The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-01-19

of Mr.. L. A. Thompson, was prepared fol
this paper by A. H. Heron:
Edwin Allen Thompson was born in
Verona, Oneida Co., N. Y, Feb. I'd, 1911, be-
ing, at the time of his death, II years, IL
months and 8 days old.
On the goth of August, 1884, in Courtland
county, N. Y, he was married to Julia A.
Sutton, who still fingers on this side to mourn
her loss.
OF eight children born to them, three sons
and five daughters, only two daughters sur
vive him.
Mr.. Thompson, with his family, moved to
Michigan in the fall of 1916, making Paw
Paw his home until January, 1857, with the
exception of year or 80 spent in Berrien
county. From 1S49 to 1855, he was foreman
of the extensive boot and shoe manufactur-
ing establishment of A. Sherman d Co.
Mr.. Thompson was never a policy man.
Having embraced cause, he was never half
hearted in its support, but gave to it the
whole energy of his being.
In his early manhood he was profoundly
impressed with the enormity of the Grim @ of
human slavery, and, therefore, very naturally
espoused the anti-slavery cause, so ably
championed by Garrison and his compeers,
even when to do so, in many cases, meant
social, as well as political ostracism. The
question with him was not will this or that
cause be popular, but is it right?
Having stood bravely for the cause of the
down-trodden and the oppressed during the
years of its unpopularity, he very naturally
rejoiced at the elimination of events that
brought about political revolution in this
county and State in 1854, and later through
out the entire north. and contributed not a
little, with both tongue and pen, TO bring
about that glorious result.
As n natural sequence, as we'll as because
of his eminent fitness, he was chosen as one
of the standard bearers at the organization
of the Republican party in this county in
the summer of 1854, and was that fall elected
to the office of Register of Deeds which
Office he worthily filled for two years, when
he was appointed to the responsible position
of Deputy Secretary of State by John Nc
Kinney, which position he continued TO hold
for four years, serving during the last term
of Mr.. Mckinney and the first term OF his
successor, the Hon. Nelson Ct. Isbel.
Following his retirement from the Secre-
tary of States Office for nearly four years
he held a prominent clerkship in the Auditor
Generals Office, and until, at the earnest So
icitation of the Hon. +. j. House. then
Assessor of Internal Revenue of this district,
he returned to Paw Paw and accepted the
Office of Assistant Assessor of Internal
Revenue for this county, in which position
he continued for several years, during which
time he also discharged the duties of County
Treasurer for several months of the last term
of A. 5. Dyckman.
At the Republican State Convention of
1866, he was quite a prominent candidate
e.. sc TOT
Enrolling Clerk of the House of Representa-
tives at Lansing during the session of 1863,
following which, and for about two years
he filled acceptably an important Clerk
ship in the Census Bureau at Washington.
This practically ended the public life of
Mr.. Thompson, but whether as private citi-
zen, or as the incumbent of the various inn
portant official positions held by him, he
was never found wanting in ability or i'll any
of those elements that go TO make up pop
ular and an efficient public officer. In all
his dealings. whether in the field of politics,
or in the quieter walks of private life, he
was honest, and faithful to his convictions
of right-an example worthy of emulation.
Though not member of any christian
society, MIR. Thompson was a man of deep
religious convictions, and of high moral at
tainments, and sought To live life void of
offence TO God and man. He gave literally
of his means for the support of the Gospel,
and for several years after returning from
Lansing, held the Office of Trustee in the
Methodist church of Paw Paw and cheer
fully gave of his time and means for its ad-
vancement 1t was often the pleasure of the
writer of this humble tribute TO his memory.
during the years of intimate business rela-
tions existing between them. to listen TO able
and interesting articles written by him i'll
his hours of leisure, upon the wonderful pro
gress and triumphs of christianity in the
world. and other kindred subjects.
Amid the trials and Affections and bereave-
ment of this life. he manifested an unfalter-
ing trust in God. When the soul was well
nigh overwhelmed, he was won't to repeat
that matchless poem of Whittier's, entitled,
Eternal Goodness few days before his
death he repeated the last stanZas:
81 know not where His islands lift
Their frondel palms in air,
only know i cannot drift
Beyond His love and care.
And then o Lord by whom are seen
Thy creatures they be-
Forgive me If too close lean
My human heart on Thee!
Intellectually Mr., Thompson was far above
the average, and could he have enjoyed, in
early life, that thorough education which 1t
was the pride of his life that he might give
to his children, he might have held high
rank in the field of letters.
He was great reader, and being endowed
with wonderful memory, was enabled TO
acquire stock of knowledge and of general
information far beyond the average of those
whose earlier advantages had been the same
as his. He loved the companionship of our
standard poets, and had large portion of
the writings of Scott. Whittier and others at
his tongues end.
When Horace Greedy, who was only one
day younger than our deceased friend. and
greatly admired by him, was writing his
"Recollections of a busy life he regretted
seriously his inability TO reproduce a certain
poem which had wonderfully impressed him
in his earlier days. Though Mr.. Thompson
had not seen or thought of the poem for
more than 30 years he was able to recall it
all, save a portion of single verse. When
the writer of this memorial announced TO
him, few months after his terrible affliction
came upon him, the death, in comparative
poverty near Muskegon, of Jonathan Walker,
whom Whittier had immortalized in 1876,
| no tlo s,,o,, ne I,.oo1oJ Jo,J., he xxoo