Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-10-12
DEATH OF J. A. THOMPSON.


community as did the death of John
Albert Thompson. A few weeks ago
he was confined to his house for few
days with fever which his physician
soon had under control, and the anx-
iety of his friends was relieved by see
ing him again out Of doors. He re-
covered sufficiently to take long ride
one beautiful day to the house of II
friend ir the country. But for some
cause he suffered relapse, and in
spite Of all the tender nursing and
the faithful medical attendance the
= disease could not be broken and he
quietly passed away on Sunday even
ing October ninth.
Mr.. Thompson was born in Miss
ouri, September s, 1860. When he
was child his parents moved into
Iowa and after a residence there of
five or six years. they returned to
Missouri. When nineteen years old
he went to California where he re-
manned one winter, coming in the
spring to Garfield county, Washing
ton. During his residence in this
county he married Miss Ella Hender,
September 10th, 1882. Eleven years
ago he came with his family to Adams
county which had since been his
home.
Into this family seven children
were born, four boys and three girls,
one of whom, beautiful girl of eleven
died a few years ago. The last words
spoken by the little one were:"I want
my papa; / want my papa" This
longing of the dying child for her
papa was expressive OF the fathers
place in the hearts of his family. In
the quiet Sabbath evening when the
shadows were falling over the day of
rest the father joined the waiting
child in the land of no night and
where death never comes.
An aged father and mother; three
brothers and three sisters, living in
Caldwell county of his native state,
share this affection with the devoted
wife and children.
The autumn seems to have been
the season OF the chief events OF his
life. He was born in the beautiful
September days; he left the old home
to come west in the fall; he was mar
ried in the dreamy days of the har'
vest moon; he gave little Jessie into
the hands of the angels OF God early
in the "sober October days." and when
''the days we're in the yellow leaf" he
took his departure to where the leaf
never fades and the days never grow
old
He was a member of the Methodist
church in Ritzville in whose place of
worship the last sad services were
conducted by Rev. Geo. H. Newman.
the text, Therefore be we also ready;
for in such hour as We think not the
Son of Man cometh." Matt. "a, Az,
was in keeping with the warning given
in the death OF one so young and 81
strong.
He was an honored and valuable
member of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellow, Knights OF the Maccabees
and Modern Woodmen Of America.
Genuine sympathy had been shown
by the members of these orders dur
ing his illness, and they were present
in body to perform the last services
of esteem and love. The beautiful
burial service OF the Odd Fellows was
fittingly pronounced at the grave.
Mr.. Thompson was serving the sec
ond term as sheriff OF the county to
the satisfaction OF all. He was pro-
prietor and editor OF the Adams
County News. To this work he brought
more than the average ability and
tact. He was man Of noble princi-
pies and was fearless in expressing
them. He did not bslieve there was
any gain worth having in taking an
ambiguous and cowardly position
upon the practical moral questions
that concern the welfare of the COM
manity. This was shown by his ac-
ceptance of the presidency OF the
Adams County Temperance Society,
which position he held at the time of
his death.
The loss OF citizen so active in SO
many things that go to make up Tor
the good OF the community, and that
too when he was in the prime OF his
strong, noble manhood, is a sad be-
reayement to the whole county.
He will be greatly missed in many
places, and by the many over whose
lives his death has cast shadow. His
wife and children have the tender
sympathy Of a large circle OF friends,
xuho re;oica IN learn that little FlOssle