For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 105
RALPH U. AND HERBERT G. THOMPSON. Ralph U. and Herbert G. Thompson, brothers, constitute the well known law firm of Thompson & Thompson, of Muscatine, and in the professional circles of the city they have won notable distinction, their ability being indicated by the fact that they are retained as counsel for the defense or prosecution in most of the important cases tried in the courts of this district.They are sons of William B. and Maria ( Barnett ) Thompson, the former a native of Louisa county, Iowa, and the latter of Steeple Chase, England. The paternal grandfather, William Thompson, was a native of Ohio but was of Scotch descent. His father also bore the name of William and, coming to Iowa, spent his last days in Louisa county, where he died when more than eighty years of age. William Thompson, the grandfather, was a railroad contractor in early life but became one of the pioneer residents of Iowa, settling in this city when it was part of the territory of Wisconsin. He went to Louisa county with his father in 1834 and took up twenty-seven hundred acres of government land, after which he devoted his time and energies to farming and cattle-raising. He died in Louisa county in 1902, at the venerable age of eighty-two years, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Jane Shellabarger, was about eighty-one years of age at the time of her death.
They reared a large family including William B. Thompson, who was reared upon the homestead farm in Louisa county and devoted his energies to the work of tilling the soil and caring for the crops until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Iowa Infantry, with which he served as a private for two years. He was wounded at the battle of Resaca and was discharged on account of his injuries. For a time he was in a hospital at Lexington, Kentucky, afterward in an Indiana hospital and subsequently in a hospital at Keokuk, his wounds necessitating hospital treatment for a year and a half. He took part in a number of hotly contested engagements of the war and when he had recovered his health resumed his education as a student in Western College at Toledo, Iowa, from which he was graduated in due course of time. He afterward pursued a post-graduate course in the State University at Iowa City and later engaged in teaching school for ten years. He next turned his attention to the insurance business, holding the general agency of various companies. In the early period of his life he gave his political support to the republican party but afterward became a democrat.
William B. Thompson wedded Maria Barnett, a daughter of Alfred Barnett, a native of England, who engaged in the manufacture of lime in that country. After crossing the Atlantic to America he settled at Silver Creek, New York. where he operated some large lime kilns for a number of years. About 1845 he came to Iowa, settling in Iowa City, where he followed contracting and building until the last few years of his life, which he spent in Louisa county, passing away when more than eighty years of age. He, too, was a soldier of the Civil war, belonging to the famous Gray Beard Regiment of this state. Unto him and his wife were born several children, including Alfred T., Simeon, Sarah, Maria, Hattie and Mary. It was Maria Barnett of this family who became the wife of William B. Thompson, and by their marriage were born five children: Harry C., a resident of Chicago; Ralph U. and Herbert G., of this review; and William and Elizabeth, both of whom died in early childhood. The eldest son is prominent in musical circles, being a composer and arranger of music. He has played with the Innis, Kryll, Thauvius and Brooks bands, which have world-wide reputations and has also been connected with St. Paul's Symphony and the International Grand Opera Company orchestras.
Mrs. Thompson was married twice, her first husband being Thomas Johnson, who was killed while serving as a soldier of the Civil war in 1861. There were two children of that union, Frank A., and Carrie, the latter the wife of Nicholas J. Lenz, of Muscatine.
Ralph U. Thompson, senior member of the well known law firm of Thompson &Thompson, was born in Louisa county, Iowa, October 29, 1878, and when ten years of age came with his parents to Muscatine. Here he attended the public schools and afterward continued his education in Leverich Normal School and in the University of Iowa, wherein he prepared for a professional career, being graduated from the law department with the class of 1903. The same year he was admitted to the bar.
Herbert G. Thompson, junior partner of the firm, was born in Louisa county, December 31, 1880, and has lived in Muscatine county since eight years of age. He. too, attended the public schools and the Leverich Normal and pursued the collegiate and law courses in the State University, being graduated from the law department in June, 1903. At that time he was admitted to practice in the state and federal courts. At the same time the two brothers joined their father in opening a law, loan and real-estate office under the firm name of W. B. Thompson & Sons. Following their father's death, they discintinued the real-estate and loan departments and have since devoted themselves sucessfully to the practice of law, in which they have secured an extensive clientage.
On the 9th of June, 1902, Ralph U. Thompson was married to Miss Gertrude M. Carter, a daughter of Robert and Agnes Carter. He is a member of the Methodist church while his wife is a Catholic in religious faith. He belongs to the Improved Order of Red Men and to the Sons of Veterans.
On the 15th of July, 1902, Herbert G. Thompson wedded Miss Ida B. Pepler, a daughter of Edward Pepler, and they have two children, Willis Bruce and Marie Meredith. Mr. Thompson is a Methodist, while his wife belongs to the Episcopal church. She was born in Johnson county, Iowa, where her parents, who were natives of England, settled at an early day. Both her father and her mother, however, are deceased. The former was a soldier of the Civil war and was prominent in the public life of Johnson county, where he served as justice of the peace for many years. Unto him and his wife were born seven children, Thomas, Edward, Lydia, Carrie, Lucy, Ida and Jane.
Herbert G. Thompson, like his brother, is prominent in fraternal circles and is now serving as deputy great sachem of the Improved Order of Red Men of Iowa. He also holds membership with the Knights of Pythias, the Elks and the Sons of Veterans. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party, and he has served as city attorney of Muscatine during the years 1909 and 1910. He is now filling the office of county attorney. The two brothers live together on their father's old homestead, where they have resided for twenty-two years. They are sucessful lawyers, are dilligent students of their profession, and in their careful and thorough preparation of their cases is found one of the strong elements of their success.
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