Ole A. Thompson

THOMPSON, SNIPPS, FISHER, CLAUSON, OLSON, ELLSWORTH

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 11/30/2009 at 16:02:25

Ole A. Thompson is an active and well known representative of commercial interests in Forest City as senior partner in the firm of Thompson & Clauson, proprietors of a large general store. The great part of his life has here been passed, for he arrived in Forest City in 1888, when a youth of thirteen. He was born in Norway, June 25, 1875, a son of T. O. and Martha Thompson, who in 1880 became residents of Mahasha county, Iowa, where the father followed the cooper's trade, which he has learned in his native land. In 1888 he removed to Forest City and purchased a farm in Mount Valley township, where he secured eighty acres. For twenty-six years thereafter he continued to develop and improve his property, but has recently sold and taken up his abode in Forest City, where he is now living retired.

Ole A. Thompson acquired a public school education and supplemented it by a business course at Dixon. He made his initial step in business circles as an employee in the clothing store of Olson Brothers at Forest City in 1899. While in that connection he thoroughly acquainted himself with modern business methods and he also carefully saved his earnings with the hope of one day engaging in business on his own account. In 1908, therefore, he purchased a half interest in a general store and became a partner of C. H. Ellsworth, who, however, sold out the same year. In 1910 Mr. Thompson admitted A. E. Clauson to a partnership under the firm style of Thompson & Clauson. They conduct a general store, handling groceries, dry goods, ladies' ready-to-wear clothing, shoes and other lines and are now accorded a liberal patronage which makes their trade a profitable one. They erected a building in 1914 which is forty-four by one hundred feet and two stories in height with basement. This they occupy in the conduct of their trade and their business has now reached substantial and gratifying proportions.

On the 4th of September, 1911, Mr. Thompson was married to Maude Snipps, of Forest City, a daughter of J. P. and Belle (Fisher) Snipps. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have one son, Malcolm, and by a former marriage Mrs. Thompson had a daughter, Hazel.

Fraternally Mr. Thompson is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while politically he maintains an independent course, casting his ballot according to the dictates of his judgment. There have been no spectacular phases in his life record. He has worked steadily and persistently year after year, enlarging the scope of his interests as his experience and capabilities have broadened, and he is justly accounted one of the progressive merchants of Winnebago county.

Source: History of Winnebago and Hancock Counties, Iowa, 1917, Vol. II, page 231