James M. Thompson was born about 1845 and died on February 3, 1894 in Columbus, Georgia. Henderson, Vol. IV, p. 956 gives the Civil War record of James M. Thompson, in Co. C, 46th Georgia Infantry Regiment out of Muscogee County. His widow, Elizabeth (Lizzy) Amanda Parkman Thompson (1844-1922), applied for a Confederate widow's pension in 1910.

According to the 1850 census, the Thompson family was living in Columbus at household no. 509. The family included Margaret A. Thompson, 29, born in SC, Malvina C., aged 8, born in Georgia and James M, aged 5, also born in Georgia, and William H. Thompson, 17, a carpenter, born in Florida.

In the 1870 City Directory for Columbus James M. Thompson, age 25, was working in a cotton mill and living with his wife Elizabeth 25, and children Hattie T., aged 3 and Clifton M., aged 3/12 months) old. James' mother, Margaret A. Younger aged 48, was also in Columbus with her daughter, Malvina C. Johnson, aged 25, and her son Eddy, aged 2.

In the 1880 census, Thompson was across the river living in Brownville, Alabama, the mill village that became the northern part of present-day Phenix City, then located in Lee County, Alabama. He was listed as James T. Thompson 35, working in cotton mill, wife Amanda E, and children Hattie T, Clifton M., aged 11, Charles E. aged 8, Elizabeth M., aged 5, and James W., aged 2. James' mother Margaret was listed in Columbus in 1880 as M E Younger, 59, living with daughter N. C. Johnson 37, and grandson J. E. Johnson, 12.