Lemuel R. Thompson was a Union soldier in the Civil War, serving in Co. F, 26th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. According to the pension awarded in 1911, he had shell wounds to the head and rheumatism. He was awarded $30 per month. According to the information found on Ancestry.com., Thompson was born 31 Oct 1847 in Bourbon, Illinois and died 22 January 1918. He is buried in the Homer GAR cemetery in Champaign, Illinois. He served in the 26th Regiment of the Illinois Infantry. He enrolled at age 18 on 24 Dec 1863 and was discharged 10 April 1866. He marched with Sherman in his march to the sea.