DANVILLE, Ill. — An Army private from Illinois who died in the Mexican-American War in 1847 is finally coming home to rest — at least in spirit.

Officials are planning a memorial service at the Danville National Cemetery for James Thompson, a farmer from nearby Ridge Farm who died in Tampico, Mexico, near the end of the war.

Thompson’s great-great-granddaughter, Barbara Thompson Switzer, spent 10 years researching her family’s genealogy before tracking down her long-lost ancestor. She said she has a special sense of connection to him, referring to him as Grandpa James.

“I feel attached to this great-great-grandfather,” Switzer told the Danville, Illinois Commercial-News. “It’s sad his wife never had a burial for him and his five sons never officially said goodbye.”

Switzer, who lives in Cayuga, Ind., about 20 miles southeast of Danville, discovered her great-great-grandfather died in a hospital while serving with the 2nd Illinois Infantry Division and was buried in a mass grave. In 1847, there was no way to bring soldiers’ bodies home from war, Switzer said.

“This man died for his country and was never honored,” she said.

Once Switzer tracked down Thompson’s military record — a process that included writing to the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington — she contacted the National Cemetery and arranged to have a marker placed in a memorial section dedicated to those whose bodies are unrecovered.

Rudi Shelton, a representative at the Danville National Cemetery, believes Thompson will be the oldest or second oldest veteran honored at the cemetery.

“He’s been gone 168 years, so I think he deserves something,” Shelton said.

Switzer began immersing herself in genealogy after the death of her daughter, Karissa Ceader, in a 2002 car accident. After that tragedy, she said, “I just wanted to feel connected some way … to let my mind heal.”

Switzer has plans for a service in January or February with full military rites, an honor guard and presentation of the U.S. flag. As the only living direct descendant, Switzer will accept the flag.

Switzer also arranged to have Thompson’s name added to the veterans’ memorial in Ridge Farm. Also listed are her father, her grandfather (World War I) and great-grandfather (Civil War).

Wicoff writes for the Danville, Illinois Commercial-News.