Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-15
DENMAN THOMPSON is DEAD
Creator of "0ld Homestead" Passes
Away at West Swamzey, N. H.
ON STAGE OVER HALF CENTURY
when Seventeen Years OLD He Went
"a Boston TO seek His Fortune
Property Boy, Acrobat, Actor
and Playwright.

WEST swANzBY. NJ H.. April H.-one
OF the oldest and best known actors in
America Denman Thompson. the man who
made THE Old Homestead" famous, died
at his country estate in West swanzey
early today. Mr.. Thompson had been Ill
of heart trouble and uraemsS since lGst
month.
Gathered about the bedside OF the vener-
able actor when the end came we're
number Of his closest relatives, including
his two daughters. Mrs. w. l. Fitzpatrick
and Mrs d. A. Mcfarland.
The funeral services. which at the re-
quest Of Mr.. Thompson win be simple and
open to the public, will be held from his
late homestead here on Sunday afternoon
Rev H. sumner Mitchell. of the Unitarian
church at Keene, will officiate.
Many Years on stage.
Denman Thompson. the veteran actor
who will be remembered for many years
20 come a. the original Uncle Joshua
whiteomb' in The Old Homestead" that
famous rustic play written and produced
by him, was born In Beschwood. now
Girard, Pa, on october Is. 1883 His pa
rents were the descendants OF old eolon!sts
who had settled At Swanzey. N. H., and to
that quaint old villeEo they returned with
Denman-When he had reached the age Of
"a. Young Thompson went to the district
school at Swanzey and attended Mount
Caesar seminary in the neighboring town
several winters. The rest OF the time he
worked on the old Thompson homestead,
helping his father in farming and at his
various trades DennRn was to be car
penter. but he became restless and when
he had reached his seventeenth year he
persuaded his parents TO let him go TO
L.
a new suit of clothes and several pairs
OF mittens and stockings. young Thompson
started for Boston.
First Job with Circus.
The first Job he obtained there was with
"Yson's circus where he had charge Of
the banners and poles. rode in the opening
pageant and after some practice took his
place among thirty or more aorobats and
tumbiers
subsequently Thompson became an itin-
Grant actor, playing low comedy, and In
1854 went to the Royal Lyceum theater
Toronto. where he remained until 1853 In
Toronto Thompson was married, and his
three children were born there He wor
LEGAL favor as Salem seuddsr. Myles Cop
paleen and Uncle Tom. During the spring
Of 1852 he played In London with moderate
success. and IN 1s1 he began to play char
acter parts IN various variety theaters. Az
Harry Martins Varieties In PittsburE. II
February. 1876. he made his first appear
ance In the part OF Joshua Whiteomb. ia
a skit. which he ha6 written while h'
was suffering from rheumatism. II had bu
one act and lasted about twenty-five min
utes. The skit proved q success and suE
gested 20 Thompson the idea OF celebrating
q into a regular play This he did togethe
with George W. Ryer. That was In 1885 an,
Il took the two men fifteen days TO writ,
the original version Of The Old Home
stead
ola Homestead An Boston.
The play was given It's first Performance,
90 the Boston theater In April. 1855. anS
after a successful run OF several week
VAS brought to the Academy OF Music q
New York Since that time that famou
play has been Witnessed by more thai
900 people. and even since the retire
ment from the stage OF the original i'm
personator Of Uncle Josh, Il Is sure I
draw crowded houses wherever II Is pre-
scented Mr.. Thompson continued 10 plal
the character Of Joshua Whitcomb In 9TH
old Homestead" for nearly a quarter OF
century and became Completely Identifies
with the part
-Tha oia HomsstsadY Nas practically