James Maurice Thompson (1844-1901), son of a Baptist minister, was born in Fairfield, Indiana. The family moved to north Georgia in the 1850s and he was educated by tutors in the classical languages, literature, French and mathematics, which provided the basis for his later work as a civil engineer. During the Civil War Thompson served in the Confederate Army. After the war he lived in Calhoun, Georgia, studied surveying and engineering, and took up the study of law. He lived in Calhoun two years and began his career as a writer there.

In 1868 Thompson and his brother moved to Crawfordsville, Indiana. Maurice found work as an engineer on a new railroad under construction and the Thompson brothers married sisters. In 1871 Thompson moved from engineering work to law and opened an office with his brother. Now engaged in the practice of law, Thompson again took up writing, and in 1873 the Atlantic Monthly published one of his articles, after which he undertook a series of articles on archery which is acclaimed today in archery circles as the first effort to popularize the sport. Thompson’s first book appeared in 1875 and over the ensuing years he wrote in different genres, including historical fiction and nature poetry. He was elected to the Indiana State Legislature in 1879.
– Info from the website “Strangers to Us All – Lawyers and Poetry”