Oct 11, 1846 - Dec 22, 1922
Little Benonie Thompson was born October 11, 1846, in Mississippi to Richard Samuel Thompson and Lucy Ellen Mosely.
He settled in Rusk County, Texas 1867,as a farmer. He married Martha L. Pryor December 27, 1868 at the age of 22. The marriage was conducted in Overton, Rusk County, Texas.
Martha L. Pryor was born December 22, 1846 in Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas to William Pryor (1818-1876) and Margaret Pryor (1824-1857). Martha died at age 27 in Henderson, Rusk County, Texas in 1873.
Three children were born to this union.
- William Richard Thompson (1869 - 1937)
- Louis Cemore Thompson (1871 - 1946)
- A baby girl who died at birth
Martha L. Pryor died, and Little Benonie then married Martha Jane Bryan on July 23, 1874, at the age of 27. The marriage was conducted in Overton, Rusk County, Texas.
Benonie and Martha Jane had seven (7) children:
Martha Jane Bryan was born July 5, 1854 to John Wesley Bryan and Mary Jane McCarty Bryan. She died August 22, 1931 at the age of 77 in Overton, Rusk County, Texas. See John Wesley Bryan's site for further information.
- Beall (Bell) Thompson (1875 - 1911)
- Wesley Benonie Thompson (1878 - 1921)
- George Edward (Ed) Thompson (1881 - 1952)
- James Franklin (Jim) Thompson (1884 - 1952)
- Lucy Elizabeth Thompson York (1880 - 1919)
- Dora Thompson (1885 - 1948)
- Burtha Martha Thompson (1887 - 1888)
Little Benonie Thompson served in the Confederate Army. He was a Private in Company D, 3rd Louisiana Cavalry. He was discharged at the end of the War on May 1, 1865, in Louisiana. He served a total of two years. After the war, he filed an application for a Confederate Pension, application no. 24771. Statements attached to an affadavit filed at his death, indicated he died of pneumonia and influenza.
Little Benonie Thompson died December 22, 1922 at Overton, Rusk County, Texas. He had two wives, ten children and 65 grandchildren.
A genealogical chart of Benonie's children is located on the next page.