Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-08-22
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TRIBUTE 70 IN Old PIONEER
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Farmer Wallace Thinks Col. William
Thompson Deserves Place in ST.
Louis Hall Of Fame,
"A Pioneer in the West Whose Ser
vice was Contemporaneous with:
Lincoln and Others.
"@a' y tEf~-H$".- rS+'SE~9 -.|rI,
Sketch of the Record of Col. Thomp-
SON, in the Winning of the
Great Northwest.


ooiAS eho SoAtouuldl anniversary Va 1hO
purchase-there will be a
Hall of Fame, in which will be placed
statues of men who have distinguished
themselves in the service of the nation
and as pioneers in the territory and
states within the original Louisiana
purchase. Two will be selected from
each state and from our great dead.
This is an important matter and deserves
thought and searchful consideration.
Who will North Dakota select? In max
ing selection we need not belittle the
record of any ne. We have. good ma
terial to chose from and should endeavor
to agree upon those who will fttingly
ill the inches and prove generally &C
ceptable to the people of our state and
the country. i 2.&*s . ~ .
In forty-ive years roaming over the
the writer, while only act
ing an humble part, has Just happened
to meet and have opportunity to size up
the great leading actors in this broad
field, and he ventures to present the
name of Col. William Thompson Of Bur-
leigh county a one Of our grandest men,
and one who earned by public service
and private works a position in the st.
Louis Hall of Fame; and in order to
refresh the memories of his many old
acquaintance, and to convey to those
who did not know him the record OF his
life's work, I ask of the Tribune space
to present a brief outline Of his life,
William Thompson sprang from old
Virginia colonial and revolutionary an
~cestors. He was born in Manallin town
ship, Fayette county, Pennsylvania,
Nov. 10, 1913. W.
In the year 1917 the family migrated
over the mountains into Ohio, and in
the great forests, eleven miles from
Mount Vernon, settled, built a home and
carved out 8 farm. William, the oldest
Of three children, took the lead in help
ing the parents, and found time, notwith-
standing the limited educational oppor-
t~unities Of that day in Ohio, to acquire a
good education, learn civil engineering
and practical surveying, study law, and
at the age Of IS, in 1883, was admitted to
practice, after undergoing a rigid exam
nation by a committee appointed by the
supreme court in session at Columbus,
Ohio. Il ~ -
In 1889, believing himself able to row
his own boat, he migrated west, and at
the age of 26, November, 1889, he landed
at the village Of Burlington, in the ter
ritory Of Iowa. This was during Jack.
sons second presidential term, for whom
William Thompson had cast bis first
vote. wy -
He o located at Mount Pleasant,
and hung out his single as counselor at
law, and at once became a leader among
the Iowa pioneers. He was elected the
first Mayor Of Mount Pleasant. In the
winter of '339.40 he was appointed by the
governor a lieutenant Of the state mill
tia and became adiutant OF General
lB~razzellon's brigade during the boun.
dairy line war between Iowa and Mis-.
souri-a war, rs the colonel once sold
where much noise was made and large
quantities Of whisky consumed"
In le40 he became deputy u. s.. mar:
shall and census enumerator and took
the first census of Henry county. Il
1843 he was elected to the legislature
served the term. and afterwards was
chosen chief clerk of the House, il
which capacity he served until the ad.
mission of Iowa as q state in 1846. al
was chief clerk of the constitutional con
tention. He at this time became thu
prosecuting attorney for the district
over which Judge Mason presided.
In the winter of 1s46 Thompson wa
appointed by the governor supreme
Judge. He soon resigned to accept the
nomination for congress.
He was elected to the thirtieth ses
sion and reelected to the thirty-frst SOS.
sion He obtained speedy recognition
was a member Of the committee on ter
Iritorial affairs and did much good worl
for the western portion OF our country
He was a member of the c~ongressiona
committee to lay the corner stone 8
Washington's monument, and took par
in that event. He was present in cor
gress when John Quincy Adams died d
suddenly, was oneof the escort and pal
bearers. $#
This congressional experience CAV
Thompson an opportunity to toucl
elbows with the grandest men this IA
ton has been blessed with. BY then
he was inspired with broad ideas al,
patriotic devotion 10 his country, and ii
never weakened-the Inspiration Taste,
Throughout his long lite.
After the t~hirty-frat session be Il
turned 70 Iowa and never afterwarl
sought political position. He bscalneal
" nI;tnr and rsYb1;of,c- ~ re- Tnr.o GtnS