The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-02-25
HON. G. W. THOMPSON.
A NOTED CITIZEN cAIIED AWAY.
short sketch About one of VirEinia's
elitsd JuristS-Tho oaloSS he Fillsd-His
Work rs an Misunderstanding
AbOu, uIs Keeling.

NJ. Il0mpBout WHICH OCCutL6u NJ ~ carly
hour yesterday morning ct his home, the
old steenrod place, cut the National road,
while not unexpected, caused quite feel.
ing Of sadness among the older residents
in this vicinity, and among the many
friends the deceased had. The death
Of Judge Thompson removes noted land
marx. He wns noted as 8 scholar,
a statesman, and an able iurist, His bril-
liant mind was active to the last, and 1t
was not till old age had wasted him
away that the summons came. His
funeral will take place Monday alter
noon at 2:30 O'Clock, from his
| late residence. It was first intended to
have the funeral on Sunday afternoon
but reinforcement was had in order to
enable his son, Col. G. W. Thompson, Of
the Ohio River road, to reach here. Tho
Colonel, who Is in Florida for his health,
started for home on hearing Of his
fathers death, but was unfortunate
enough TO miss a connection, so that he
will not be able TO reach here before Sun.
day evening. There will be carriages at
the Mcclure House Monday afternoon OF
| / AS o'clock 10 convey those who desire to
attend tho funeral.
A meeting OF the members Of the Coun.
~ Bar Is called for 3 o'clock this after
noon at the Court House to take sppro.
pirate action with reference to the death.
Judge Thompson was son Of John
Thompson, native Of ireland, who, when
he was about 20 years old, removed to this
country with his wife and settled in this
locality. The deceased was born In the
town Of st. Clairsville, May IA, 1906, and
took his early education OF Jefsrson Col.
legs, now the Washingson.J etferson Col
leTe, from which institution he VTaduatedin
1924, under the presidency oil DR.. Matthew
Brown. He then slndied law under tbe
late William B. Hubbard, at St. Clsirs-
vile. and was admitted to the bar in 1926.
He then went 10 Richmond to improve
his studies and was there until 1928, when
he returned to St. Olairaville, where he
practiced down to 1887. when he removed
10 Wheeling and continued his practice,
succeeding therein till 1851 when he was
elected 10 Congress.
Politically, he became in his younger
days prominent Democrat and remained
an adherent Of that party's faith 10 his
end. When actively engaged in political
work in the "40's" he warmly enunciatsd
| his psrty's principles and took an sckiye
part sustaining Gen. Jsckson's proclsms.
ton against the qualification OF South
Caroline in 1888. Before being elected to
Congress 1888, he was honored with
the frs! appointment as distributing
postmsster ior Wheeling. This wRs under
President Van Buren's administration and
mon the recommendation Of hon. Amos
Kendall, Postmaster General. Then 1t
was thas the consolidation OF the distrib.
uting aSencies at Washington, Pa, and
Zanesville, took place hero and made
Wheeling the moot important postal town
in the West 81 that time.
In 1912 when tho controversy between
the Baltimore 4 Ohio railroad and Wheel
ing was in full force as to making Wheel;
ing q terminus, Judge Thompson and
Judge MoEes O. Good were appointed q
commission 10 visit Richmond aud watch
the movements Of tho company. Judge
Thompson differed from certain views
taken by his colleague ss to the policy to
be pursued, and made an open attack
upon the company before 8 full committee
OF the Legislature, resulting il the defeat
Of the application OF the company Tor
right Of way which would have taken
them from Wheeling altogether. The
controversy was carried On through the
succeeding session, and the railroad COM
psny again defeated. Finally 1t sue.
cumbed and Wheeling was made sterminal
point. m
Judge Thompson WsSG lso smember otthe
Joint commission, appointed on the psrt Of
Virginia 10 settle the Jurisdiction OF the
Ohio river between Virginia and Ohio. In
the latter party OF the iorties he wss APP
pointed United States District Attorney
Tor this section by President Polk.
As before noted, in 1851 he was elecled
to Congress where he sal until the fol.
lowing year, when he was elected to
judReship in the Twentieth. y Judicial Or-
cult, where he ably olticiated. In Con-
gress he introduced bill and secured lie
pRssSge, In opposition to q previous decree
Of the Supreme Court Of the United
States, for the abatement and-removal OF
the Wheeling bridge. This was q most
important achievement, and probably one
Of the finest constitutional distinctions
ever made between Legislative and judicial
power, as 1t Get aside the effect OF judi.
cisl decision Of that court by az act Of
Congress, and secured the foundation for
all future legislation on crossing nsVlga.
bic streams in the United GtRtes.
III 1850 Judge Thompson was reelected
to the JudVeshipin the Circuit and District
courts OF Virginia by an overwhelming |
msjority. He held the Office till July,
1861, when his removal was effected in
consequence Of his refusal to take the
oath Of Office 10 support what he conaci. |
entioualy believed 10 be the unoonstitp- |
honal actions OF those engaged in setting |
up the present State Of West Vlrginls.
He then retired 10 private life and
found an agreeable occupation for his |
active and deeply penetrating mind In |
welding the authors pen, ct which he |
seemed 10 be dorbly securing the perps.
tuity OF an energetic life as compared with |
bis active public career as 9 scholar and
statesman. In 1868 he published Q work |
entitled "The Living Forces" TO identity
the forces Of nature ss representative
Of the spiritual and mshSa, forces |
by which oil things were made.
In 1870 he followed this with another
volume bearing on the samo subject, en-.
titled Deus bemper," Later there came |
1.-THE Administration Of Good and Evil"
or what may virtually be termed sum.
mary Of his previous works, In defense Of
Professionalism against Atheism and Ca |
tholicism embodyiag an immense field Of |
ideas In Q condensed form. Thesa EeIa
but few Of his writings, for he has left |
endless manuscript forms and prose COM
pllations, some Of which have been print |
ed among them 1.-THE Category Of the
Infinite"
In 1882 Judge Thompson wss married
70 Elizabeth, daughter Of Daniel Steen-
rod, or, Of Duchess county, N. Y, who
survives her honored husband. They had |
six children, among the following; Annie,
vile Of ex.United States Senator ]. n. |
Camden, Of ParksIsburg; Col. W. P.
Thompson, Of New York, q prominent
member Of the Standard Oil Company
Col. George W. Thompson, OF Parkers.
burg, President and General Manager Of |