THOMPSON, Robert E., b. 1861: 1905 Bio, Rio Blanco County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/rioblanco/bios/thompsonre.txt --------------------------------------- Donated August 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Robert E. Thompson Robert E. Thompson, one of the early pioneers and frontiersmen of Rio Blanco county, who helped to make the trails into this part of the state and blaze the way for the settlement of the region, is a native of Macon, Missouri, where his life began on October 15, 1861. He is the son of Harvey and Sarah (Ballard) Thompson, who were Southerners by nativity, the father having been born in Virginia and the mother in Kentucky. They located in Missouri in their early life, and the father, who was a contractor and builder, put up the first house for a residence in Macon. He was also a manufacturer of tobacco and prospered in his business. In political faith he was a Democrat and in church affiliation both he and his wife were Methodists. Both have been dead for a number of years, and of their ten children only seven are living. They are John W., Richard A., Thomas J., Fannie (Mrs. William M. Watson), Mattie and Robert. The last named had the usual experience of boys in his locality and station, a common-school education, a term or two at a good academy, and a life of useful industry in work assigned him by his father. At St. James Academy he received a good business education, and after leaving it learned his trade as a tinner at his native town. After completing his apprenticeship he worked at his trade in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Colorado. In 1883 he went to Indian Territory and Texas and passed three years riding the range, returning to this state in 1886. But prior to going south he had valuable experience in service as a scout for the Second Cavalry during the suppression of the Navajo outbreak. On arriving in this state on his return he continued his occupation as range rider, first in the neighborhood of Trinidad and afterward in various parts of the Western slope from Wyoming to the gulf of Mexico. In 1898 he purchased a ranch on Fawn creek, which he soon afterward sold at a profit, then again turned his attention to riding the range, which he followed until the fall of 1899. At that time he located his present ranch, taking up a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres and adding as much more by purchase. He has two hundred and fifty acres under cultivation and raises numbers of good cattle, many of them being registered Durhams. The ranch is forty-two miles west of Meeker on White river, and is well located for the ranching and stock industries and pleasantly for a residence. Mr. Thompson has been one of the public men of the county, with a continuing interest in its welfare and capacity for the service of its people. He has been county assessor since 1902, elected to the office as a Democrat, and has made a record of unsurpassed usefulness and good judgment in the management of his office. On November 1, 1899, he united in marriage with Miss Cora Kivett, a native of Howard county, Missouri, and daughter of Maranda A. and Roscilla (Miller) Kivett, farmers born and reared in Missouri, Methodists in church membership, and in sympathy with the Democratic party in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Kivett have four children, Cora, Henry, Luman and Guy. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.