Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-05-12
Death Of Judge Thos. Thomson.


Thu Uharlestons Noes and Coursea gka
nonnces in avery appropriate manner The
death OF Col. Thos. Thomson, OF Abbeyille.
His death, Swds wholly unexpected to the
public. Hs died oh fhdfsday the 9th in>
stahh ahor q brief illness. Of disease cf the
heart. There was no illness or loss of men-
tai vigor to.prepuro tho public for tho loss OF
one whose career was marked by eminent
talent in bis profession, by gallant service
during tho Confederate war, and. in every
relation of life, by sturdy modest worth.
Not effasive or impulsive, he was amiable to
those whom he liked, and firm friend o,
those whom he trusted.
Judge Thomson, was born ia Scotland on
Jane o, 1913 and went to Abbeyille, Soa,h
caroilha, ih his early youth. After ho grew
up no taught school for time, and studied
law under the Hon. Armistead Burt. For
many years he was associated with Col.
Robert A. Fair in the prautice of his pro-
fession, tho namo of tho firm boing Thomson
q Fair. AZ tho bar he stood deservedly
high, bis tastes causing him to prefer civil
practice. There was no lavk Of substantial
recognition of bis ability, and ho amassed
sufficient to make him independents of tho
chancos of the future. In Abbeville district
he had his home until the end. There ho
mado his reputation, and there, in conse.
quence, he was best known.
IN lS46 Judge Thomson was elected o
member of tho State Legislature, distin.
gushing himself there by tho cogeuoy and
brevity Of his utterances. With tho excep.
ton of two terms, he served continuously as
Representative and afterwards as Senator
until 1868. When the State soeeded ex.
changing the gown for tho sword. he went
into service rs captain of q company from
Ab5eville in tho Second Regiment of RiHes,
rising step by stop TO the rank of Colonel
1t cannot be said that no was q remarkably
skilled officer, but his bravery was every
where CONSPICUOUS. Upon his election as
State Senator in 1862, Judge Thomson re-
.signed his commission ia the army.
lie was q member Of the Cooperation
Convention in 1851, and, as member of
the Secession Convention in 1860, signed
the Ordinance Of Secession. From the time
of the dissolution Of tho State Government,
prior to Reconstruction, he remained in pri-
vate life until February, 1878, when he was
elected. by tho General Assembly, Judge of
tho Eighth Judicial Circuit, receiving I37
of the l39 votes cast. The next month he
was elected o judge of the Court of Claims,
boforo which tho issues involving tho va
lidity of a portion of tho State debt were
tried. Judge Thomson delivered tho opinion
of the Court, sustaining generally the report
of the Bond Commission.
Judge Thomson was at ono time, under the
old judicial system, prominent candidate for
Chancellor, and camo very near an election.
When tho General Assembly was called on
to elect Circuit Judges in 1878, Judge Thom.
son was looked upon as the man Of all men
to place upon the bench. That he did not
como up to tho level Of the highest oxpeotar
tions Of the bar, in the dispatch of business,
Was no reflection upon his integrity, or his
knowledge Of the law.
Judge Thomson was an elder Of tho Pros
byterian Church, enjoying tho fullest conf
donco Of his associates. Tho ofEico Of Treasu
urer of the Do La uowo Fund he held for
many years. and managed to protect it and
keep it intact during tho Radical era in
South Carolina. Judge Thomson was twice
married and leaves several children.