Edward C. Thompson was born near Toronto, Ontario, Canada on March 13, 1862, of Scotch, English and German ancestry. He had complete charge of his father's saw mill when still in his teens.

In 1881, the Thomson family came to Dakota Territory to homestead, settling in Heman Township. Edward, now twenty-, five, returned to Canada and married Miss Jesse Fulton on January 11, 1887. Born November 4, 1861 near Toronto, she was educated as a dressmaker.

The Thompsons then took up farming in Heman Township, where Edward had a 1 threshing rig and threshed for his neighbors. As the result of the engine boiler, bursting, Edward suffered serious injury to one leg and was bothered by this injury the remainder of his life.

Five children were born to Edward and Jesse: Mary (1887), Alfred and William -twins (1889), Boyd (1893) and Helen (Nellie) (1895).

The Thompsons were prominent in the society of Sanborn, as well as the financial aspects of the community. Edward was the president of the Bank of Sanborn at one time and had extensive farming interests. He and his sons, Alfred and William, were members of the Masonic Lodge of Sanborn and were recognized with 50-year pins.

Jesse Fulton Thompson was killed during a storm on June 6, 1920. Edward died in October of 1934.

Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 246