J.O. Thompson and Grace Campbell's courtship

After J.O. Thompson's first wife and both of their children passed away from a measles epidemic, J.O. couldn't stand to be in Georgia any longer, so he bought a train ticket and rode until he ran out of money in Charlotte, NC. Once there, he got a job as the manager of a hospital's farm.

While he was working there, he met the beautiful and lovely Grace Campbell. At the time, she was engaged to another man. The two had been engaged for 3 years when J.O. came into the picture. After he assessed the situation, he told Grace, "That man is a fool," meaning, of course, that her fiance was a fool for being engaged to her for 3 years but not marrying her.

Grace saw his point, and broke off her engagement with the other man. She and J.O. were later married and had 9 children.

Grace and J.O. after a lifetime together

Source: Grandma Izzy