M. D. Thompson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 22-25 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				M. D. THOMPSON.  

	No matter in how much fantastic theorizing one may indulge as to 
the cause of success, it is invariably found on careful analysis that 
the successful men owe their position to industry, enterprise and 
persistency of purpose. Such is the record of M. D. Thompson, who has 
been continuously connected with business affairs for a longer period 
than any other resident of North or South Dakota. Residing at 
Vermillion, he is engaged in banking, in the grain business and in 
dealing in farm machinery. He was born in Saratoga county, New York, in 
1847, a son of Orville Thompson, who followed farming in Washington 
county, New York, until his death.  

	The son acquired his early education in the public schools and 
afterward attended the Fort Edward Institute of New York, from which he 
was graduated with the class of 1863. Subsequently he made his way 
westward to Wisconsin, where he engaged in clerking for about two 
years, and in June, 1869, he went to Clay county, Dakota territory, 
where he purchased an interest in the general store of James McHenry. 
At the same time Martin J. Lewis became a partner and later Mr. 
Thompson and Mr. Lewis purchased Mr. McHenry's interest. The nature of 
the business has been somewhat changed, for the Thompson-Lewis Company 
now deals in farm implements, grain and lumber, and its trade has grown 
to extensive and gratifying proportions. Mr. Lewis passed away in 1896, 
continuing active in the business until his demise, but the name of the 
Thompson-Lewis Company has been retained. Mr. Thompson is an extensive 
owner of well improved farm lands in Clay county and also of valuable 
properties in Vermillion. He was one of the organizers of the private 
bank conducted under the name of D. M. Inman & Company at Vermillion in 
1872. This was the second bank of Vermillion and was conducted under 
the original plan of organization until 1889, when it was converted 
into the First National Bank, which is capitalized for fifty thousand 
dollars and of which Mr. Thompson is one of the principal stockholders. 
For a considerable period he served as vice president of the 
institution and in 1912 was elected to the presidency, in which 
position he has active voice in the management of the bank and in 
formulating its policy.  

	On January 6, 1870, occurred the marriage of Mr. Thompson and 
Miss Anna E. Lewis, a daughter of William L. Lewis, of Columbus, 
Wisconsin, and to them have been born two sons. Orville W., a graduate 
of the State University of South Dakota, was cashier of the First 
National Bank of Vermillion for ten years and while living in Clay 
county was elected state senator for a two years' term. He is now a 
resident of Chicago, where he is secretary and treasurer of the James 
P. Marsh Manufacturing Company. Martin L., also a graduate of the State 
University, is a partner in the Thompson-Lewis Company of Vermillion. 

	Mr. Thompson is a stalwart republican, but not an aspirant for 
office. He and his family hold membership in the Baptist church. 
Fraternally he is a Mason and an Odd Fellow and in the former has 
attained the Knight Templar degree and is also a member of the Mystic 
Shrine. For forty-six years he has been continuously connected with 
business affairs in Clay county and has steadily advanced in the scope 
and importance of his interests and activities. His success is the 
direct outcome of earnest, persistent effort intelligently directed and 
he stands in the foremost rank among those who have been most active 
and efficient in furthering the upbuilding of his part of the state.