Olymphious S. Thompson


	This biography appears on pages 264-265 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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				HON. OLYMPHIOUS S. THOMPSON. 

	Hon. Olymphious S. Thompson, who has represented his district in 
the state legislature, is a native son of South Dakota and of Minnehaha 
county, where he resides, his home being on section 29, Sverdrup 
township. His birth occurred on the same farm, February 18, 1875, his 
parents being John and Kirsti (Syverson) Thompson, natives of Norway, 
who came to the United States as children. A sketch of the father 
appears elsewhere in this work. He passed away July 2, 1913, but the 
mother is still living, enjoying the respect and esteem of all who know 
her. 

	Olymphious S. Thompson was reared at home and enjoyed such 
educational advantages as were offered by the common schools of the 
district. Upon reaching manhood he continued working with his father on 
the home farm until 1904, when the place was deeded to him. He has 
since had the entire management of the farm, which comprises five 
hundred and three acres, including in its limits the Old Settlers 
picnic grounds in Sverdrup township. The farm is situated in the Sioux 
river valley and is one of the most valuable and best improved 
agricultural properties in the county. Its well kept buildings and 
fences and the high state of cultivation of its fields all indicate the 
progressiveness and energy of the owner. He is identified with the 
business interests of the county as president of the Farmers Mutual 
Fire & Lightning Insurance Company, director of the Crooks Lumber 
Company of Crooks, director of the Cooperative Lumber Company of 
Baltic, and director of the Dell Rapids Hospital Association. He was 
also proprietor of the Morefield Grain Company, but exchanged this 
interest for one hundred and sixty acres in North Dakota and has also 
purchased four hundred acres in Lake county, South Dakota. He is also 
treasurer of the Early Settlers Association. 

	Mr. Thompson was married in 1898 to Miss Salina Gilseth, of 
Mapleton township, Minnehaha county, a daughter of Ole Gilseth, one of 
the pioneer settlers of the township, having located there in 1866. By 
her marriage she became the mother of a daughter, Cora Agnes. Mrs. 
Thompson died in 1905, and in 1909 Mr. Thompson married Miss Julia 
Vollan, of Sverdrup township, a daughter of John Vollan, deceased, one 
of the early settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson attend the 
services of the Lutheran church, of which they are loyal members. He is 
a republican in politics and, as before stated, represented his 
district in the last state legislature, is record being so satisfactory 
that he was again made his party's candidate and reelected. He is a son 
of one of the most prominent of the pioneer settlers of the county and 
has himself added to the honor in which the name of Thompson is held in 
this region upholding the family tradition of integrity and able public 
service.