BIO: William J. THOMPSON, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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424  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  

  W. J. THOMPSON, of Potters Mills, ranks among the most prominent 
business men of Centre county, with whose commercial and industrial 
interests he has been identified for many years. He is now the senior 
member of the well-known firm of Thompson & Smith, dealers in general 
merchandise at Potters Mills, carrying a large and well-selected stock. 
In business circles he occupies a prominent place, and to-day is the 
oldest active merchant in Penn's Valley.
  Mr. Thompson was born in Milroy, Penn., September 9, 1834, and is a 
son of William and Margaret (McFarlane) Thompson, both natives of 
Mifflin county, Penn., the former a son of Moses Thompson, and the 
latter a daughter of Col. James McFarlane. The father was a farmer by 
occupation, and was a man of considerable means. He was three times 
married, the mother of our subject being his second wife, and to them 
were born five children. Both parents died in Mifflin county, the 
father at the age of eighty-four years, and the mother at forty-seven. 
His family numbered nine children in all, of whom our subject was next 
to the youngest.
  In Milroy, Mr. Thompson, of this review was reared and obtained his 
elementary education at his boyhood home, and at the age of eighteen 
years was sent to Tuscarora Academy, where he pursued his studies one 
season, at the end of which time the school was destroyed by fire. The 
following winter he attended school at Perrysville, Penn., for one 
term, there completing his literary education. In 1854 he came to 
Centre Furnace, Centre county, and secured a position as clerk in the 
company's store at that place, this being his first experience in the 
mercantile business. After five years in that employ he came to Potters 
Mills, where his father had purchased property, and in connection with 
his brother, James M., established his present business under the firm 
name of W. J. Thompson & Brother. This partnership continued until the 
death of the latter during the "seventies," when our subject became 
sole owner. In 1877 the store was destroyed by fire, but with his 
characteristic energy, Mr. Thompson at once resumed operations, 
erecting his present substantial brick block, where he has since 
successfully conducted business. In addition to his mercantile 
pursuits, he has also been extensively interested in the lumber 
business, and still owns considerable land, from which he has cut the 
timber.
  Since the organization of the Republican party, Mr. Thompson has been 
one of its staunchest supporters, and on that ticket was elected 
justice of the peace (in which office he served some fifteen years), 
although his party was greatly in the minority, which fact illustrates 
his popularity and the confidence and trust reposed in him by his 
fellow citizens. He acceptably served in that office for ten years. 
While not a member of any religious organization, he gives his support 
to the Presbyterian Church, to which he has ever been a liberal 
contributor.
  Mr. Thompson is a charter member of the Grand Army Post No. 282, of 
Centre Hall, having been a faithful soldier in the Union army during 
the Civil war. In October, 1861, he enlisted in an independent company, 
which later became a part of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and 
was made body-guard to Gen. Anderson. The regiment was sent to Camp 
Louisville, Ky., where it remained during the winter of 1861, being 
ordered, in the latter part of February, 1862, to Nashville. It 
participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and in many other 
engagements, after which it was with Gen. Buel. In the spring of 1863, 
Mr. Thompson was honorably discharged, and is now the only surviving 
member of his company in Centre county. Since 1893 he has been 
afflicted with paralysis. No man in Potter township is more deserving 
the high regard and esteem in which he is universally held than our 
subject, who is kind-hearted, generous and genial, with always a 
pleasant word for all.