Oxford in Lafayette County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)
Jacob Thompson's "Home Place"
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 8, 2017
1. Jacob Thompson's "Home Place" Marker
Inscription.
Jacob Thompson's "Home Place". . The mansion ca. 1853 located on this site was burned by Union troops in 1864. Two original outbuildings are included in the present house, built in 1869. Jacob Thompson (1810-1885), a native of North Carolina, moved to Pontotoc, Mississippi, in 1835. A lawyer and Democrat, he was active in politics and helped organize circuit courts in a number of northern Mississippi counties. He married Catherine Ann Jones in 1838. In addition to his law practice in Pontotoc, Panola and Oxford, Thompson was a cotton grower, U.S. Congressman (1839-1857), University of Mississippi Trustee (1844-1857) and U.S. Secretary of the Interior (1857-1861). He resigned his post the day before Mississippi seceded and served in the C.S. Army and in the state legislature. Thompson headed the controversial Confederate Commission to Canada 1864-1865. As such, he was falsely charged with a number of crimes, including a role in Lincoln's assassination. Living in exile abroad until 1869, he was granted amnesty and briefly returned to Oxford before moving to Memphis, where he was a businessman. He and his wife are buried at Elmwood Cemetery.
The mansion ca. 1853 located on this site was burned by Union troops in 1864. Two original outbuildings are included in the present house, built in 1869. Jacob Thompson (1810-1885), a native of North Carolina, moved to Pontotoc, Mississippi, in 1835. A lawyer and Democrat, he was active in politics and helped organize circuit courts in a number of northern Mississippi counties. He married Catherine Ann Jones in 1838. In addition to his law practice in Pontotoc, Panola and Oxford, Thompson was a cotton grower, U.S. Congressman (1839-1857), University of Mississippi Trustee (1844-1857) and U.S. Secretary of the Interior (1857-1861). He resigned his post the day before Mississippi seceded and served in the C.S. Army and in the state legislature. Thompson headed the controversial Confederate Commission to Canada 1864-1865. As such, he was falsely charged with a number of crimes, including a role in Lincoln's assassination. Living in exile abroad until 1869, he was granted amnesty and briefly returned to Oxford before moving to Memphis, where he was a businessman. He and his wife are buried at Elmwood Cemetery.
Erected 2003 by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics
Location. 34° 21.509′ N, 89° 31.414′ W. Marker is in Oxford, Mississippi, in Lafayette County. Marker is on Old Taylor Road west of South 10th Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Old Taylor Road, Oxford MS 38655, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Present home at location of former "Home Place".
Photographed By Mark Hilton, April 8, 2017
3. View of marker looking west towards Rowan Oak (near cars).
Public Domain - Library of Congress (Matthew Brady)
4. Jacob Thompson (1810-1885)
Credits. This page was last revised on April 23, 2017. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 580 times since then and 87 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 23, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
