Before setting forth the lives of the Thompson's in
Alberta, it might be well to trace their beginnings
from the time the first Thompson ancestors of whom
we have any knowledge, came from Ireland and
settled near Trenton, New Jersey in the early part
of the eighteenth century. When he came to America
he had two sons and after his arrival, a third son was
born whose name was Nathaniel Thompson. Although
we know but little about the character of that first
Thompson, he must have had a spirit of adventure
and the courage to leave friends, relatives, and his
native land behind and face the hardships and perils
of the new world. This may in part account for the
pioneer spirit betrayed by nearly all of his descendants.

Nathaniel Thompson had three children, Bradway,
Samuel and Mary. Although Samuel and Mary lived
long and fruitful lives, it is Bradway with whom we
are concerned. He moved to Pennsylvania where he
met and married on May 28th 1791, Ann Cousins a
Scotch girl whose family were Quakers. Bradway too
embraced the Quaker faith.

Six children were born to this union, of whom, Ezra was
the youngest. He was born October 10, 1803 and died
March 1, 1888. He married Amy Holt August 28, 1824,
living first on a farm in Ohio, and later at West Branch,
lowa and later still moved to a homestead near St. Paul,
Nebraska. Ezra and Amy had two children who grew to
maturity. Charles Holt Thompson, born November 12,
1832 and Elizabeth Thompson, born January 26, 1835.
(John C. Thompson entered the Thompson line at this
time. He and W.L. Thompson were cousins.) Elizabeth
married Charles Coffee, they had no children.

Because of this, all the living descendants of our branch
of the Thompson family are descendants of Charles
Holt and his wife Dorcas L. Brock Thompson. These are
Mary E. Thompson Kelley, 1860-1935; Ezra E. Thompson
1853-1940; Eva A Thompson Green, 1858-1952; William
Lewis Thompson 1861- 1909' Rezin Thompson, 1864-1872;
George Brock Thompson 1868. Of these six offspring of
Dorcas and Charles Holt Thompson we are finally
concerned with Ezra E., Wiliam L., and George B., as these
three especially the former two were to have a profound
and far reaching influence on the country of their adoption,
Alberta, Canada. (John C. Thompson and Rezin Thompson,
his father, should be included in this statement.)

Ezra Eugene Thompson was born September 14, 1853 in
Ohio. After three years there he moved with his parents
to Johnson County lowa near a little town called Oasis.
The next seventeen years were spent here, but then the
great migration of the prairie lands of central Nebraska
roused Ezra's thirst for adventure. In company with his
sister, Mary E. Kelley, he hitched a team to a covered
wagon and started for Howard County, Nebraska to spy
out the land and to report back as to the advisability of
above. The report being favorable, the whole family moved
west by covered wagon in the spring of 1878.

Various projects occupied the restless, enterprising mind
of Ezra over the next few years. Graduating from a one
year law cource from the University of Iowa in 1881, he
tried practicing, but found life too confining. Years in the
real estate and loan business followed.

His marriage to Ida Moon, March 19th, 1896, took place
with further farming venture, which ceased in his practically
being wiped out by a hail storm. It was at this time that in
search for some great opportunity and riches,, Ezra migrated
to Alberta, Canada in the spring of 1901. Alberta was to
supply the challenge that Ezra was looking for. Here was
a new and rich virgin country awaiting development. Here
lay land for the buying and selling to prospective buyers
and settlers for $2.50 to $5.00 an acre.

Ezra built his ranch house a few miles south of Spring Coulee
on a high sloping plain. It was built of slabs, rude outer boards
from the sawmill, and from this arose the name "Slabtown",
for his first layout in Alberta. Operating from this centre, he
started to sell land and attract settlers. Still restless, he
migrated north several hundred miles near High River
to start the little town of Brant, Alberta, put in a store to sell
provisions and farm machinery. Here his optimistic enterprising
nature flowered. He grew prosperous. Children were born
the union over the years: 3 daughters and 2 sons.

After a few years, Ezra again moved to South Pasadena
California. Though he left Alberta, Ezra E. Thompson
at the age of 87 maintained a lively interest in things
Canadian, and especially those of Alberta.

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