Myron D. Thompson Biography

	This biography appears on pages 724-725 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	MYRON D. THOMPSON was born in Saratoga county, New York, on the 
13th of January, 1847, being a son of Orville W. and Fidelia P. 
(Ingalsbee) Thompson, both of whom were likewise native of the old 
Empire state, where they passed their entire lives, the former passing 
to the life eternal in 1887 and the latter in 1885. The  subject 
secured his early educational training in the public schools of 
Washington county, New York, and later entered Fort Edward Institute, 
that state, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1864. 

	At the age of seventeen years Mr. Thompson secured a clerkship in 
a general store at Warrensburg, New York, receiving in compensation for 
his services the munificent salary of five dollars a month and being 
compelled to defray his own incidental expenses. At the age of nineteen 
he came west to Columbus, Wisconsin, where he continued to be employed 
in a clerical capacity until 1867, when he came to the territory of 
Dakota and located in what is now the thriving town of Vermillion, 
where he instituted his independent business career by becoming a 
member of the firm of McHenry, Thompson & Lewis and engaging in the 
general merchandise trade, the firm being one of the first of the sort 
in the county. Two years later the firm title was changed to Thompson, 
McKerchen & Company, and this association continued two years, at the 
expiration of which Mr. Thompson associated himself with Martin J. 
Lewis, under the firm name of Thompson & Lewis, and engaged in the 
handling of lumber. farming machinery and implements, grain and live 
stock, and with these important lines of industry he has ever since 
been conspicuously identified, the business now being conducted under 
the title of the Thompson-Lewis Company. The enterprise has attained 
magnificent proportions and is one of the most important of the sort in 
this section of the state, while by careful management, honorable 
methods and progressive ideas it has brought to the interested 
principals a high degree of prosperity, while through their extended 
operations they have in turn done much to promote the prosperity and 
material upbuilding of the county and state. Mr. Thompson has ever 
stood ready to lend his aid and influence in support of all enterprises 
for the general good, and his name is synonymous with public spirit. He 
was one of the organizers of the Bank of Vermillion, and upon its 
reorganization as the First National Bank, he was elected its vice-
president, having ever since continued to serve in this capacity. He is 
a staunch adherent of the Republican party and his allegiance has been 
one of action, since he has at all times been a zealous worker in the 
party cause. He and his family hold membership in the Baptist church, 
and in the Masonic fraternity he has risen to the rank of Knight 
Templar, while he is also identified with the Ancient Arabic Order of 
the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, 
and the Knights of Pythias. He is one of the pioneer business men of 
the state and it is gratifying to note the success which has come to 
him during the long years of toil and endeavor. for he has been 
essentially the architect of his own fortune and has so ordered his 
course as to commend himself to the unqualified respect and regard of 
his fellow men, standing high in both business and social circles. 

	On the 6th of January, 1870, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. 
Thompson to Miss Anna E. Lewis, daughter of William L. Lewis, of 
Vermillion, and a niece of ex-Governor James L. Lewis, of Wisconsin. Of 
this union have been born two sons, Orville W., of whom individual 
mention is made elsewhere in this work, and Martin L., who is 
associated with both his father and brother in business. Both sons are 
graduates of the State University of South Dakota, which is located in 
Vermillion.