New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-07-01

gFt.eML ,ouaxAl OF THE UNITED STATES.
iffis,Al JOURNAL OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.
GENERAL N. JEFF TMoMP.ON.

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GENERAL N. JEFF THoMP.OS.
enc OF the RI ,neers Of Improvement II
st. Joseph
From the st. Joseph, Missouri. Gazette.l
The visit of NJ. JEFF Thompson to our city
after nine years absence, is an occasion o.
interest to many, and amply justihes Oul
devotirg more than the Or4G1ary space
allotted to q personal notice In mentioning
it. To the old settlers of the Platte Pur-
chase any EcntiOn of the incidents of hie
life while among them, or those peculiari-
ties which distinguish him from the mass oi
mankind, is wholly unnecessary. All Of
them have known him well in days gone by,
and are familiar with all the incidents con-
nected with his history while in Northwest
Missouri. But we have had many new
Corners since 1861, and while most Ct them
have heard his name and incidents illustrat-
ing his character, few probably have any
very correct idea OF the real man. A short
biography, therefore, may not be unin-
teresting.
NJ. JEFF Thompson was born at Harper's
Ferry. Virginia, on the 22i day of January,
1926 At an early age he began to exhibit a
decided genius and inclination to become q
soldier, and he was educated for that pur-
pose, and at one time contemplated enter
fnally, however, engaged in the mercan-
tile business, in which he continued as a
clerk for some time. In 1916 he removed to
Liberty. Clay county, and engaged in bust
ness While here he formed the acquaint.
ance of the lady who atterward became his
wife. In l8i7 he came to st. Joseph, and
procured employment in mercantile house
where his energy and ability were brought
into full play with most satisfactory results
to his employers. In the winter OF 1850 he
made a trip, atone. to Salt Lake City, for
the firm of Middleton Riley. This at that
time, was difficult and perilOus journey, and
one that few men would have cared about
undertaking. He got through safely, how
ever. transacted the business entrusted to
his care and returned to st. Joseph.
In 1852 General Thompson with Major
Robert BOYLE, went into the mercantile
business AT the time the firm started,
their available means were rather limited.
and resort to credit was necessary. An
order for goods was sent to house IN st..
Louis, but the wholesale men didn't care
about filing it until they knew something
of the financial standing of their customers.
They accordingly dropped mole to Messrs
Thompson & Boyle, making inquiries rs to
their available assets. To this note General
Thompson promptly replied in the following
characteristic language: "You wish to know
the amount of our assets. Put them down
q: $1,000; Major Boyle has $500, and owe
$500" The goods were shipped at once,
and the firm started IN business under the
most favorable auspices, and continued for
about year.
just about this time the great public i'm
provements, which have since reached such
8 state of perfection in Missouri, were being
commenced; and among them the Hannibal
and st. Joseph Railroad, then the only rail
road in process Of construction north OF the
Missouri river, and the second in the State.
General Thompson Immediately manifested
q deep interest in this enterprise, and
sought employment in the service of the
company. Here he labored with an energy
and earnestness seldom equalled by any
one, discharging the duties of almost every
position, from cook and chain-bearer to
that of engineer. Indeed, it was upon this
work that he studied the science Of civil
engineering, and probably no man ever
mastered science under greater difficulties.
Prosecuting his studies by the dim light of
the campfire, or the DINNER freight at
home, amid the wants Of extreme poverty,
with large family dependent on him at
home, in less than two years' time he was
c sidered competent to build railroads,
and shortly thereafter did make the pre-
liminary surveys and plats of the present
line of the Missouri Valley Railroad, from
this city to the State line.
In 1857, General Thompson surveyed,
under government contract, large dis
trict in Nebraska, executing the work with
great facility and exactness. No other con-
tractor, though some of them were the most
experienced and scientific in the West, sue
ceeded SO we'll. Soon thereafter he enlisted
all his energies in urging the necessity of
building the st. Joseph, Denver and Pacific
Railroad. justly viewing it as an enterprise
vital to the prosperity Of st. Joseph. 1t is
l. .~<o @la%
formed and the project inaugurated. He
made in person, the preliminary survey of
part of the line, was elected first President OF
the road, and there is not q shadow OF doubt
that had the country remained at peace, the
city of St. Joseph would have years ago
been connected by bands of iron with the
Pacific. JEFF was man. who, when once he
put his shoulder to the wheel, never paused,
or faltered, or looked behind. His whole
heart and soul were in the work-he had
one definite, distinct object in view-and he
never suffered the croakings of the timid,
Or the mutterings of the discontinued, to
turn him aside from his purpose for single |
He was elected Mayor of st. Joseph in |
1859, and his administration Of the affairs of |
The city, and his influence before and after. |
are now ackno wledged by all to have been |
one Of the prime causes of our wonderful |
growth at that period. His attention was |
directed to the necessity Of improvements,
and the wisdom Of his policy was attested
by its success.
He was for many years engaged in the
real estate business, where his Talents shone |
forth pre- eminenty in attracting immigra-
ton to this portion OF the West. His i'm
nense. advertising. his vast and accurate
of the whole country. his I'M
firing and intelligent efforts to make known
the merits of the city and country, coupled
with his unbounded hope and faith, were
productive of results to this city, the
value of which it is not easy to estimate.
1t was for many years Inspector Of the
Fourth Military District of this State, with
The rank of Colonel, and was called into
active service by Governor Jackson in the
spring of 1861. His career afterwards is
'amiliar to all. As the commander of the
Ninth Military District of Missouri, and by
his various services on the lower Mississippi
and the coast, he became famous through
but the entire country. We shall only men.
ton one incident connected with his
military career not only to show that it was
aver marked by humanity, but to give sthe
levil his due" At one time during the
war General Thompson succeeded in captur-
ng number Of prisoners belonging to
General Buffers Command. among them
some of the latter's staff. Several Of these
prisoners were sick and some wounded.
General Thon pson was I'm able 10
render them medical assistance, hav.
ng neither surgeons nor medicine.
He promptly sent the unfortunate men
through the lines with note to General
Butler, stating the facts. 1t is due the lat
Ter to say he never forgot the act; and when
Jeff himself became prisoner, he at once
wrote to Washington earnestly soliciting his
release. and failing in this, had him trans