For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 572
WILLIAM LEWIS THOMPSON....The records of the lives of our forefathers are of interest to the citizens of modern times, not alone for their historical value but also for the inspiration and example they afford. Yet we need not look to the past for, although hundreds may differ, the essential conditions of human life are ever the same and a man can learn from the success of those around him if he will heed the best lessons contained in their history. The life record of William Lewis Thompson indicates that carefully formulated plans, close application and unfaltering purpose were the elements which he utilized in the attainment in business, and, moreover, the integrity of his methods commended him to the confidence and good will of all. He figured for many years as a leading hardware merchant in Muscatine and while prominent in business he was also popular in social circles.He was born in Atalissa, Muscatine county, Iowa, March 4, 1862, a son of Robert T. and Emily A. ( Lewis ) Thompson, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The family comes of Scotch ancestry although several generations have been represented in the new world. His grandfather, Robert Thompson, was born in Pennsylvania and became one of the early settlers of Ohio, where he conducted a hotel or tavern. He continued his residence in Ohio, near Bridgeport, until within a few years of his death, which occurred at the home of one of his daughters in Muscatine, Iowa, in 1875, when he was seventy-six years of age. He had the following children : Theron, William, Robert, John, Selina, and Catharine. The maternal grandfather of William L. Thompson, was Ira Lewis, who was born in Ohio and became a tanner and farmer. He married Sarah Wilson and they lived for many years in Harrison county, Ohio, where his death occurred when he was a comparatively young man. His wife survived him for many years and married Morgan Lewis, a brother of her first husband. There was only one child of the first marriage, Emily A, the wife of Robert T. Thompson. By the second marriage there were two children : Catharine, the wifow of Hugh K. Mitchell, a resident of Muscatine ; and John W., who died at the age of twenty-one years.
Robert T. Thompson, the father of William Lewis Thompson,was a merchant's clerk at Wheeling, West Virginia, until 1858, when he removed westward to Iowa and engaged in the grain business in Atalissa. He later served as deputy county treasurer and afterward was elected and served for two terms as county treasurer. He also served as deputy postmaster under Colonel Beach and next aided in organizing the Muscatine Savings Bank, of which he became the first cashier, filling that position until failing health compelled him to retire. In 1875 he organized the firm of R. T. Thompson & Son for the conduct of a hardware business and was senior partner until 1887, when he withdrew and the firm became Thompson Brothers. The death of Robert T. Thompson occurred Febraury 1, 1890, when he was sixty years of age. His wife survived him until 1904 and passed away at the age of seventy years. She was a consistent member of the Methodist church. Mr Thompson belonged to both the Mason and Odd Fellows lodges and his political support was given to the republican party. His family numbered eight children of whom Theron, Barbara, Ella and Robert L., still survive, while three of the number died in infancy or early childhood.
William Lewis Thompson, the other member of the family, was reared in Muscatine from early childhood and attended the public schools of this city. When his education was completed he joined his father in the hardware business as did his brother Theron. They were well trained in every department on the business and when the father died they succeeded him, conducting the store under the style of Thompson Brothers. They remained the sole proprietors until the death of W. L. Thompson, conducting a well stocked store on West Second street at the corner of Chestnut. This has been the location of the Thompson hardware business for many years and the name under which the store has been conducted has ever stood as a sunonym for activity and integrity in business transactions.
On the 22d of October, 1890, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Harriet Stockdale, a daughter of John and Maria ( Curran ) Stockdale. Mrs. Thompson was born in Muscatine but her father was a native of England and her mother of Ireland. They were both quite young when they were brought to America and were still in their minority when they came to Muscatine, where they were married. Mention of the Stockdale and Curran families is made on another page of this volume under the caption of William Stockdale.
Unto Mr. and Mrs Thompson was born a daughter, Mary Gladys. They spent about twelve years in Las Vegas, New Mexico, for the benefit of Mr. Thompson's health, and he there engaged in the hardware business but also retained his interest in the store in Muscatine. His death occurred in Las Vegas, January 21, 1906, when he had reached the age of forty-three years and ten months, and his remains were brought back to Muscatine for interment in Greenwood cemetery. In politics he was a republican. He was widely recognized as a prominent and popular man and a good citizen. He was devoted to the welfare of his family, was faithful in friendship and strictly honorable in every relation in life, so that the news of his death brought a sense of personal bereavement to many who knew him. His wife and daughter still reside at No. 312 West Fourth street.
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