From "The History of North Washington" Published 1904
Stevens County, WA Biographical Sketches

Transcribed by: Nancy Grubb (nancyg@theofficenet.com)
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JOSEPH THOMPSON
	Joseph Thompson. To be classed with the makers of American history 
are the pioneers of the Klondike country. Among the earliest of these 
courageous explores of the Arctic El Dorado was Joseph Thompson,at present 
a successful farmer,and stock-raiser,four miles south of Chewelah,Stevens 
county. He was born in Hartford, Connecticut,January 13,1857,son of Joseph 
and Jane(McNear)Thompson.They were natives of Scotland,coming to the United 
States in early life and locating in Connecticut. For thirty years the 
father was an engineer in the employ of the Hazzard-Black Gunpowder Works. 
In 1879 the family removed to California where he followed his profession 
until death in 1900. His wife survived the loss of her husband but one week. 
During his residence in Scotland,Joseph Thompson was recognized as an 
eminent vocalist. They were the parents of ten children,all of whom reached 
muturity,viz:Christina,wife of Frank Cotda;Jeanette,wife of James Howell,
both of San Francisco,California; Alexanda,living at Forty-Mile river,
Alaska;Maggie,wife of Alexander Howell,Rosalia,Washington;John deceased;
Joan and James,twins;Charles;Jane,wife of Geroge Bradford,Hartford 
Connecticut,and Joseph,the subject of this sketch. James and Charles were 
lost at sea,having been wrecked on the schooner Alaska,from Golivan Bay,with 
a load of ore. No tiding were ever recovered of the vessel or her crew of 
sixteen men. 
	The elementary edcuation of our subject was obtained at Hazzardville,
Connecticut,and at the age of sixteen he began life for himself,going to 
California in 1873. For two years he followed lumbering at Santa Clara,going 
thence to Humboldt county,where he remained in the same line of work until 
1879 when engaged in mining. He prospected in various parts of the state 
until 1889, when he went to Yukon,Alaska.via the Chilcoot pass. On this 
expedition he paid fifteen dollars a hundred pounds for freight packed by 
Indians to the headwaters of the Yukon. His claim on Forty-Mile river 
proving a disappointment,he joined a prospecting party of young men,but 
after suffering incredible hardship,he returned to his claim where he 
wintered. Subsequently he went to Copper river, Alaska,in the schooner Ada,
where he passed the following winter and returned to San Francisco.
	Nothing daunted by his unsuccessful expedition,Mr.Thompson returned 
to the Klondike country in the spring of 1893,and joined the stampede to 
Circle City where he remained until 1897,and then mingled with another rush 
to Dawson. The spring of 1899 found him back in San Francisco,and in the 
fall he visited his old home in Connecticut,remaining there through the 
winter. On his return to San Francisco he determined to invest what money
he had in stock and ranch land. In 1900 he came to Stevens county,Washington,
and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of partly improved land,seventy 
acres being in hay. He now has seventy head of cattle,four head of horses,
his land is all fenced,with substantial buildings and many conveniences. He 
has,also,the range of two hundred and ten acres of school land,and annually
puts up one hundred and fifty tons of hay.
	In 1902 Mr.Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Richmond,
daughter of William Richmond,of West Virginia. With the patriotic interest 
of a good citizen in national and local politics,Mr.Thompson affiliates with 
the Republican party. Fraternally he is a member of the Chewelah Lodge,
No.176, I.O.O.F.,and the Pioneer Society of the Yukon Country. His wife is a 
member of the W.R.C. of Chewelah.
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