Charles John Thomson (1840-1911) (also known as C. J.) had a bookbinding and stationery business in Scotland. C. J.  was also a Captain of the Midlothian Coast Volunteer Artillery. He married his first wife, Isabella Walters Mann, in 1862. Together they had five children: Catherine (1863-1863), Catherina Sutherland (1865-1893), William Parker (1866-1950), John Mann (1868-1956), and Charlotte Parker (1871-1872). Isabella died in 1874 in Scotland, and there she was laid to rest with her parents and two young children. C. J. would then marry Agnes Fleming Wilson (a widow) in 1877. She had six children from her previous marriage: Peter, George, Agnes, Janet, John, and Georgina. C. J. and Agnes had only one child together, Charlotte Eliza (1878-1878). This article will only focus on the Thomson side of the family.  

 

Now a family of 11, the family could not support itself in Scotland. So they, except for Peter Wilson, decided to come to Canada. The Thomson-Wilson clan came to Quebec in 1883 and travelled by train to Virden. They first settled on 2-10-27 (Hill Farm), then moved to 19-10-26 (Bonaly Farm). C. J. served on the Virden School Board 1888-1893, was director (1887) and vice-president (1891) of the Dennis County Agricultural Society, and part of the Rifle Association. His occupation was the Managing Director of Provincial Hail Insurance Co. of Manitoba. In 1892, C. J. and other local Scottish citizens formed the Virden Golf Club, with C. J. as the president. He even hit the first ball on the golf course when it opened on May 7th, 1892. C. J. was also an excellent curler and was asked to greet and accompany the 1902 Royal Caledonian Curling Club of Scotland when they were touring Canada. 

 

Charles's daughter Catherina Sutherland Thomson married John Young, a local businessman, and moved to a sheep farm. Unfortunately, she was thrown from a buggy and died from the accident. Charles's son, John Mann Thomson, married Victoria May Field (1873-1932) and would move to Indian Head, Saskatchewan. John worked in the insurance business and had four kids: Charles, William, Catherina, and Isabella. 

 

C.J's oldest son, William Parker Thomson, married his step-sister Janet Chrystal Wilson (1866-1957) in 1904. They lived on Hill Farm and Bonaly Farm and had two kids: Agnes Charlotte and William Parker (known as Bill). William Parker was a school trustee, part of the Agricultural Society and the Canadian Order of Foresters. He also liked to play curling like his father and cricket as well. Janet played the organ, gave music lessons, and taught Sunday School for 13 years at Carmel Presbyterian. She also served the Red Cross, the Rest Room Society, and the Boss Hill Hospital Auxiliary.