John R. Thompson, M. D. Biography


	This biography appears on pages 302-305 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOHN R. THOMPSON, M. D. 

	Dr. John R. Thompson was for a number of years successfully 
engaged in the practice of his profession in Northville, South Dakota, 
but since 1906 has retired therefrom and has devoted his entire time to 
the management of his eighteen hundred and eighty acres of land, which 
he rents to others. He was born in Kane county, Illinois, September 13, 
1858, and is a son of Thomas J. and Hannah A. (Tucker) Thompson. Both 
the Thompson and Tucker families came to this country from England in 
colonial days. The mother was a descendant of John R. Tucker, who was 
descended from Thomas Dickerman, who located in Massachusetts in 1635. 
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Thompson were numbered among the pioneers of the 
prairie state, settling there in 1849, but in 1880 the father and his 
son, John R., came to south Dakota, where they took up land. The father 
then returned to Kane county, Illinois, and the following year brought 
the other members of the family to this state. He died in April, 1908, 
at the age of seventy-five years, having survived his wife for four 
years. Her demise occurred on the 8th of April, 1904, when she was 
sixty-five years of age. Both are buried ill the Northville cemetery. 

	Dr. Thompson received his elementary education in the public 
schools of Burlington, Kane county, Illinois, after which he attended 
Elgin Academy for two years. On leaving that institution he entered 
Bennett Medical College in Chicago and was graduated therefrom in 1884 
with the degree of M. D. He took an additional course in the College of 
Physicians & Surgeons at Chicago and was graduated from that 
institution in 1885, receiving the degree of M. D. from that 
institution also. He returned to Northville, this state, in that year 
and continued in the practice of his profession until 1906. He was very 
successful as a physician and built up a large and representative 
practice. He was careful to take into consideration all conditions 
indicated upon making a diagnosis and after once determining the nature 
of the disease his wide medical knowledge enabled him to prescribe the 
right remedy. He was to many of his patients much more than a 
physician, being also a valued friend, and the confidence which he 
inspired in his professional ability and in his genuine worth was an 
important factor in his success as a physician. In connection with his 
practice he managed his farms and although his holdings were at first 
limited to a preemption, homestead and tree claim, he purchased 
additional land from time to time until he became the owner of eighteen 
hundred acres, which he still owns and which he rents to others. 

	Dr. Thompson has been twice married. On May 29, 1887, he wedded 
Miss Etta M. Gregory, a native of Waybridge, Vermont, and a daughter of 
Leander D. and Eliza Gregory, both of whom have passed away and were 
laid to rest in a cemetery at Beloit, Wisconsin. Mrs. Thompson died on 
March 4, 1907, and was buried at Northville, South Dakota. She was the 
mother of one daughter, Ketha A., now the wife of James P. Townsend, a 
traveling salesman residing at Watertown, this state. They have two 
children, Etta Adeline and Margaret Catherine. On March 24, 1909, Dr. 
Thompson was again married, his second union being with Miss Luzetta W. 
Dittes, a daughter of Fred and Mary Dittes, who reside at Monticello, 
Minnesota, but formerly lived in Roberts county, this state, where Mrs. 
Thompson was born. The Doctor and his wife have a daughter, Mary 
Hannah. 

	Dr. Thompson is a republican in his political belief and is 
president of the board of education. Since retiring from practice he 
has also retired from all societies. He has been of great service to 
his community as a physician and as a public-spirited citizen he has 
done much to further many movements looking toward the betterment of 
the community, while as a large landowner he has been instrumental in 
aiding the agricultural development of Spink county. He has improved 
all of his land with buildings and has also sunk three or four artesian 
wells besides bringing the land itself to a high state of cultivation. 
His life has been a useful one along many lines of endeavor and he is 
now living retired from the cares and responsibilities of active life, 
rich in the honor and esteem of all who know him.