Obit for THOMPSON, Peter Jr. (b.1839 d.1927), Kandiyohi Co., MN 
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Peter Thompson Jr.

Obituary - Worthington news paper - Thursday, February 10, 1927,
Peter Thompson, Pioneer, Passes away from Earth.
Father of Worthington Answers Last call at the Age of Eighty-Seven Years at 
the close of a Life of Exceptional Activity.
Peter Thompson, prominent Nobles coutny Pioneer and a resident of
Worthington since 1872, died at his home her at 5:45pm Tuesday, Feb.8.
 Funeral services will be held at 2 pm Friday from the residence, Rev. 
Elof Peterson in charge and from the First Lutheran church at 2:30pm. 
Rev. C. E. Benson of Stillwater, and old friend of the family, will 
coduct the services at the church.
Mr Thompson was a little past the 87 year mark, his last birthday having 
occurred January 27th. He had been in declining health for the past several 
 and rapidly failled during the past two weeks, death was the result of the 
informities of old age.
During his long and active life, Mr Thompson was a great worker. But some 
eight years ago he became totally blind and from that time until he passed 
away he took little part in business, though most of the time he had a 
general knowledge of his affairs.
The epithet, Father of Worthington, could well have been applied. He was 
here when the thown was laid out and he erected the first store building, 
helped organize the first bank, held several public offices, founded the 
Worthington Globe over fifty years ago, was prominent in church affairs 
and took an active interest in all projects pertaining to the welfare of 
the community and the county.
Mr. Thompson was born in Jerfjo, Helsingland, Sweden, Jan. 27th, 1839, 
the son of Peter and Karin (Goranson) Thompson. In 1850 the family came 
to America and located at Pine Lake, Wisconsin. After one year they 
removed to Waupaca, in the same state, remaining there eight years. 
During this time, young Peter, who secured the foundation of an education 
in his native land, engaged in farm work for two years and then entered 
the drug business. He attended the public school whenever opportunity 
offered. He attained considerable proficiency in the drug business and 
was placed in charge of the store where he had two men under him.
In the autumn of 1858 the Thompsons removed to Minnesota, becoming 
residents of Carver, where Peter grew to manhood. For five years he was 
a clerk in a general store, then for a year a clerk on a steamboat plying 
on the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers. The next seven years he conducted 
a general store in Carver.
When the St Paul & Sioux City Railroad COmpany began......Mr. Thompson 
became interested and in September, 1871, he filed on a homestead in Elk 
township, Nobles County. Mr Thompson was a personal friend of Former 
Governor Stephen Miller who as agent for the railroad company gave him 
valuable information relattive to real estate locations. In October, 1871, 
Mr Thompson brought lumber from Jackson and erected a building on a lot 
on Ninth street where the Wykoff building now stands. He also purchased 
the lot at the corner of Eleventh street and Third Avenue on which now 
stands the office of Dr. A. R. Schmid.Obituary - Peter Thompson Jr., 
continued....., During the years that followed, Mr. Thompson engaged in 
many enterprises. He dealt in realestate, mercantile business and sold 
agricultrural machinery. He prepared a set of abstract books in 1870 and 
kept enlarging it from time to time until he had the most elaborate set 
in the county.
In addition to his numerous mercantile enterprises, Mr. Thompson founded 
the Novles County Bank and the following year became it's president. In 
1894 he sold it to Lynd & Evans and from that time on devoted his energies 
to real estate and insurance.
Mr Thompson served the public in official capacities, serving the city of 
Worthington as its first treasurer. He was amember of the city council and 
of the library board. He served two terms as treasurer of Nobles county.
Mr Thompson was prominent in church matters, being a member of what is now 
the First Lutheran church and served as a deacon of that organization for 
over forty years. His activities during all the many years he lived here 
were many and varied.
Mr. Thompson aided many people during the trying times of the early 
seventies when the settlers suffered greatly from winter storms and the 
grasshopper scourage. He had a kindly heart and many were the times when 
he aided those who needed help and he did it without hope of reward.
One of the monuments to his energies was the building of the Hotel Thompson, 
nearly fifteen years ago. Worthington needed a hotel badly and Mr. THompson 
erected the fine hostlery at a cost of $80,000.00
Close attentionto his abstract work resulted in the impairment and some 
eight years ago, in the total loss of his eyesight. Following that 
misfortune Mr. Thompson remained at his home and left his business affairs 
in other hands, through he frequently was brought to his office in the 
hotel in a wheel chair.
Mr. Thompson was married at Carver, March 18, 1860 to Miss Christine 
Danielson. To them two daughters were born, Mrs. Hannah Parker of 
Worthington and Mrs Nellie Parker of Minneapolis.
These with Mrs. Thompson survive, also three grandchidren, Mrs. Thompson 
is over ninety years of age and still vigorous.
Six years ago Mr and Mrs Thompson celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of 
their wedding. An elaborate dinner was served in the evening at the hotel 
to which a number of friends were invited. A year ago they celebrated the
 sixty-fifth anniversary quietly at their home.