The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1900-03-16
rhRMVlLLE HERALD.
FRIDAY, MARCH l6 1900.
pe, samuel II. Thompson.

II Thompson. is native of North
c.,,Iins. having been born in the
'notv of Alamauce, of Scotch and
v"',eh.Irish parentaee. His academy
- So was taken under Rev. VIM.
s,,.ooson. of the North Carolina Nj.
:, conference. While quite young, he
-.ai,ed talent for speaking, and
me public temperance lecturer
AV CT.of /. O. q. T., when only
I'm wears of age. When twenty
~ old he babe farewell To the scenes
childhood and went TO the state
Indiana. where he engaged in teach
'ng After teaching for two years, he
.n,sred the National Normal Univer-
~, If Ohio. where he remained dur
,ag seven terms. He again returned to
,adisna and taught again for a year,
,rhen he entered franklin Baptist
College Franklin, Ind. At this cele-
...,ad institution of learning, he re-
.,;,sa the degrees of y. b. and \. NJ.
Mr. Thompson made profession of
.srgion a; a meeting held 10y Rev
Tbomas Gatts. of the NJ. L. Confer
soee. in the year 1869 and was licensed
IN p,each in December 1877. On the
ltb Sunday in January 1879, he was
or5sined to the full work of the gospel
ministry, by presbytery Of which
Rev Albert Carter was moderator, the
examination conducted by Rev. DR..
W.T. stott, president Of Franklin col
lege.
Mr. Thompson's first pastorate was
in Indiana, but he returned to his
native state. in 1851, and took charge
oftbe little Baptist flock at Lexington,
NC, which consisted Of only fourteen
members. Not having a church build
ing the congregation worshiped in the
courthouse of the town. But at the
expiration Of two years Mr.. Thompson
built four thousand dollar house,
aud the membership under the bless
ing of God had grown to one hundred
Mr.. ThompsOn's next pastOrate was
at the town of High Point, y. c.,
where he labored for four years. He
then accepted a call to Raleigh, n. c.,
where he remained for about one year.
His next pastOrate was at South Bos-
ton. where he came to take charge of
the Baptist church in 1883. During
bis pastOrate at South Boston, his
labors were greatly blessed. The con-
gregations were large, and during his
pastorate, of four aud half years, the
membership increased from lO4 to 2l7.
Seeing the Importance Of school Of
high grade, for both, boys and girls Of
limited means, somewhere in the cOun-
ty, Mr. Thompson eloquently appealed
10 all who were interested in higher
education, and a a result, the Scots
burg Normal College was established |
st Scottsburg. He was unanimously /
chosen president of the institution by |
the board Of trustees, and entered upon |
the responsible duties i'm 1893 with his |
usual zeal and enthusiasm. Many who /
were anxious that just such a school |
should be started, doubted the eX- /
pediency Of the move, but the gifted /
president, with years of experience, |
had faith in the undertaking, and /
obtained the aid and cooperation Of the /
enterprising citizens Of ScOttsburg aud |
vicinity, and others in different parts
Of the county, succeeded in building
large, handsome and cOmmOdiOus |
school building, with every convenience
for school work. With complete and |
well equipped faculty, the school |
moved of nicely and developed into |
one Of the best and most successful /
schools ever established in this section |
of Virginia. ULder his supervision,
which continued for sin years, students |
came from several states and the an
nual enrolment exceeded one hundred. |
Owing 10 eye trouble, supernduced by |
reading and study, Mr. Thompson was
forced 10 give up the management of |
the school last spring, much to the re-
gret of the many friends Of this flourish
ing institution, which we hope will !
long remain as a monument to its able |
and gifted founder, and a blessing to
the people Of Halifax aud elsewhere.
Mr. Thompson wields facie pen,
and has written a number of articles
Of decided merit. He is the author of
the life Of Rev. John r. Mohett, who
fell martyr to the cause of temperance
aud prohibition.
Mr.. Thompson has for more than
fifteen years been a lecturer Of no mean
ability. Some Of the topics discussed
IN South Boston and elsewhere are,
"Ethnology," "Fall If the Roman
Republic" Creation Of the Imagina-
ton" Education for the Twentieth
Century aud Hard Times"
In his studies Of Virginia dialect, he
has given US many original poems and
character sketches, such as "Tom
Iraynham, Lees Courier" "Picketts
Charge, The Broken Idol" etc.
Mr.. Thompson's address upon the
life and character of Gen'l h. h. Lee,
delivered al the Baptist church at this