The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-11-11
THOMPSON OF
CANDO IS SENATOR
CONTINUED from page ID.

having been largely confined to ToWner
county, where he has been member
Of the board of township supervisors
and county judge. He Is close per-
sonal friend of the governor, and it 10
said that he was turned to as an APP
pointee after ir was seen that the dem
ocratic leaders Of the state were hope
lessly divided as to a choice for the
senatorship Few OF the democratic
leaders in the city last night but were
surprised at the appointment. from the
fact that Thompson was not looked
upon as possible appointee, and his
claims have been urged only within the
past day or so by delegation from
Towner county, consisting OF ]. v.
Brooke, Alex Currie and Thomas Con-
yers.
Busy Days Conferences.
His appointment was announced aft
er day Of conference in which the
claims Of various other candidates we're
put forth. These were those of George
3. Duis, state senator from Grand
Forks; d. H. Macarthur of Bottineau,
]. p. Lamb Of Michigan City, w. E.
Purcell of Wahpeton, and the claims Of
M. A Hildreth OF Fargo, which were
set forth In kilograms and by various
mediums of Endorsement.
The democrats In the city agreed last
night that Mr.. Thompson was an agree
able gentleman, enjoying the confidence
and respect OF his fellowtownsmen and
of those who were acquainted with him.
Most Of them ascribed his appointment
to the personal friendship between the
governor and the appointee and to the
fact that he did not seem to be in
volved in the fractional differences in
the party. AS TO his political services
to the party in the state and his es-
pecial qualifications for the office, the
democrats were reticent.
Last Efforts for Purcell.
A last effort was made yesterday
afternoon to obtain the appointment of
w. e. Purcell. VINO has been favorite
candidate with many of the old line
democrats, but 1t was unsuccessful
Senator Purcell himself was caller
upon the governor, and his claims
were also advanced by Tracy r. Bangs
OF Grand Forks and other democrats
1t is stated, however, that the gov
ernor's view was that Purcell was one
of the reactionary members Of the
party and not in line with advanced
democracy.
1t is said That the claims OF J. L.
Cashel Of Grafton were not favorably
looked upon for the same reason
Cashel was the nominee of the demo-
cratic party for the senatorship at the
primaries last year and received the
votes of the democratic members of
81
was elected. He was in the city sew
eral days ago and had an interview
with the governor, but 1t is stated that
when he left he was satisfied he would
not be considered for the appointment
Biography of Thompson.
Fountain L. Thompson is native of
Illinois and has been a resident Of
North Dakota for twenty-one years,
He Is a man of large means whose
business success was attained through
| the slow processes of evolution from
| the condition OF a homesteader in
Towner county to that Of banker.
real estate dealer and owner and
farmer on a large scale. He has not
hitherto held public office of impor-
lance.
Mr.. Thompson was born at Scots
Vile Ill.,, Nov. IS, 1854. Both his
father, Joshua Thompson, a merchant
and his mother, Phoebe Thompson
were natives Of Illinois. His ancestry
| is American for many generations. He
was educated in the public schools
and graduated from the Girard. H.,
| high school. AS a youth he worked in
bank, railroad Office and store and
went into the mercantile business for
himself at Girard in 1879. He was for
sixteen years in general merchandise
business at Girard and Palmyra, Ill.,.
and came to Dakota in 1888, settling
on a claim in Towner county, where
| he lived for three years before re-
moving to Cando. In 1891 he engaged
| in the real estate and loaning business
at Cando and his success has been Of
a character to make him one of the
most important men in that section
Of the state. He is president of the
First National bank OF Rock Lake, N
D., and vice president Of the First Ma
tional bank of Cando. He gives much
OF his time to directing the affairs OF
the Thompson Realty Co. of Cando, Of
which he Is president and which has
large interests. He owns, personally,
about 1000 acres of land near Cando
which is largely under cultivation.
Lifelong Democrat.
He is lifelong democrat and has
been interested in politics since his
youth. He was city treasurer OF Gil
rard and member Of the board of sup
ervisors of that town. Since coming
to Dakota he has been county Judge OF
Towner county-which Office he held
for eight years--was a member of the
Cando school board for six years and
mayor OF Cando for four years
In 1874, at Girard, ILL.,, Mr.. Thomp-
son was married to Fannie Walker,
the daughter Of r. S. Walker, a con-
temporary and friend Of Stephen Al.
Douglas and a member of the Illinois
legislature at the time Lincoln had q
place In that body. There are three
children in the family. Harry H.. aged
/ 30 years who is in business with his