touch has been added.
The conversation with the young operator in Illinois resulted after Nettles had answered his signal. The usual time of day was passed and Craig asked if there was a teacher by the name of
Thompson in Clovis schools. Informed that Miss Julia Thompson was the English teacher here, Craig asked Nettles if he knew her. “I used to go to school to her,” he told Nettles. Nettles replied that
she lived just across the street from his home, took the message from her old pupil and delivered it.
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| Clovis News-Journal Clovis, New Mexico March 12, 1972 Page 76 [Source: NewspaperArchive] |
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Julia Thompson married Vernon L Strange on 21 June1929 in Champaign, Champaign Co, Illinois.
Julia Thompson married Vernon L Strange on 21 June1929 in Champaign, Champaign Co, Illinois.
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| Evening News Journal Clovis, New Mexico Monday, June 24, 1929 Front Page [Source: Newspaper Archive] |
Married in Illinois Saturday
Prof. V. L. Strange and Miss Julia Thompson were married in Champaign, Ill., last Saturday, according to announcements received here today. Both were members of Clovis high school faculty last year. They will return in September.
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Evening News Journal Clovis, New Mexico Monday, June 24, 1929 Page 3, Column 1 [Source: Newspaper Archive] |
Announcement has been received of the marriage of Vernon L. Strange and Miss Julia Thompson, at the home of the bride, in Champaign, Ill., Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Strange has been head of the Commercial department in the Clovis high school for the past five years, and plans to return this year.
Miss Thompson, niece of Drs. A. L. and F. A. Dillon, also, was a member of the Clovis Hi faculty, having charge of the English department, and Athletics for the past two years.
I haven't found Julia in the 1930 Federal Census. I believe she should have been living in Clovis with her husband Vernon L Strange. Julia's mother, Ella D. Thompson, was enumerated in Champaign, Champaign Co, Illinois at 203 W Church as head of the household with 15 roomers, rents her house for $35.00, age 58, married 28 yrs, born in Illinois, parents born in Indiana, and is a Teacher in Public Schools. Once again, I can't find Daniel W. Thompson enumerated. [Daniel W. Thompson died April 18, 1941 in Bloomington, Illinois.]
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| Evening News Journal Clovis, New Mexico Friday, July 26, 1940 Page 2 [Source: NewspaperArchive] |
Mrs. Ella D. Thompson and Mrs. Vernon Strange of Houston arrived in Clovis over the weekend to visit in the homes of Dr. and Mrs. Fred Dillon and Dr. and Mrs. A.L. Dillon. Mrs. Thompson is the sister of the Doctors Dillon. This week, Mrs. Strange is touring the western part of the state with friends from Lubbock. She will return to Clovis the last of the week. |
| Clovis News-Journal, New Mexico Tuesday, August 13, 1940, p.2 [Source: NewspaperArchive] |
Dr. and Mrs. J.C. Dillon and Mrs. A.L. Dillon have returned home from Ruidoso after a short stay.
Mrs. Vernon Strange and Mrs. Ella D. Thompson, who have been visiting in the homes of the Doctors Dillon, have taken a cottage at Ruidoso for several weeks. Guests at the cottage this week are Misses Julia and Eva Ann Dillon, Betty Lou Sanders and Robert Dillon.
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| Evening News Journal Clovis, New Mexico Monday, July 14, 1941 Page 2, Column 3 |
Friday and Saturday saw 18 out-of-town golfers making the rounds. Causing the locals to sit up and take notice was G. W. Nelson of Fort Worth, one of the nation's best, who stopped here and warmed up. He expressed pleasure of the beauty of the Clovis links. Other golfers were Julia M. Strange, Fort Worth; . . .
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| Julia and Vernon Strange with Sambo Negro de Tejas 1956 - Clovis, New Mexico [Courtesy of Susan Patterson] |
On August 27, 1968, Julia died of pancreatic cancer.
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| Houston Post, Texas Wednesday, August 28, 1968 [Source: Houston Public Library] |
Clovis News Journal, Wednesday, August 28, 1968, Page 8 -
Graveside Rites Scheduled Friday
Graveside services for Mrs. Julia Margaret Strange, 67, a former Clovis High School teacher, will be held Friday at Lawn Haven Cemetery.
Mrs. Strange, who died in Houston, Tex., Tuesday, is a niece of Dr. A.L. Dillon and of Dr. F.A. Dillon, both formerly of Clovis.
Steed-Todd Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Brenda,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful job you are doing. I thank you for digging up so much on our family. There are so many pieces here that I did not know. I look forward to studying this post! I loved the photo that had my dad, Julia, and Leroy in it - and will be coping that one, as some others. Great job, keep up the good work.