Oscar J. Thompson, Sr.

Photograph of

Oscar J. Thompson, Sr.

Name(s)

Oscar J. Thompson, Sr.

Date of photograph

~1890s

Description

Copy of portrait of Oscar J. Thompson.

Oscar J. Thompson, Sr. (5 March 1881-11 August 1945) was one of five children born to the Reverend Logan L. and Lavinia Corley-Thompson on 5 March 1881 in the Skillet community outside of Salley, Aiken County, South Carolina, United States. At a young age, he joined Smyrna Baptist Church where he was ordained as a deacon. Like his parents, Oscar was a sharecropper. Briefly, he lived with his brother Robert Thompson and his family until he was able to support himself. Later, he married Lessie Felder.

Oscar and his family continued to sharecrop for several years. While working, he saved his money with the goal of becoming a landowner. On December 9, 1915, Oscar purchased 92 acres from David Link of Deland, Florida, United States.

Oscar was full-fledged entrepreneur. In agriculture, he cultivated his farm into a full-scale operation that garnered local acclaim. The local newspaper lauded his three-year crop rotation system. To further his knowledge in agriculture, Oscar joined a group of local African-American farmers on a field trip to Coker Pedigreed Farm in Hartsville, South Carolina “to study and observe seed breeding and other farm practices”.

Oscar died on 11 August 1945 at the age of 64. Four years later, his wife Lessie died on 21 September 1949 at the age of 56.

Type

Photograph

Format

JPG

Rights

Public Domain | All records should be cited as coming from the Center Family History at the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina, United States.

Donated By

Dr. Walter B. Curry