Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-28
IN MEMoRIAM.
Tributes of the Press 30 Colonel w
IT. Thompson

The Atlanta Constitution, commenting on the
tolegraphic dispatch announcing Col. Thomp-
sons death, says: His last hours were peace
full, and his mind was clear almost 10 the end
He died as he had desired, with his loved ones
around him and his eyes resting upon the
noble wife who had been the ministering angel
of his life and his consolation in his last trials
He passed away with Christians faith in the
life beyond the grave. The impression of his
life is engraved upon Georgia's history He
leaves to his family and his people the legacy
OF an honorable name"
Charleston NstCs and Courier.
The death Of Major Thompson, the editor Of
the Savannah NEWS, causes sincere regret
wherever he was known. Certainly he was one
OF the most Influential journalists in the South.
sion in Georgia.
He was born in Ravenna. Ohio, August 81,
1872. his parents being among the pioneer set
tiers of the Western Reserve. He was the first
white child born in that section. His mother
was an Irish lady whose father had taken part
IN the revolution of 1873, and emigrated to
America his father was a Virginian and
from the union Of these two races the son drew
that combined humof and sound sense
which marked his labor as a literary man
he left the West on the death of his
employment in the Office Of Phila-
delphia newspaper, where he gained
his hrst idea OF newspaper life. He afterWard
studied Tor The bar, thinking to make the law
his calling. and became secretary to the late
Governor Wescott, of Florida, and continued
his legal studies in the latter's Office In 1895,
however, he removed to Georgia and became
connected with Judge Longstreet, then news
paper editor. Their business relations were for
while broken up by young Tho npson joining
as government volunteer in the Seminole
war. He left the service after years cam
palgn and returned to newspaper writing In
1896 he established the first literary weekly
newspaper-the MiTror-ever published in
Georgia. Soon after he married the daughter
OF prominent Augusta merchant to whose ge-
MAI sympathy and interest was due much Of
the work that made the success of his
humorous book "Major Jones' Courtship."
The Mirror was subsequently merged
into the Family COmpcnton, a monthly,
OF which Colonel Thompson was editor for
short time only. Afterward he was editor Of
the Miscellany. of Madison, Ga. and later still
OF the Western Continent of Baltimore which
he left after a profitable connection and
founded the NEws, in Savannah. During the
war he was Aide to Governor Brown, and later
on was active in Democratic politics. Among
his other books, written at intervals between
his active newspaper work, were 1.-THE Chroni-
Giles of Pineville' and Major Jones' Travels"
and he also wrote farce THE Live Indian"
which John E. Owens produced with success,
and dramatization Of ''The Vicar of Wake
Held His legal studies bore fruit in 1S45 in
the preparation Of codihcation of the laws of
Georgia.
Major Thompson was waTm-hearted and
sincere, as well as accomplished, and was as
true as steel in his allegiance to tie South and
TO the Democratic party. There was old
fashioned faithfulness in his professional life
and in all his dealings