Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-09-23
+ From he ST Joseph, No, Gazetis, Sept. a.
A GOOD MAN GONE.
Death of Con. NJ. JEFF. Thompson.
The City in Mourning over the Death
OF one OF Her Brayest Sons.

]
regret than this, for Gen Thompson was
/ fsvorite with all who know bin.
! Gen. Thompson was born st Harper's Ferry,
| Va. January 22nd 1926, aud was therefore
! fr;v years old at the time Of his death. When
be was twelve years old his family removed
20 Charlestown, Va, where he entered the
academy under Prof Sanborn, and remained
until he was seventeen years OF age. lie
then entered upon a mercantile life, anu
/ clerkeA in store 10 Philadelphia for aoout
year. when he decided that the great wess Of
/ fered better advantages to young man thah
the east. aud he resolved TO cast his fortunes
with the people of Missouri. He therefore
removed 10 Liberty, Clay comfy, where se
1 clerked for about year, when he decided q
come TO 81. Joseph BE reached here IN 1913
and took position in the store Of Middleton
& Riley. he remained with them soGle two
years. aud during the time made trip Tor the
firm TO Salt Lake, travelling over vast a
monut Of territory which was then wilder
ness. with scarcely an inhabitant between the
Missouri river and his destination,
Ia 1851 be went into the grocery business
in ST. Joseph for himself, keeping 1t up ior
about year. when he left il to 80 with the en-
eineer force Just starting to survey the HAnul'
bal & St. Joe railroad While ont with these
surveyors he studied aud mastered the science
of civil engineering, profession 10 wnlcn nc
ever afterwa-d proved degoiedly attached; =
BE remained with tbe Ranuibal q ST JOG
railroad until the road VAs comPle'ei, ana
came across The State on the FIRST train.
lie afterwards surveyed the tirst line lor ,hC
MaryviIle branch, aud then surveyed and
bpilt the st. Joseph aud Topeka X. K as fal
as Wathens. which has siaco become part oi
the st. Joseph &, Denver City Il. X.
In 1856 and 1857 be had extensive contracts
for surveying government lands in Nebraska
which be fulfilled with remarkable skill anc
fidelity.
He then returned 70 ST. Joseph, and fol
several years thereafter, filled with honor The
positions OF city engineer and county sur
yeyor. In 1853 he was elected mayor OF the
city of St Joseph, which important office h'
filed with marked ability. and during hi'
nayoralty, be negotiated the first bonds io'
the protection of our river front. lie oni
the first dykes for this purpose, and they ST., ~,
remain as monuments Of his engineering skin
These dykes demonstrated the feasibility o
stoppiug the encroachments Of the river upot
our frontier. .,
After this he entered into partnership will
Thomas Harbine, Esq, 10 the real estate BUS
iness. aud the firm kept up a remarkable TRADE
for several years, aud to them 81. Joseph owes
a debt she viii not soon discharge
When the war broke out Gen. Thompson
warmly espoused the cause OF the Soath, anc
showed his devotion 70 principle by throwins
his life in the balance and proving the SIN
rcrity Of bis convictions BY bis acts. ll'
went TO Southeast Missouri and raised br
g,de which he commanded 10 the end OF th'
war holding the rauk OF brigsdier general u
the Confederate service. His brigade wa
Noted for It's discipline and dash, and many o
the brightest achievements OF the SoutherI
troops are recorded to the honor Of Jrh
THOMPSON and his bold brigade. He servec
in every department from the Ohio to The
Calf and no blot rests upon him or the brave
bovs who served under JEFF. Thompson. -
There was no part Of the Mississippi bottom
he was not familiar with, and As an evidence
Of his popularity We need only to mention th'
fact that letter came yesterday, just aUoa
the hour Of bis death soliciting him to MAKE
the opening address at the coming lar a
Charleston. Bat the eloquent voice Is ST.
lent the loved form lies cold aud still. and to-
dav we shall lay JEFF. Thompson 80 rest Il
NJ Nora. and the pale marble only shal
mark his resting place.
Con left Thompson commanded Shelby
brigade in the fall Of 1864, on the occasion o
Prices raid into Missouri, and won goidet
laurels Ia that disastrous retreat.
Atthe close Of the war he was IN Iayor ol
modification aud the restoration OF the south
and bis best energies were spent IN au enuea,
vor 10 render the Southern States happy aud
prosperous. He engaged in the commis'''t
business in New Orleans for a year or two ant
then gave this up 70 accep, the position o
chief engineer of tie Board Of public work.
Of the State Of Louisiana, which position h'
held until the time of his death lie literally
worked his life ont 10 the swamps Of Louisiana
and the general debility which followed hh
lab,,s there. finally carried him OF. lie Tel
Louisiana about the 6rst Of July on account
Of his failing health, taking trip 70 Ne"
York 10 witness the removal OF the ohstTuc-
tious al Hell Gaze, aud afterwards visiting tn'
Ceuten,ennial after which he came to 81. Jo'
seph 20 visit his brother, Chas. VI. Thompson
onr late City Recorder. and bis sister, Mrs. }
+ Abe0 If the Pacific House Here ne wa
taken worse, aud Notwithstanding every KIND
ness and every attention that could oe SHOWN
him. heyesterlay died Of genenl debility causs'
by exposure 10 the swamps Of Louisiana. fi'
leaves widowed daughter, two single daugh-
tiers and son, who have the sympathy OF al
in this hour Of their bereav emeni.
One of the marked charsctofistics of Gen
Tbomuson's life was his devotion 70 bis friends
especially his parents and sister. To them b'
was deyotedly attached and no opportunity
was allowed 70 q uuimpfovel 70 sho" bis re-
gard for them. Ilc was also motel TOT his
wonderful activity, vitality ard consc'entious'
ness. and in these respects 20 one has ever lci
a better record
The funeral Of General Thompson toos
place at the Pacific Hotel, at o'clock yester
DAY afternoon.
The remains were enclosed 10 a beautiful
rosewood casket, with silver trimmings, I'M
handle plates bearing tie coat of arms Of th'
United States, while plate upon the cove
was beautifully engraved with TIE name an'
acc Of the deceased. \ cross aud wreath
white flowers adorned the casse., and gar
land Of the same surrounded the head an'
shoulders Of the corpse, and the right han'
belJ bououet Of similar flowers. The beau
,ifnl bprial service # the Protestant Episco
nal church was read by Rev. Dr.. Hnncie, rs
sisted By Rev Judson N. Curtis oi Doonvuie
who knew the General in Arkansas ana wa
his warm personal friend ~ its close %
ca.fet was taken il charge by the pail osarers
Nessrs T. Gates. 4. Beattie, u. Tootls, Jane
Hull J.H. R. CunAif, James Kay, +. /
Schneider aad ). " Saxt0n and Conveyed I