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"In Omaha, Nebraska, and vicinity, I had several gardens, a children's church, a kindergarten home and school. Around the dining table all went on beautifully. If not, I righted it without scolding or slapping, and willing obedience and cheerful faces continue uninterrupted by crying or pouting. I love the children; they love me. This mutual love purifies the senses for work or play, song or study. Love and fellowship makes children happy, makes them beautiful, makes them good."
Dentist Office
Apparently John had worked in a dental office for 20 years. This probably means he worked for a dentist, not as a dentist. Then he claims he left to work more closely with nature. He spoke in the advertisement above of his "school" in Omaha, Nebraska. Research has yet to uncover evidence of his years there.
Abandoning his Family
What John left out of his biography was that he married after arriving in Utah. On July 27, 1874, at age 23, he had been endowed and married in the Salt Lake City Endowment House to a fellow British immigrant, Anne Louisa Jones. They settled in Richfield, Utah, where they soon became the parents of three children: Leah (also known as Mabel Cecelia), born April 29, 1875, Charles Jerome, born Jan. 1, 1877, and Maud Louisa, born Aug. 12, 1878. They suffered a great loss when their baby son, Charles, died Oct. 20, 1877, at 9 ½ months old. They believed it was due to a "teething illness." He is buried in Richfield, Utah.
Some time after that, their marriage failed, and John left his wife and daughters without financial support, and seemingly without communication. They suffered terribly in his absence. It was apparently many years before anyone made contact with John again. The earliest record we have was nearly 50 years later when he and Leah developed a regular correspondence.
His Own Religious Ideas
John had become dissatisfied with the Church and had leaned to his own way of thinking, almost along the lines of a Christian Scientist. He became an itinerant preacher and devoted himself to preaching his beliefs.
Around this time he had come to see his daughter, Helen, in Downer's Grove, Illinois. He got around the country by hitchhiking.
On Sept. 15, 1927, he wrote Leah from St. Louis, Missouri that he had been working for the past 5 days in an art and craft shop, which "taxes my strength to the limit." He thanked her for the $6 she sent and congratulated her on not having to work. (She in fact worked hard.)
Arkansas
In April 3, 1933, John was living in North Little Rock, Arkansas, 1508 Marion St., according to Leah's diary.
Another letter from him, date unknown stated:
"I've been dreadfully long in answering you considering you are so good to write often your cheering letters and want to minister to your daddy and I give you credit for a lot more that you would do it you could.
"I get along some way. My chickens Three lay most every day 3 eggs a day. That's almost a living for me with my small garden, a small job once in a good while and what the Lord put into my hand in his way of doing things.
"I was surprised with a dollar bill from Kansas City from a man I've been praying for for the morphine habit and poor health now free from it and is able to work, has a job in that city. He and his sister is very grateful to me. "We love you Mr. Thompson." They've said two or three times when I've been at their home in North Little Rock.
"A man in St. Louis has send me stamps that do me most of the year and last year.
"I was led to pray for him last summer and he was healed at the hour I prayed the same day. So you will not wonder that I testify of the healing power of God.
"Well, good bye dear. I hope you are well and all right. God bless you.
"P.S. Have you heard from Helen? I wrote her a month ago or more and have not heard from her yet."
A Dancer
Another letter shows his optimistic side.
Dear Queen Daughter:
"The green, the blue and gold, are outside. The birds are singing. Life and love eternal are present. Therefore all is well! If we believe this and hold it fast we are blest beyond the common.
"The way of the Spirit is peace and joy, rest and strength. It is so blessed it the Truth has made us free.
I want to ask you if your eyes were as bright as when you left the valley and went to California. I reckon you can say the same today as then that your eyes are as bright but in a more serious way looking only to One Spirit and The Name above every name.
"I used to tell you of my light step. I move as quick today as then glory to God always. It's His loving powers that make my step light, my sleep sweet and much more.
"Yes, my step in light and quick. Sometimes at a neighbors I dance, they laugh to see me go so fast and keep time with the radio and clap their hands when I stop. I sing too. I am frequently asked to sing. I sing too without being asked-some thing religious. Sometimes in the church in my testimony.
"Well, I started to say something pleasant like to my darling daughters, but am I getting there? Not as well as I had the vision of it in my mind I think. I hope you will be free to say what you think of anything I say at any time.
"I dance to the glory of God in my mind. Sometimes I mention that it's God that helps me to move so quick though. They take it in a carnal way I reckon. I keep a prayerful mood for them and for myself and keep calm unto in the Lord and watch and pray not to do anything that might offend Him.
"I would rather sit down and talk about the things of the Spirit. If I had some one that was in the same mind.
"It is delightful outside this morning. I love the quiet in nature. Oh, if I had a partner to share the delights of the "pastures green and beside the still waters." I think I shall have one in the Lord's good time. "A virtuous woman, her price is beyond rubies." "The woman is the glory of the man" according to the apostle Paul. "It is not good for man to be alone and He gave him a woman." Glory to God!
"My Leah, my queen daughter, now crowned with Love's diadem from above, from the hold One is the only one now that cares for me. Yes, you sweet daughter are the only one that writes to me as you write and send tokens of love. It's all right, I'm not complaining, no, not at all. Just to show my appreciation of you, my sweet girl. From Dady [sic]
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