Background information for Rachel Ellen (ALES) WILLIAMS THOMPSON.

Rachel Ellen Thompson was my great, great, grandmother. According to my research, she was born to William Ales and Olive Ales, who were then residents of Harding Ky. in 1847.

In 1865, with permission granted by her mother, she married my great, great grandfather David Williams, who had recently been mustered out of his position as commander of Company "C" of the 115th Illinois Infantry Regiment after the Civil War.

In 1866, after the birth of their first child, James F. Williams, my great grandfather, David wrote a letter to Rachel while on a lumber raft on the Ohio River, en-route to Memphis and posted the letter at Cairo. According to family history, that was the last time he was ever heard from.

In 1874 Rachel married Benjamin Thompson and brought two step children into the marriage, James F. Williams, my great grandfather, and his younger sister Jane Williams. According to Thompson family historians, Rachel Ellen and Benjamin Thompson remained married, divorced, and re-married, and remained married until their respective deaths …

William H. Chester

16 Sep 2010