William Adelbert Thompson

     William Adelbert Thompson was born on 28 December 1858 at Jasper County, Iowa. He was the son of Wilson Thompson and Susan Hart. William Adelbert Thompson married, at age 24, Harriet Frances Nebergall, age 21, daughter of Thomas Washington Nebergall and Margaret Mariam Robinson VanBibber, on Thursday, 29 March 1883.
     William Adelbert Thompson was also known as Dell. He and Harriet Frances Nebergall appeared on the census of 19 June 1900 at Liberty Township, Ringgold County, Iowa. William Adelbert Thompson and Harriet Frances Nebergall appeared on the census of 5 May 1910 at South Loup Township, Hall County, Nebraska. From 'History of Hall County, Nebraska,' (n.p.: Beuchler, Barr & Stough, 1920).

WILLIAM ADELBERT THOMPSON

WILLIAM ADELBERT THOMPSON, one of Cairo's most prominent citizens, has been a resident of Hall County for almost forty years. He came here in early manhood, and with other pioneer settlers of that period cheerfully assumed tasks and shouldered responsibilities that subsequently led to progress and development. For some years Mr. Thompson has lived retired from active participation in business, although his extensive farm and city property interests still require his general supervision.

Mr. Thompson, familiarly known as 'Dell,' is a native of Iowa, born in Jasper County, December 27, 1858. His parents were Wilson and Susan (Hart) (Ferrall) Thompson, the former of whom was born near Muncie, Indiana, and the latter near Cleveland, Ohio. They had seven children and two of these are living: William Adelbert, resides at Cairo, Nebraska, and Robert, resides at Newton, Iowa. There are two children of a former marriage living: Samuel C. Thompson, a resident of San Diego, California, and Alta Sangfelter, resident of Seattle, Washington. Wilson Thompson enlisted for military service during the Mexican War but by the time he reached Chicago the war was over. He was a conscientious supporter of the principles of the Republican party but never accepted a political office. For many years he was a substantial farmer in Jasper County, Iowa, and a heavy shipper of horses, cattle and hogs. When he retired, several years before his death, he visited Oregon, Washington and Nebraska, returning then to Iowa and buying city property in Newton. He died there in 1905. His widow survived until 1912. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

William A. Thompson had educational advantages in Newton, attending both the public schools and Hazel Dell, the local academy. He assisted his father on the home farm until the spring of 1881 when he came to Hall County. He bought 160 acres of railroad land, situated two miles east of the present site of Cairo. This land was originally owned by George Bussell, who lived, in early days, in a sod house just north of Mr. Thompson£s present handsome residence which is made of cement blocks, planned and erected under Mr. Thompson£s personal supervision. He can remember cutting grass on the land now occupied by the busy little city of Cairo. His railroad land was situated at a point then known as Easton, where he resided for six years, inaugurating many improvements, and during this time succeeded in having the hamlet made a post office station, serving as postmaster until the office was removed to Cairo, when the latter place was established. Mr. Thompson then traded his land for a hardware store in the new town and continued in the hardware line in Cairo for the next thirteen years before establishing a general mercantile business which he conducted for eight years. Since 1909 he has been practically retired, although a man, who owns a large amount of city property and 1700 acres of fine farming land is still regarded as an important factor in business life. He has 420 acres in Hall County and 1286 acres in Morrill County, Nebraska.

Mr. Thompson married, March 29, 1883, Miss Harriet F. Nebergall, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Vanbiber) Nebergall, who were natives of West Virginia. They came west at an early day, locating in Iowa. Subsequently they became pioneer residents of Hebron, Nebraska, where they resided many years. The father died in the state of Washington, the mother passing away at Gilead, Nebraska. There were six children in the Nebergall family: William and Philip, reside at Pendleton, Oregon; David, lives at Baker City, Oregon; Jennie E., the wife of Samuel Wheeler, of Carlton, Nebraska; Victoria, the wife of Robert McGee, of Providence, Rhode Island, and Mrs. Thompson, who met and married her future husband in Hall County. She was leading saleswoman in his mercantile establishment, assisted in conducting the store and materially contributed to accumulating their present comfortable fortune. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have four children: Loren W., married Belle Grossert ; Robert R., married Marian Ingalls; Millard F., a sergeant in the United States army, now stationed at Camp Mills, Long Island, New York, and one child deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Republican in his political views but has never been a seeker for public office. He has become one of the capitalists of this section mainly through persistent industry, careful habits and the possession of the good judgment that led to wise investments.
William Adelbert Thompson and Harriet Frances Nebergall appeared on the census of January 1920 at South Loup Township, Hall County, Nebraska.