St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-06-27
DEATH OF JUDGE THOMPSON.
First Member of Supreme Court to Die
i'm Active Service Since state Bar
Association was Formed.

I
i'm Active Service Since state Bal
Association was Formed.
Judge Laforrest H. Thompson of Iras
burg died at the home of his daughter
Mrs. Harry House, at Newport, Friday
morning at six o'clock.
Three weeks ago Sunday the judge
went to Newport to take the train on
Monday morning for Manchester, where
he was assigned to court duty. During
the night he was taken seriously ill and
the doctor pronounced it pleuro pneu-
monia. His family were at once notified
and it was seen from the first that his
illness was very dangerous. The best OF
physicians were called and to the surprise
OF all he seemed to be successfully COM
batting the disease until last Monday,
when typhoid complications developed.
Wednesday morning he suffered severe
collapse from weakness of the heart and
| it was only by artificial means that he
was resuscitated, to be attacked again
| in the afternoon and third time in the
evening. From that time there was no
hope OF his recovery.
Although his family were prepared for
Che end it comes as a terri ible shock to
his wife and children. The remains
were removed to his late home in Iras-
burg. They were accompanied by Hon.
John Young and H. c. Cushman as re-
representatives. OF the bar.
Judge Thompson was aged 81 years.
In his death the supreme court has sus-
tanned great loss, the bar one of it's
leading members, the state a valued
citizen, the community where he had re-
sided the best Of mis- life man es-
teemed by al-and in his home a kind
husband and father. He leaves a wife,
two daughters and three sons, Mrs.
George Sylvester of Nashua, N. H., Mrs.
Harry House OF Newport, Lawyer
Frank Thompson of St. Johnsbury,
Philip and Sidney who live at home in
lrasburg, all ofwhom have the sympathy
OF a wide circle of friends and acuuaint-
anceS.
Laforrest Homon Thompson, Of Iras-
burg, son of Levi S. and Irene (Hodg-
klns) Thomas, was born in Bakersfield,
Jan. 6, 1848. His father moved from
Bakersfield to Cambridge about 1855,
remained there one year and then moved
to Potion, Canada, where Laforrest's
mother died. The boy worked on the
farm until 1865, having scant schooling
but reading and studying much for him
self. From 1865 he studied at the gram
mer school (now the Normal school) at
Johnson, and at Kimbal Union Acad-
envy at Meriden, N. H., and taught
school himself. In 1869, he was fitted
for college but his health was not such
as to permit him to enter. He taught
instead at Craftsbury and Irasburg, and
studied law mostly by himself.
In March 1871, he was admitted to
the Orleans county bar and at once be-
gan practice at Irasburg. He has al
ways been an indefatigable worker and
he soon fought his way to the front
rank of his profession. In 1874, he was
elected states attorney and from 1876 |
to 1881, when his law practice demand
ed his whole time and caused him to
resign, he was judge of probate. In
1880 and 1882, Judge Thompson rep
resented Irasburg and was, the latter |
year, chairman of the judiciary commit
tee of the House. In 1884 he was a
senator from Orleans county and pres-
dent pro tempore of the Senate. In 1890 |
he again represented Irasburg in the
House, and was again chairman of its
judiciary committee. At the session OF
1890 he was elected sixth assistant Judge
of the Supreme court, which office he
filled until the resignation of Chief Judge
Ross allowed his promotion to fifth
assistant Judge. His election brought
to judicial service at once the ardent stu
dent, and the man Of affairs giving the
right reason for the right decision.
Mr.. Thompson married, August "a,
1869, Mary Eliza, daughter of Hon. A.
P. Dutton of Craftsbury, who bore him
four children. Mrs. Tompson died
March 20, 1881, and Judge Thompson
married Harriet c. Kinney,
by whom he also has children.
The funeral was held Sunday at Iras
burg at the Congregational church at
two p. m. Rev. Edward Fairbanks of
st. Johnsbury preached the funeral ser
mon and Wendell P. Stafford of St.
Dohnsbury recited a poem which was
very impressive. The church was crowd
ed to it's utmost capacity. All the
Judges OF the supreme court were present
and acted as pail bearers. Among those
present were Senator Ross, w. B. c.
Stickney of Ludlow and Mr.. Sargent, his
aw partner, also Mayor Gordon Of
Barre and large delegation OF members
ot the bar from all over the state.