Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-16
VIM. THOMPSON
PASSED AWAY
THE PIONEER sUCCUMBED TO
PARALYTIC STROKE EARLY
THIS MORNING.
MAN OF STERLING HONESTY
WHOSE FRIENDS WERE LEGION
Came to Montana in 1868 and Has
Been Actively Identified With
The States Progress.

The States Progress.
lion. William Thompson passed away
about 1890 O'Clock this morning from the
para!ytlc stroke, with which he was
stricken last Saturday night. His death
occurred at the residence of his son.
James r. Thompson at No. 11O1 Gale.
donia street.
very little hope was entertained for Mr..
Ihompson's recovery. His right side was
paralyZed and since the fatal stroke he
hao Deen to utter a word. 1t was
ioped for a time that his robust constitu-
ton would pull him through. but he never
rallied from the shock and after the first
lew hours 1T was seen that it was only
a question of a short time until he would
Succumb.
His death will be a shock to his .nanv
friends throughout the west. He was one
OF the best known pioneers of Montana
and was held in high esteem by every one
with whom he came in contact. His ster-
ing honestly IN his dealings with his fell
loWmen won for him a legion of friends.
only recently he had placed in the new
Idaho street Methodist church a beauti.
full art window in memory of his wife who
died in this city about four and a half
years ago. He was devoted to his child
rem and his happiest hours were spent by
the family friends.
Mrs. Ough, a sister of the deceased ar
rived from Sacramento, Monday night
with her sons, James and Edward. VIM.
B. Thompson, a son Of deceased who re-
sides in New York will not reach here
until tomorrow.
Wm. Thompson was born at Coburg.
Canada, March l, 1888. In 1850 his par
ents moved to Detroit. Mich, and in 1856
they went to Minnesota whera they re-
manned until 1861 when they removed
to Dakota and were among the first set
tiers Of Yankton. VIM. Thompson
remained there for W years and then
started for Montan1 reaching the then
territory, August 20, 1863, by way of
Sanders Cutoff. He brought the first
kit of carpenters tools into Virginia City
and at once engaged in the manufacture
of window sash, first hewing the mater
ial from dry pine poles and receiving ff-
ty cents per light for the sash. He
burned the first kiln of lime produced in
Alder gulch. During the winter of SO
and 81 and the following spring and sum-
mer he was engaged in the building bust
ness. In the fall of 1864 he constructed
thirteen boats on the Yellowstone for the
purpose of transferring to the states
those who We're anxious to return. On
Oct. 10, everything being in readiness
they started on the return trip, 1853 men
taking passage. MI. Thompson was re-
garded as the leader of the fleet and he
succeeded in conducting them without
molestation to the mouth of the Yellow
stone. At Painted Woods they passed a
= AAAo III AANA0AAo Az w kAS IA
Sioux tribe, who endeavored to induce
them to and and his companions fe': in
clined to do so, but Mr.. Thompson deter
mined to push onward with his BOAT and
the fleet followed him. The Indians find
ing they would not land came out upon a
sand bar and fired upon them, but aiming
too high the shots passed over them m
they escaped ~uninjured. They halted
at Forts Union, Buford, Price, Randall
and Thompsons, at each Of which place
they We're Hospitality treated by the SOL
diers. They arrived at Sioux City, Nov.
70, 1864.
Mr.. Thompson wintered in Minnesota,
Michigan and Canada and in the spring
Fort Benton. Soon after he went to
J, Helena and On the journey was obliged
to run the gauntlet as the Indians were
very troublesome and desperate in that
ginia City and resumed building with his
partner Mr.. Grifiths, who visited Butte
a, couple of years ago. The following
year he went to Helena and engaged in
contracting and building; next year he
returned to Virginia City where he Was
occupied for two years in building quartz
mills, during which time he bought a saw
mill. In 1874 he left Virginia City and
! going to Glendale remained until 1873,
when he came to Butte where he has
since resided.
He has been interested in mining and
prominently identified with all public
improvements of the city. He served in
the territorial legislature and was mayor
! of Butte for two years.
He was active and prominent in the
V%igilante's order having built the scat
old upon which five men were hung at
one time in Virginia City. one of whom
! it has since been claimed was innocent
and had unknowinoly carried a letter for
the road agents for which he was hung.
Mr.. Thompson was married Oct. Ii.
1869, to Miss Anne M. Boyce, daughter
of Major Boyce, to whom four children
; We're born:
VIM. B.. now of New York, James r..
5 Edward and Flora May.
Mr.. Thompson was also a prominent
{ member of the knights of Pythsas and
5 the order of Masonry, in which he had
; taken every degree in both Scottish and
: York rites. His funeral will he held
: next Friday under the auspices of the
{ Masonic fraternity.
s. Grand ball Renshaw hall tonight.
! ABE nEE Err CAPE MIME