The present day Boyce Park ski slopes were once part of the Oliver Thompson farm. Oliver Murray Thompson, a farmer, was well know in the Plum area, serving both on the Plum School Board and the board of Plum Creek Cemetery. He grew up in Patton Township.
Mr. Thompson's grandfather immigrated to the United States in 1812 from County Armaugh, Northern Ireland. He lived to be 102 years old.
In 1900 Oliver married Alice Grace Brunner. Her grandfather Ephriam Brunner, once lived on OBlock Road. Ephraim had a general store in New Texas. He was captured by the Confederates while serving in the Civil War. After the war, he worked as a carpenter, building several homes in the Plum area. One of the houses still standing is the present home of Don and Dorothy Lamuth at 1907 OBlock Road.
Mrs. Thompson died in the great influenza epidemic of 1918 leaving Oliver to raise six children alone. He died in 1953. A son Donley died in childhood.
Oliver's son, the late John Murray Thompson. lived his entire life in Plum and was owner of Thompson Survey Service. His wife, Florence Hamilton Thompson taught in the Plum Schools for 25 years and currently lives in Oakmont. Of their three children, John Murray Thompson, Jr. lives in Plum, George Hamilton Thompson lives in neighboring Oakmont and Margaret Ann Fowler is out of state. John Murray Thompson III is carrying on the 4th generation Thompson name in Plum.
His daughter Grace married Myles McGough and taught school in Plum and died in 1945. Daughter Twila married Orin Sampson who developed Holiday Park. Twila was very active in the affairs of Plum Creek Church until her death in 1972. The Sampsons had 2 sons, Myles and Ben, who are actively involved in the business community of Plum.
Two of Oliver's daughters are living today. Martha married Henry Langer who gained national fame in the 1930's as one of the country's first stunt parachute jumpers. He died in 1985. Martha now lives in Wilkins Township but is very active in the Allegheny Foothills Historical Society in Plum.
The oldest daughter, Helen, married Herbert Clements of Sardis. Mr. Clements
was an engineer on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Helen now lives in Kittaning.
Their daughter Evelyn C. O'Brien lives in Mt. Lebanon.
................Myles Sampson
"Where Wild Plum Trees Grew; Bicentennial Edition of Plum Borough History 1788-1988"