Millard T. Thompson Biography


	This biography appears on pages 637-638 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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				MILLARD T. THOMPSON. 

	Millard T. Thompson is the proprietor of a livery and dray 
business at Buffalo Gap, where he also deals in coal, feed and ice. He 
has wisely utilized his time and opportunities in the conduct of his 
business affairs and is meeting with a substantial measure of success 
that is the direct result of his persistency of purpose and his 
industry. He was born near St. Jacobs, Illinois, on the 5th of June, 
1872, a son of Parisa A. and Lenora [Adams) Thompson, who were likewise 
natives of Illinois. In early life the father engaged in merchandising 
at St. Jacobs and also carried on agricultural pursuits in Illinois. In 
1888 he brought his family to South Dakota, settling three miles 
southwest of Buffalo Gap upon a ranch, whereon he devoted his attention 
to farming and stock-raising. There he resided for eight years, at the 
end of which time he removed to Buffalo Gap and his death occurred soon 
afterward. He had engaged in the draying business and also in the coal 
trade. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call 
for aid, enlisting as a private in the One Hundred and Seventeenth 
Illinois Regiment, with which he served for three years, during which 
time he was never wounded nor confined in a hospital. His widow 
survives him and now resides in Buffalo Gap. 

	Millard T. Thompson was a twin, his brother, however, being 
deceased. There are four living children in the father's family. Mr. 
Thompson attended school at Emerald Mound, near Lebanon, Illinois, and 
at the age of sixteen years came to South Dakota with his parents, so 
that he has long been an interested witness of the development and 
progress of the state. At the age of eighteen years he engaged in 
railroad work on the Northwestern Railroad at Buffalo Gap and was thus 
employed for about three years. He then purchased a store at that place 
and conducted the business with growing success for about seventeen 
years. Later he purchased the livery and draying business in which he 
is now engaged. He owns a large livery barn containing a number of good 
horses and fine vehicles and is successfully managing the business so 
that it returns to him a gratifying annual income. He is also engaged 
in the coal, feed and fee trade and he is the owner of land in South 
Dakota situated two miles from Buffalo Gap. He operates that as a stock 
ranch, having altogether about five hundred acres and a lease on two 
thousand five hundred acres. He devotes most of his time to his livery 
and fuel business, however, and has secured a liberal patronage, for 
his business methods commend him to the confidence and support of the 
general public. 

	In June, 1902, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Rose Fallon, who 
was born in Iowa, a daughter of Hammond and Ellen (Ferguson) Fallon, 
who removed to Hay Springs, Nebraska, at an early day, the father there 
becoming the owner of a ranch He served as a soldier of the Civil war 
and was always a public-spirited citizen. With his family he removed to 
South Dakota, settling at Buffalo Gap, where his remaining days were 
passed, and his widow now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. The 
latter have become the parents of one child, Donald Victor, born March 
14, 1903. 

	Mr. Thompson is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp and his 
political allegiance is given to the republican party. He has served as 
township assessor for two years and at the present writing is serving 
as a member of the town board. He attends the Baptist church and his 
life is guided by high and honorable principles which have made him a 
representative business man and a valued resident of Custer county.