Thompson Barrick graduated from the Normal School in early 1861. After graduation, he returned home to East Varick, N. Y., where he worked his widowed mother's farm with his brothers John, who had graduated from the Normal School the previous summer, and Reuben. He joined the Normal School Company with John and was appointed a corporal before leaving Albany. John fell ill on a march in early November 1862, and died November 24, at Columbia Hospital in Washington D. C. Thompson continued with the regiment until Gettysburg, when he was wounded in the shoulder while carrying the regiment's flag. While in the hospital, he began studying for the officers' examinations for the U. S. C. T. He passed the examination and was commissioned a lieutenant in the 39th U. S. C. T. After the war, he taught school for half a year. He worked for the Central Railroad in New Jersey for a time shortly after the war, and later sold fruit trees in East Varick. By 1895 he had moved to Geneva, where he worked in the nursery business. While in New Jersey, Thompson married Hannah Cummings on February 19, 1867. He had 3 daughters, Jennie, Fanny, and Edna. (1)

1. Historical Sketch of the State Normal College at Albany, N.Y...., 186; 1880 Federal Census, New York State, Seneca County.

Documentation reproduced with permission of Chris Hunter and the Normal School Company website