Alexander T. Thomson
Arizona, The Youngest State, 1913, pg 799

Alexander T. Thomson, formerly general manager of the Detroit 
Copper Mining Company of Arizona and manager of the Morenci 
Southern Railway, is one of the best known men in Greenlee 
County today, his prominence coming as a result of many years 
of able and constructive work in the expansion of the 
southwest.  He was born in Edinburgh Scotland, in 1875 and 
is a son of Henry Torrance and Jessie Bryce Thomson, natives 
of that country and both now deceased.  Of their large family 
of children, the subject of this review is the only one who 
came to Arizona, although two of his brothers reside in America.

Mr. Thomson crossed the Atlantic in 1896 having completed a 
school and collegiate course in Edinburgh Academy and after 
having spent four years in an accountant's office in Edinburgh 
Scotland.  He settled in Clifton Arizona where he became 
connected with the Arizona Copper Company as bookkeeper and 
that position he filled until 1900 when he was made cashier 
of the concern and treasurer of the Arizona and New Mexico 
Railroad Company, this advancement being followed in the next 
year by his appointment as general superintendent and traffic 
manager.  Mr. Thomson has practically seen the development of 
the Arizona Copper Company and the Arizona and New Mexico 
Railroad, having worked in their interest for over fifteen 
years, winning promotion after promotion and finally 
becoming one of the prominent officials in both corporations.  
In 1912 he closed fifteen and one half years of faithful 
service in their interests and accepted the position of 
general manager of the Detroit Copper Mining Company of 
Arizona, which carried with it the office of manager of 
the Morenci Southern Railroad positions which he filled 
for some time, succeeding C.E. Mills.  The Detroit Copper 
Mining Company is one of the subsidiary companies of 
Phelps, Dodge and Company of New York and in July 1915 
Mr. Thomson was appointed comptroller and assistant 
general manager for the company, with headquarters in 
New York City.  Mr. Thomson was also a director in the 
Gila Valley Bank and Trust Company, which controls a 
chain of eight banks in various parts of Greenlee 
County but he resigned that position on leaving Arizona.

On August 12, 1904 Mr. Thomson married Miss May E. Harris, a 
native of Texas and a daughter of George and Bama Harris.  
Her father has passed away and her mother makes her home in 
Texas.  Mr. and Mrs. Thomson have a daughter Ruth, born 
February 27, 1911.

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