John Thompson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1178-1181 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 THOMPSON. 

	The names of those who performed the arduous work of the pioneer 
in agricultural development, in government, or in any of life's 
activities, are justly held in veneration by those who follow after and 
enjoy the results of their efforts. John Thompson was not only the 
pioneer farmer of Sverdrup township, Minnehaha county, but was also 
prominently identified with public affairs, being a member of the 
territorial assembly. 

	His birth occurred in Norway, June 29, 1841, and he came to this 
country in 1854 when a youth of about thirteen years. He was a resident 
of Wisconsin at the outbreak of the Civil war and enlisted in Company 
I, Seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, serving with that command 
until April, 1862. During the summer of that year he enlisted in 
Company H, Thirtieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until 
hostilities ceased, being mustered out in October, 1865. His bravery 
won him promotion and he became a noncommissioned officer. Although he 
served throughout the entire war, he had the good fortune to never 
receive a wound or be taken prisoner. Upon leaving the army Mr. 
Thompson went to Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he soon afterward 
married Miss Christine Haugen. On the 4th of June, 1866, he and his 
wife, together with Mr. and Mrs. John Nelson, started for Dakota, both 
couples having a team of oxen, a cow and a wagon as their sole 
equipment. On the 29th of June, which was the twenty-fifth anniversary 
of his birth, Mr. Thompson and his party arrived in Sioux Falls and 
camped on the east side of the Sioux river. Within two or three days he 
located on section 29, Sverdrup township, Minnehaha county, and filed a 
homestead claim. It was necessary to build a shelter immediately and as 
material was scarce, his first house was of a very rude character. Four 
crotches were set up, which formed the frame work of the house, which 
was built of poles and hay. In the fall of that year a better residence 
was built to protect them from the storms of winter. The second 
dwelling was a log house, twelve by sixteen feet, covered with soft 
maple shingles, and was the first one built in the township. Mr. 
Thompson continued to reside there until his death, making his home 
longer in that township than any other citizen within its borders. He 
applied himself strictly to cultivating the soil and systematically 
saved his money, purchasing additional land from time to time until he 
became the owner of five hundred and ninety-seven acres of land on 
section 29, and two hundred and forty acres on sections 20, 30, 32 and 
33, his acreage totaling ten hundred and seventy-three acres. He 
erected attractive and commodious farm buildings, his barn being one of 
the largest if not the largest in the county, its dimensions being 
eighty by one hundred feet. He also acquired a large amount of personal 
property and was known as one of the most successful and prosperous 
farmers of his section. 

	Mr. Thompson was very active in political affairs and held a 
number of public offices. His first official appointment was received 
under quite unusual circumstances. It was during the incumbency of 
James S. Foster as territorial superintendent of schools, and that 
gentleman, while engaged in freighting to Sioux Falls, was assisted by 
Mr. Thompson in getting his goods across the Sioux river. He showed his 
appreciation of this service by paying Mr. Thompson one dollar and by 
appointing him superintendent of schools of Minnehaha county. The new 
official made good use of the dollar but made no attempt to act in his 
capacity as county superintendent of schools. He was chairman of the 
town board of supervisors for about nine years, was the first township 
assessor of Sverdrup township, was justice of the peace, and was the 
first chairman of the board of county commissioners after its 
reorganization, serving as a member of the board for three years. His 
influence extended beyond the confines of the county, as he was a 
member of the territorial assembly from 1873 to 1877 and again in 1883. 
He did much to aid in securing enlightened laws for the state, thus 
earning the gratitude of the generation which is now profiting by his 
labors. He was one of the real pioneers of the county, there being but 
few white people here when he arrived, and he has left behind him a 
name esteemed and respected by all because of his honorable and kindly 
life.