From "History of North Washington" Published 1904

Transcribed by: Candy Grubb (candyg@theofficenet.com)
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GIDEON J. TOMPKINS
	Gideon J. Tompkins is one of the leading business men of Republic,
being at the head of a blacksmith business and a large agricultural house.
He was born in Kemptville, Ontario, on February 20, 1859, the son of 
Dennis and Ann J. (Carson) Tompkins, natives of Canada.  The parents had 
a family of thirteen children, and remained in Canada until the time of 
their death.  The father was a general contractor and a farmer.  Our subject
received his education in his native place, and at the age of fifteen,
came to the United States, and located in Ogdensburg, where he learned the
blacksmith trade.  After following the same for three years, he came west
to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and about 1879 came on to Montana, where he 
engaged as a horse shoer for a stage company, opreating from Boseman to
Miles City, a distance of three hundred and thirty-five miles, until 1882,
when he came to Yellowstone Park.  Later we see him in Minneapolis, and in
1888 he left that state and settled at Pony, Montana.  He still continued
at his trade, and two years later came on to the coast.  In 1891 we find
him on the Market street cable car line in San Francisco, and in 1893 he
took a trip to the World's Fair.  From there he journeyed to Des Moines,
Iowa, and for three years was in the fruit business in that state.  Next
we see him mining in Colorado, after which he came on to Spokane, and in
1898 settled in Republic.  He at once opened a blacksmith shop and in 
thirty days after the reservation opened, he had ordered a carload of 
machinery.  He sold the first mower, the first binder, the first threshing
machine, the first wagon, and the first fanning mill in Ferry county.  
From that time until the present, Mr. Tompkins has pressed his business 
with energy and handles it with wisdom, and during the season of 1903, he
disposed of over five carloads of machinery.
	Politically, he is a strong Republican, and has served for two years
as president of the McKinley Club.  For two years, Mr. Tompins was 
councilman of Republic, and he has always been a prominent and influential
citizen.
	In 1890 Mr. Tompkins married Marguerite Baker, a native of Dayton,
Washington.  Her parents crossed the plains in 1847.  Mr. Tompkins is a 
member of the A.F. & A.M., the I.O.O.F., the Eastern Star, and the Rebekahs.
His wife also belongs to the last two orders.  He is W.M. of the first order.
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