BIOGRAPHY: James P. Thompson, M.D., Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen. Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty Mirovich and Sharon Ringler. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 42-3 ____________________________________________________________ JAMES P. THOMPSON, M.D., the oldest practicing dentist of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is also a temperance advocate of prominence in western Pennsylvania. Formerly he was an active democrat, but having conscientious convictions concerning the enormity of the drinking evil he left his party and joined the ranks of the prohibitionists. Later he became the editor and publisher of a vigorous prohibition organ, known as the "Temperance Vindicator," which he published for more than three years, and which was the first temperance weekly in the State to raise the prohibition banner, and the first published in the State having a year's existence. This paper had quite an influence in its day in moulding the opinions of its readers according to the principles of the Prohibition party. Dr. Thompson has been connected with a number of temperance organizations, and having ever since his conversion to the prohibition faith been an active prohibitionist, has done faithful service, but he is now inclined to withdraw from the political arena. The professional life of Dr. Thompson also furnishes an interesting record. Having been educated in the common schools of Huntingdon county, he studied both medicine and dentistry at Williamsburg, Blair county, with Dr. Alexander McKamy. Afterward he entered the Medical Department of the Pennsylvania College, graduating at Philadelphia in the spring of 1857. He located first at New Germantown, Perry county, and then at Williamsburg, Blair county, practicing in all about sixteen years. At the end of this time, because of failing health, he took up the study of dentistry exclusively, having up to this time practiced it in connection with medicine. He went to Johnstown in 1878, and has remained there ever since in constant practice. He also gave valuable service to his country during the Civil War, serving as acting assistant surgeon, United States army. He was on duty with General Burnside's division at Fredericksburg, Virginia, at the time of the battle of the Rapidan, but was sent from that point to Mount Pleasant hospital, District of Columbia, on the day of the second battle of Bull Run. Dr. Thompson's religious life, too, is worthy of notice. Formerly he was a Presbyterian, but by a careful, prayerful study of the Bible, he became convinced that the second coming of Christ is near at hand, and as he could no longer subscribe to many of the doctrines held and taught by the church of his choice, he joined the Seventh Day Adventist church, in which he continues a faithful and earnest member. He was an Odd Fellow from 1850 until recently. He is of Irish extraction, his grandfather having emigrated from Ireland to America, located shortly afterward in Huntingdon county, where he died. His vocation was that of farming. David Thompson, father of our subject, was born in Maryland, near the city of Fredericksburg, and emigrated to Huntingdon county, dying there. He was a blacksmith. Thus it will be seen that the ancestors of Dr. Thompson followed the occupations of sturdy men. Dr. Thompson was born in Huntingdon county, October 16, 1823. His mother was Martha Porter; his first wife was Elizabeth Ann Ake, of Williamsburg, Blair county; and his second wife, Margaret McCahan. He has no children living. This brief sketch of Dr. Thompson warrants us in giving to him the character of an energetic professional man, and a man of strong convictions and worthy aims.