He was born on "Erin's green isle," in county Donegal, and in 1839 came with his father, John Thompson, to the United States, landing at New York on the 15th of June. From New York they proceeded a few days afterwards to Albany via the Hudson river, thence to Buffalo by canal, and from Buffalo to Detroit by boat. From Detroit to Royal Oak they came on the old railway, thence to Birmingham by stage, and from Birmingham they drove to Commerce township with a team they had hired. The trip from New York to Commerce occupied two weeks time. There were seven children in the family, including James, three sons and four daughters, of whom four are now living. They settled on section 4, in the township of Commerce.

About 1845, James Thompson located upon the farm he now owns, in sections 28 and 33, White Lake township, having purchased the property from third hands. Part of it, a forty-acre lot on section 33, had been entered from government by Joel Parker.

On the 30th of December, 1857, Mr. Thompson was married to Syene M. Phillips, a native of Milford township, where her father, Pliny Phillips, had settled as early as 1836-37, coming from Rochester, Monroe county, New York. About 1838 or 1840 he moved into Commerce township. Mr. and Mrs Thompson are the parents of four children, three sons and one daughter, all living at home with their parents. They are William Pliny, George, James Edgar, and Emma Z.

In politics Mr. Thompson is a Republican, and was always bitterly opposed to human slavery. He has always worked at farming, following that business on a general plan, and has been very successful. His present farm consists of two hundred and eighty acres of fertile and finely improved land. He and his wife are both members of the Presbyterian church at Commerce, in which Mr. Thompson has held the office of elder for about two years.