The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-05-12
Judge Thomas Thomson.

Hon. Thomas Thomson, of Abbeville,
Judge Of the Sth Circuit, died of heart
disease at his residence in Abbeville at
half past six o'clock on Thursday after
noon last, after confinement to his bed
of only few hours. We take from the
Charleston Mews and Courier the follow
ing sketch of bis life:
The news of the death of Judge Thom-
as Thomson, of Abbeville, was wholly
unexpected. There VAS no illness or
loss of mental vigor to prepare the pub
lie for the loss of one whose career was
marked by eminent talent in bis profess
sion, by gallant service during the Con.
federate war, and, in every relation of
life, by sturdy modest worth. Not effu-
sive or impulsive, he was amiable to
those whom lie liked, and firm friend
of those whom he trusted.
Judge Thomson was born in Scotland
on June 5, 1873 and went to Abbeville,
South Carolina, in his early youth
After he grew up he taught school for a
time, and studied law under the Hon.
Armistead Burt. For many years he was
associated with Col. Robert A. Fairin the
practice of his profession, the name of
the firm being Thomson g. Fair. At the
bar he stood deservedly high, his tastes
causing him to prefer civil practice.
There was no lack of substantial rccogni-
tion of his ability. and he amassed sufi-
cient to make him independent of the
chances of the future. In Abbeyille
district he had his home until the end.
There he made his reputation, and there:
in consequence, he was best known.
In 1916 Judge Thomson was elected a
member of the State Legislature, distin-
gushing himself there by the cogency
and brevity of his utterances. With the
exception of two terms, he served contin-
uously as Representative and afterwards
as Senator until 1868. When the State
seeded, exchanging the gown for the
sword, he went into service as captain OF
company from Abbeville in the Second
Regiment of Rifles, rising step BY step to
the rank of Colonel. 1t cannot be
said that he was a remarkably skillful
officer, but his bravery was everywhere
conspicuous. Upon his election as State
Senator in 1862, Judge Thomson resigned
his commission in the army.
he was member of the Cooperation
Convention in 1851, and as a member Of
the Secession Convention in 1860, signed
the Ordinance of Secession. From the
time of the dissolution Of the State Gov.
ernment, prior to Reconstruction, he
remained in private life until February,
1878, when he was elected, by the Gen.
eral Assembly, Judge of the Eighth
Judicial Circuit, receiving 1877 of the 139
votes cast. The next month he was
elected Judge Of the Court of Claims,
before which the issues involving the
validity of portion of the State debt
were tried. Judge Thomson delivered
the opinion of the Court, sustaining gen.
orally the report of the Bond Commis.
sion.
Judge Thomson was at one time, under
the old judicial system, prominent can
dicate for Chancellor, and came very
near an election. When the General
Assembly was called on TO elect Circuit
Judges in 1878, Judge Thomson was
looked upon as the man of all men to
place upon the bench. That he did not
come up to the level of the highest
expectations 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 the
Presbyterian Church, enjoying the fullest
confidence of his associates. The office
of Treasurer of the De La Howe Fund
he held for many years, and managed to
protect it and keep it intact during the
Radical era in South Carolina. Judge
Thomson was married, and leaves foul
children.