The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-19

Yesterday afternoon at the thompson
homestead, on the National pike east of
the city, occurred the death of Mrs,
Elizabeth steenrod Thompson, widow of
the late Judge George W. Thompson, in
the elghty-frst year of her age. For the
past three years Mrs. Thompson has
not enjoyed good health, the intirmittes
OF old age coming gradually ana teadtng
her relatives to expect the end which ala
not come until yesterday,
Mrs, Thompson's father was the late
Daniel Steenrod, who was one OF the well
known politicians tn the first part OF the
century In this part of the state OF VIZ
ginia. She was born in this county, al
the Steenrod home, in April, 1877, and In
1889 became the bride Of Judge George
w. Thompson, Her brothers and sis
tiers were Mary, who married General
II, F. FeeRey, Of Wheeling; Emma, VINO
married Alfred Carter, Of Leesburg viz
glnla; Lewis, George w. and Edward.
The descendants of these include many
men and women OF Wheeling to-day,
Mrs Thompson was woman of high
intellect and talent. AS the wife or
Judge Thompson she was called upon TO
entertain many OF the celebrities Of half
n century ago, and was known as bril-
liant woman. President Andrew jack
son frequently was entertained at the
Thompson home, as was the great Ken
tuckian, Henry Clay, and other states
men OF the period At that time the Ma
tlonal pike to Wheeling was the great ar
terry OF traffic between east and west,
boats being taken at Wheeling for the
west and south on the trip from Wash
tngton and eastern cities. The ThomP-
son home was always open TO their
friends from all parts OF the country
who passed their door In journeys to and
from home,
Their family consisted Of six children.
as follows: Annie, wife OF eX-United
States Senator johnson N. Camden;
George w, deceased; William p, de-
ceased: Salle wife OF S. B, Bushfeld. OF
Colorado: d. s. Thompson. OF Marion
county, and Lewis Steenrod Thompson
the second son, who was killed during
the late war, while leading his command
at the battle Of Allegheny mountain.
Judge Thompson was one of the most
prominent men OF the old state OF Vfr-
glnia. He was born In Wheeling, but In
his youth the family moved TO 81, Glars
VILE, Ohio, and II was not until 1897 that
he moved back to Wheeling, where he
took up the practice Of his profession.
the law. In 1883 he was postmaster OF
this city, being the appolntee OF Presl-
dent VanBuren. AT that time Wheeling
was the most important poStdttice west
OF the AilegheRies, being point Of gen
eral distribution for the great weT.
In 1912, when the controversy between
Wheeling and the Baltimore & Ohio rail-
road was at Its height, the point being as
to where the road should terminate IN
western Virginia and Wheeling being
anxious to compel the road to come here,
q commission was appointed by the city
to visit Richmond in Its interest. consist
ing OF the late Judge Moses c. Good and
Judge Thompson. The result OF their
efforts was a charter by which the west
ern terminus was fixed at Wheeling.
Later, Judge Thompson was member
of the commission for Virginia which
met similar commission from Ohio and
fixed the jurisdiction Of the states over
the Ohio river. Judge Thompson pre-
pared the argument on behalf Of Vlr-
ginia, which provided for Virginia's jur-
isdlctieR over the river proper to the low
water mark on the Ohio shore. This de-
iIldIlu was NONGtuNh Wy VIC UNIV
sion. In 1874 Judge Thompson was
United States district attorney, being
the apptdntee OF President Polk. In 1851
he was a representative in Congress,
serving part Of term While In Con-
gress he introduced bin and secured its
passage practically overturning decree
OF the supreme court OF the United
States, which directed the removal Of
the first suspension bridge across the
Ohio, at Wheeling. Judge Thompson's
bill made It possible to erect other
bridges across the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers. The opposition. which included
the then very powerful and important
steamboating interests, was led by Ed
win NJ. Stanton OF Steubenvllle, later the
great war secretary IN Llncoln's cabinet
While IN Congress. Judge Thompson was
elected circuit judge, and while on the
bench the war came. He refused 10 ac-
knowledge the restored government Of
virginia at Wheeling. At the close Of
the war he retired to his home east OF the
city and followed the pursuit OF lltera-
ture until his death in 1883.
The funeral arrangements for Mrs.
Thompson have not been made and Will
be delayed until the arrival of Senator
Camden, her son-tn-taw, who wifi be IN
Wheeling to-day
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