McDuffie COUNTY, GA -BIOS - J. Edgar Thomson Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Jam66inGA2@aol.com James Malone Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/mcduffie.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm J. EDGAR THOMSON Early years John Edgar Thomson was born near Philadelphia Pa , in 1804 . During his early years in Pennsylvania Thomson was to witness the beginnings of the great industrial revolution that would transform Rural America into a world power. Young Thomson had a fine mind and a love for solving complex problems , gifts that would lead him into engineering and the growing Railroad business. He began his professional career by signing on with a survey crew of the Philadelphia and Columbia Rail Road. The Survey Crews were charged with plotting the path for the tracks and rights of way through the rough wilderness and Young Thomson soon proved to be a quick study and expert rodman. Holding several positions with various Rail Lines, Thomson applied himself to the study of his profession and at the Age of Twenty six was offered the position of Chief Engineer with the newly Chartered Georgia Rail Road company headquartered in Augusta. As Chief Engineer Thomson planned and contracted the laying of the Line as well as serving as Chief Superintendent of the competed portions. It was during the planning of the Line that he oversaw the laying of rails through a small swampy Village known as Hickory Level in Columbia County Georgia. There were few houses in the Village at that time , The Farms of Mr Knox and Mr Usry being the largest there. With the building of a small wooden depot and the stopping of Daily Trains, the village began to grow as a local commercial center. The Village would Honor Thomson some years later by renaming the growing town Thomson. Another of Thomson's duties with the Georgia Rail Road was to promote connections and extend the line as much as possible. Under his leadership many miles of track were laid and the Road Extended from Augusta to Marthasville (Present day Atlanta) a record setting distance of 173 miles. Thomson's work with the Georgia Railroad had allowed him to make a small fortune which he began to use to Acquire interest in Rail Lines of his own. He purchased control of the Small Montgomery and West Point Line and was involved in the Creation of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. Thomson soon after accepted a position as chief Engineer with the Pennsylvania Railroad and in 1852 rose to the Position of President of the Line. Under his leadership the Pennsylvania RR prospered and lines were extended from 250 to over 6000 miles of track and profits rose from 617,000 in 1852 to over 8.2 million in the 1870's Realizing that .the company was operating under an outdated management system Thomson undertook to reorganize the operation. Using the Logic of an Engineer and his own inborn problem solving skills Thomson came up with a revolutionary idea. He divided the company into operating divisions ,each with a central office, Superintendent , and lines of authority leading from the lower men to the top. This was the first Corporate line organization in American industry , put into effect in 1857,and was soon copied by other businesses across the country as a standard. Thomson was highly regarded by the men of his profession, His Honesty and dedication were well known and it was said of him that unlike other Rail operators of the time, No scandal ever touched him. Thomson never had children but held a deep affection for his adopted Niece Miss Charlotte Foster, who had been orphaned at an early age. This affection was most evident when he passed away in 1874 ,Through his will Thomson created a Foundation that still exist today ,which provides for the care and Higher education of Daughters of deceased Rail Road employees. Since 1882 The J Edger Thomson Foundation has helped thousands of young women all across the Country by providing Financial, Health and Higher Educational support. John Edgar Thomson was not only a great man of Business but through his generosity helped provide for future generations of Young Women. He also gave us the Name of our Town, a name we can all be proud of. Written by James Malone Jam66inga2@aol.com