Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Thompson, James Milton ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 2, 2008, 3:07 am Author: Past & Present Will County, 1907 JAMES MILTON THOMPSON. Professor J. M. Thompson, who has been a successful director of music in the city of Joliet for fifteen years and whose labors in this art have done much to establish a high standard in musical taste in that city, received his training under some of the ablest musical artists of the country. He was born in Townsend, Ontario, Canada. His father, Henry Thompson, was a native of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and came to America in his twenty- first year, engaging in the occupation of farming as his life work. Five years later Ursula Sinclair, a native of Shetland, became his wife. They were blessed with prosperity and were ranked among the foremost agriculturists of the province. Their beautiful old home, a splendid stone building, is among the best to be found in the township in which it is located. As has been intimated, the family is of Scotch lineage. The grandfather of Professor Thompson was a sturdy Scotchman who for years was manager on the estates of Lord Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire. The maternal grandfather was a notable character and served as an officer and ship captain. Professor Thompson acquired his early education in the common schools of Townsend, Canada, and afterward pursued a preparatory and business course at Woodstock College in Ontario, Canada, in 1884-5. In the year 1886 he entered Hillsdale College in southern Michigan, giving his attention largely to the study of music and literature. He was a prominent member of the literary scoiety of the college, and his chalk talks in rhyme were among its most interesting features, given from time to time on its programmes. In the Theadelphic Manuel of the college. Mr. Thompson is recorded as a prize winner in an oratorical contest. While music claimed the greater part of his time and attention, his literary work enabled him to become a most successful teacher and business manager. It is said that a successful musician is never an able business man, but the life record of Professor Thompson disproves this statement. While in college he made rapid advancement in his art and was one of the foremost choir leaders in the college city. He was also assistant to local teachers in the conservatory during 1890-1. For five years he was untiringly devoted to his work and was graduated in June, 1901, from the conservatory of music. Immediately after leaving college, Professor Thompson began the study of methods of teaching music in the public schools, as a student in the National Music School under Dr. Luther Whiting Mason, a distinguished instructor whom the empire of Japan engaged from Boston at an enormous salary for a term of five years to vitalize the musical interests of the empire, less than twenty years ago. Dr. Mason took his staff of teachers from Boston to Detroit for the summer seasons, and thus Professor Thompson had the benefit of instruction from that distinguished teacher. In the autumn of 1891 he went to Chicago and continued the study of voice and singing with J. Harry Wheeler at the Auditorium. School music was fast finding its way into the middle west and while in Chicago Professor Thompson thoughtfully considered the maftter of locating in Keokuk, Iowa, or in Joliet, Illinois, hoping to become musical instructor in the public schools of those cities. At length he determined upon Joliet. While music did not become a department in the Joliet schools until September, 1892. Mr. Thompson was encouraged to locate in that city in the beginning of the year and do studio work. Accordingly he established his studio in January and the outlook was most promising and gratifying. Since that time he has figured prominently in musical circles in Will county. There are no institutions in Joliet in which the citizens take so deep an interest or feel so just a pride as they do in their public schools, and especially in the music department under Professor Thompson, in which most excellent results have been attained. His methods of procedure are along definite educational lines. Through the constant changes in the teaching force of the public-schools, he has kept the music department on a high plane and the fundamental conception of mental and vocal bearing of Joliet voices can be traced to the school work. His eminent qualifications recognized by the highest authorities, are not more appreciated than his intelligent and conscientious zeal in the performance of his duties and which is manifested by the esteem and respect entertained for him by both teachers and pupils, not only in the public schools but in the Joliet Conservatory of Music as well. Soon after locating in Joliet Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Annie M. Clouse, who was also reared in the province of Ontario, Canada, and belonged to a well known family there. She was a student in the college which her husband attended, and with him shares in the great love of music which is always one of the attractive features of their home. Four sons and two daughters have come to bless their union: Cyril C., Milo M., Harold, Jennie Marie, Vera Darling and William Leslie. Professor Thompson's home and its surroundings are not only evidence of good taste, but of wise judgment and foresight in providing for his family. There is no more beautiful location in Will county than Hillsdale Place, which stands on an eminence on Washington street, commanding a most excellent view of Higinbotham's and East Side parks, Oakwood and Mt. Olivet cemeteries, as well as the beautiful valley and woods that border Hickory creek. In addition to his accomplishments in art lines. Professor Thompson is an expert farmer and landscape gardener and his leisure hours are preferably employed in cultivating and beautifying the nine acres of excellent land which he purchased and in the midst of which stands his comfortable and modern residence. In this he has the cooperation of his sons, who are benefiting by the training thus received. In public regard Professor Thompson occupies an enviable position and his circle of friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintances. Additional Comments: PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/thompson2433nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 6.9 Kb