Waterbury Democrat., 1901-09-20
JOHN THOMPSON DEAD.
One of waterbury's Best Known and
 Honored Citizens.

1flSu. SellleIS Ol NdtSlbuiJ, ".
 of the city's well known and highly respected citizens. died ill the waiting room of the Dublin street station snort ly before o'clock yesterday afternoon. He had not been in good health TOT some time past, but his condition was much better during the present week than at any time since his sickness set ill. He attended service at the sa- cred Heart church in the morning ana left the house about o'clock i'll the af- ternoon telling the family that he was going up town to get some medicine. He evidently had intended to cross over to East Main street and take car to the center, for he was on his way Ill that direction when he was taken Ill and sat down on a chair at the en- trance to the waiting room of the rail road station. He had been there but q few minutes when Charles Roper, one of his neighbors. happened along and asked him how he felt. MT Thomp- son replied that he had just been seiz- ed with a bad spell and requested Mir Roper to come and sit with him, add ing that he hoped to get over it soon. MT Roper was quick to notice the seriousness of the situation and hur- riedly went to his assistance and had scarcely reached him when he was taken with q vomiting spell The pa tient was removed into the waiting room and a physician and priest sum- moned. Father Shelley responded promptly and administered the last rites of the church to the dying man and had no more than finished the ceremony when life was extinct so that he was past medical aid when Dr Don ahue arrived. The neighbors collected and removed the body to the family residence at 217 Dublin street.
 John Thompson was born ill the townland of Durracairn, Queens coun- ty, Ireland, seventy-three years ago and came to this country shortly be fore he had attained his majority and went to work at Brown X Elton's, com monly known as the East brass mill, now the Waterbury Brass Co, and worked for the company until a short time ago when he was obliged to re- main home on account of sickness. He learned the rolling business under the tutorship of Julius Perry and was re- garded one of the most skillful men at the business in the city At the office of the Waterbury Brass Go to-day a Democrat reporter was informed that Mir Thompson had been in the employ of the company for fifty-three years and that during all that time he had not lost day on account of sickness. He was well liked by the hands and com handed the confidence and esteem of his employers.
 MT Thompson was married years ago to Miss Mary German in the old Catho- lie church which stood on the site of St Patrick'S block on East Main street by the Rev Father O'Neile, the first resident Catholic pastor of Waterbury. His wife died twenty three years ago. Three daughters and one son survive him, Mrs William Kenny, Mrs George smith, Mrs Michael Shaw and Timothy Thompson, also one sister, Mrs Mar garrett Sammon, and one brother, Peter Thompson. st,f a3f
 Mr Thompson was prominent in church and society affairs and until quite recently took an active part in politics. He was a democrat and represented his party at different times III the court of common council. the aldermanic chamber, on the board of relief, the board of road and sewer commissioners. the board of police and fire commissioners and was acting mayor for q time during the regime of eX-Mayor c. R. Baldwin. In all these positions he was regarded as the soul of honor and he lived to hear his name spoken of as that of man who al- ways aimed at doing what he believed to be right regardless of what others might think of his conduct so that he was q power in the community and the cause that had him as one of it's supporters was not likely to be pushed into the background.
 He was one of the founders of the Senior Temperance society and devoted q good shareao his time to the buiId- ing up of that organization which might rightfully be termed the parent Catholic society in this town. He filled every office in the gift of the organization and was connected with it up to the time of his death.
 MT Thompson was for years trustee and pew collector at the Immaculate Conception parish and until the for nation of the Sacred Heart parish was prominently identified with all that per- tained to it's interests and was among its best known members. Since the formation of the Sacred Heart parish he has been steady attendant at the services held there and was also act i've in every movement that had for its object the advancement of the par ish.
 Years ago when the land league movement was rampant in Ireland Mir Thompson was a member of the local body and contributed generously from his means and ill other ways to assist the natipnalists in carrying on the bat tie for home rule. No matter what kind the weather happened to be he was all ways prompt in attending meetings and usually had something to say in the way of encouragement to those who might feel inclined to falter on the way and give things up as a lost cause Personally MT Thompson was a charm ing gentleman and he will be always remembered by those who knew him as man of strict integrity and great strength of character. He was cheer ful even at times when one might not expect him to be so. but it seemed as If he wanted to keep his own cares hidden away from those aabout him So