The Thompson Cow

Posted on by
In March of 1796, three pioneer parties left Cincinnati to head by river and land to what is now Dayton Ohio. The parties were led  by George Newcom, William Hamer, and Samuel Thompson. The Thompson party was the first to arrive in Dayton at the spot now known as Founder’s Point. The following people and their families are the original settlers of Dayton:

  1. William Hamer
  2. Soloman Hamer
  3. Thomas Hamer
  4. George Newcom
  5. William Newcom
  6. Abraham Grassmire
  7. John Davis
  8. John Dorough

  9. William Chenowith
  10. James Morris
  11. Daniel Ferrell
  12. Samuel Thompson
  13. Benjamin Van Cleve
  14. James McClure
  15. Thomas McClure
  16. William Gahagan
  17. William Van Cleve

Accompanying the Thompson party was Samuel Thompson’s cow. The party split into land and river so they could bring the cow along to provide milk. At Dayton’s centennial celebration in 1896, a young boy read the following poem dedicated to the cow:


Mr. Thompson’s Cow
By Frank Conover

Just one hundred years ago, so the story’s told
Up the winding river came a band of spirits bold
Through the first dark and dense, seeking for a spot
Where each gallant pioneer might own a corner lot
When they reached the Main Street Bridge, Samuel Thompson cries
“Here is Early Dayton” in tones of glad surprise
Then they tied their clumsy craft close against the shore
Just below the Gas Works which they’d never seen before.

Joined them soon another brave and hardy band
Which from Cincinnati tramped, sixty miles by land,
Looking out for Injuns, catamount and bear,
Dodging toll gates, too, because they had no change to spare,
Full of grit and courage, free from doubts and fears,
Bound for Early Dayton were these pioneers.
Time has dimmed their names, yet one of them, I trow,
Will deserve our gratitude – Mr Thompson’s cow.

In the page of history, never a word is said
Whether Mr Thompson’s cow brindled was or red,
Whether Alderney by birth or of Jersey blood,
Tracing back her ancestry as far as Noah’s flood
We but know she came along, patient and serene,
Wondering what the journey meant, in her thoughts bovine.
Not the least important one, we must all allow
In that pilgrim party, was the Thompson cow.

What do you think?