JOHN C. THOMSON.

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          John C. Thomson, well known as an enterprising general merchant of Oakville, is the proprietor of the most extensive establishment of its kind in the town. His birth occurred in Newport, Kentucky, on the 16th of November, 1857, his parents being James Y. and Anna (Seed) Thomson, who were natives of Scotland and Ireland respectively. The father, who was a civil engineer by profession, emigrated to the United States and took up his abode in Cincinnati, Ohio. Subsequently he embarked in business as a wholesale dry goods merchant, conducting the enterprise successfully until he disposed of his interests. Both he and his wife have passed away. Unto them were born five children, as follows: Jennie, the wife of D. D. Marshall, of Burlington, Iowa; Anna, who is deceased; John C., of this review; William, who died in infancy; and Cora E., who is a resident of Burlington, Iowa.

          When a youth of fifteen John C. Thomson began earning his own livelihood, being employed as a clerk at Burlington for two years. Subsequently he spent four years on a farm and then went to Nevada, while later he made his way to California and to Oregon. Returning to Iowa, he took up his abode on a tract of land south of Burlington and there followed farming for two years. On the expiration of the period he came to Louisa county, here being engaged in general agricultural pursuits for about seven years. He then embarked in business as a general merchant of Oakville, where he has remained continuously since, now conducting the largest enterprise of the kind in the town. The building in which the business is carried on is owned by Mr. Thomson and H. B. Carter. It was erected in 1901 and is a brick structure of two stories, while its dimensions are seventy by sixty feet. His business methods will bear the closet scrutiny and investigation and his probity has gained for him the respect of all.

          On the 25th of January, 1886, Mr. Thomson was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Downey, a daughter of Michael and Anna Downey, who formerly owned a farm on the present site of Oakville. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomson were born four children, namely: Marshall D., a young man of twenty-three years, . . .

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. . . who is associated in business with his father; Mabel, who died in infancy; Charles T., a student in a business college at Burlington, Iowa; and Kenneth Bryan, at home.

          Mr. Thomson is a democrat in politics and has held a number of township offices, ably discharging the duties devolving upon him. Fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen. Wherever known he is respected for his unfaltering allegiance to the principles of honorable manhood as manifest in business and social relations and in public-spirited citizenship.