The Nome nugget., 1927-06-25
HARVARD WINS FROM YALE
mUTINOUS CONNECTS IN COAL MINE SURRENDER
JOHN R. THOMPSON. DEAD

CHICAGO. June 24 lP,-John R. Thompson the millionaire restaurant owner and late capital st died here after illness of six years. Follow ing is biographical sketch of Mir. Thompson sub mitted to the Nugget by the Associated Press.
 John R. Johnson was born in vermilion Coun- ty in 1865 He the of 72 when his death occurred
 The profits gained from general in vermillion County. Ill., supplied the initial capital with which John R, Johnson made 8 fortune in "one arm white tile cafeterias
 The self-serve idea his, but he capital zed it such q large scale that today there is a "Thompson's' tn nearly every large city in the 
 In 1891, Thompson bought a small restaurant in South State Street. Chicago, Number of his ev- enual chaia of eating places. TAe restuaran speed with which it had been turned over Thompson told friend the place must have been a "stock in trade" for chattel mortgage house. which received substantial cash payment each time the restaurant changed hands
 But Thompson turned the tide of that lunch
 
 made money He added Chicago Restaurants to his string n began herewith phen omenal expansion Of the catering business which had no precedent. As his business enlarged. he instituted quantity buying and standardization of equipment.
 The John R. Thompson Company incorpor ated in 1907 A s6.o00.ooo corporation took over the business in 1914. although the controlling in terest remained with its founder. A group of 90 [ l'occries ,,: ( icaeo. hch Thompson started in 1920 was sold to a syndicate in 1924
 His first IS years spent farm in Yer million county H., where he was born i'll 1865, Thompson attended normal school and later open ed general store in Fithian. his home But In 1891 he sold the store, married Rose Holloway of Georgetown. H.. and to find business.
 He served as Republican county committee man for years and was of Cook County from 1907 to 1911 After being defeated in the Chicago mayoralty race. he retired from politics in 1912 his wifes request. He was warm supporter of Theodore Roosevelt in the latter's Bull Moose campaign.
 During the World War he executed severa confidential missions for Emergency Fleet corpora ton of the shipping board. National attraction was brought him when in 1921, he advocated cessation of the manufacture and sale of pistols offering S1.OOO to any person who would show him why they should be sold"
 He announced that he would build P story hotel, a of between five and six million dol lars flor the accommodation of the rural merchant when he came to town. Thompson in 1922 pur chased corner site in Chicago's downtown bus ness district A few years later plans were still pending for the building. but it was announced the hotel would be erected
 Until 1924 Thompson owned large breeding farm at Libertyville. Ill., where his string of hors es most of them sired by Azof were trained. He took many horse show ribbons and track pur ses with his thoroughbreds
 Frank Hals' "The Laughing Mandolin Player. for which he paid $25o,oOO topped his distinctive collection of canvases chiefly paintings of the It allan Renaissance school His art works were val ued at nearly S1.0oO.0
 He had two daughters Florence H. Thompson and Ruth F. Thompson. His John R. Thomp son. III. in late years looked after most of hi fathers business affairs.