The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-10-09
An INTERESTING SKETCH or
PROF. JAMES WILLIAM THOMSON
Southern School News Contains 4
Sketch of Educator Well known
in ibbeyilIe

! Mrs. II. l.. Forbes in Southern School
, News.)
At Abbeville, South Carolina, on
July 18th, 1863, James William Thorn
son first saw the light Of day. His
father, Judge Thomas Thomson, was
A strong believer in education and
spared neither effort nor expense IN
The tasks OF educating his sons. So,
| though times were more than hard
and politics turbulent, young William
was entered at a private school while
still in kits, on the very day he was
i've year old. Eight years later, in
1876, he went to a boys school con-
Quoted by Mr.. D. C. Webb, of Charles
ton. Among his schoolmates here were
the Hon. r. P. Cothran, Of Greenville;
A. w. Smith, Of Spartanburg; Prof.
PATTERSON Wardlaw, of the University
Of South Carolina, and l.. w. Parker,
Of Greenville. This year under Mr..
Webb, coming as it did, at a most i'm
questionable period Of his youth, was
l powerful formative influence. Prof..
Thomson attributes much of his sue
less as a student and as a teacher to
Mr. Webb and the sound foundation
If mind and character laid in his
school. In 1877, while still a mere boy,
oeing but thirteen and d half years
I'D, William Thomson entered Frs
kline college at Due West. From this
institution he was graduated in 1881
n the largest class that up to that
time had left the college since the
war. In his class were Hon. ID. NJ.
Crosson and Hon. Fl. C. Patton, whose
short and brilliant career is we'll
6nown to Columbians. Though the
class of 81 was considered large for
hose times, still the student body
was small and the personal contact
between teacher and student was IN
tself an education. The faculty at the
line OF Prof. Thomson's attendance
VAS composed Of DR.. w. w. Grier, DR..
E. L. Patton and others as well known.
These two, however, became last
riends OF the young man and remaln-
ID so as long as they lived. Prof.
Thomson accounts his friendship and
Intercourse with Dr.. Grier as n Of
he greatest advantages OF his life.
Alter graduation, Mr.. Thomson,
now eighteen years old turned to the
Profession of his father and took up
he study of law, under Hon. ARMS
cad Burt, of Abbeville. In 1895 he was
admitted to the bar and began prac-
ice.
1t was almost an accident which
cave Prof. Thomson to the n oil
he educators Of this State. Shortly
liter beginning practice of law he
vas asked to coach a few pupils for
college entrance. From this expert
ence energies William Thomson, the
teacher, and William Thomson, the
awyer, is a thing of the past. For the
next six years he had charge OF a
school in Abbeville. This school was
virtually the public school of the
own, though not supported by taxes
and having no regular trustees.
After six years of hard work and
valuable experience in Abbeville Prof.
Thomson went to Rock Hill as SUI
Derintendent OF the schools there. His
work here was of such high order n
attracted such favorable notice that
IN 1898 he was chosen to fill the cha
of pedagogy at Winthrop Normal n
Industrial College, at Rock Hill. This
position he still occupies to the emil
nent satisfaction Of trustees, presl-
dent and students.
Prof. Thomson has had experience
in summer school work also, having
served under Hon. J. j. McMahan and
Hon. w. D. Mayfeld in the state sum-
mel schools of South Carolina, and
having taught several terms in the
Piedmont Summer School at David
son College.
He has been a good worker for the
State Teachers Association, and since
joining has attended every meeting
possible.
Of his work at Abbeville and Rock
Hill nothing need be said as his steady
rise speaks for itself. Of his work at
Winthrop College | can speak from
personal experience as a student un-
der his instruction for two years.
considered him an exceptional teach
cr. His ability to create and maintain
interest, to arouse ambition and to
keep his pupils at work is the secret
of his good results. His fund Of gen.
eral information and his capacity for
asking questions that showed our lack
of it was a constant source OF surprise
to me. His almost ineXhaustlble store
of anecdotes and incidents which he
used as examples and to show appll-
cation of principles, kept his classes
not only interested but eager. He was
strong on the practical side OF MS
subject and did not permit mere
theories to suffice. To him a grain oil
good hard sense was worth more than
several pages of blindly quoted Nc
hurry. A great worker himself, he en-
acted a goodly bit of labor from even
the worst of would-be ShirkerS anu
skimmers. Space will not permit OIL
further details. Suffice it to say that
his work in a position OF Importance
and influence in his profession is more
than well done.
Old Pro. Thomson it may be said
that he is a man of strong and vigor-
Gus personality, Of keen mentality, or
indomitable energy. of deep n last
ing affections and with a strong sense
of humor.
Speaking of the influences that
shaped his life, Prof. Thomson says
he counts non SO great as that OF the
community Of Abbeville. AS a young
man he knew and was in contact with
the Hon. Armistead Burt, Judge Sam
uel MCGOWAN, Judge J. S. Cothran,
Hon. w. A. Lee, Judge Eugene b..
Gary, Judge J.. C. Klugh and Judge
w. c. Benct. His companions ana
schoolmates are now leaders i'll that
community or elsewhere. Among his
closest and dearest friends is Prof.
Patterson Wardlaw.