BIOGRAPHIES: Thomas J. THOMPSON, Barron, Barron County, WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Transcribed by Peg Lamkin Edited and submitted by Vic Gulickson 11 March 2002 ==================================================================== Thomas J. Thompson, proprietor of a garage and a Ford sales and service station at Barron, which city he has served six years as mayor, was born on a farm in Green county, Wisconsin, April 22, 1873, son of Andrew and Bertha (Johnson) Thompson. The parents were natives of Norway, whence the mother came to this country in 1868 and the father in 1869. They became acquainted with each other in Green county, Wisconsin, where they were married in June, 1872. In the following year they bought a farm in Polk county and engaged in agriculture. There Mrs. Bertha Thompson died in March, 1911. After his wife's death, Andrew Thompson sold the farm, in 1914, and removed to Cameron, Barron county, where he is now living. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Thompson had ten children: Thomas J., subject of this sketch; Albert, now of Bellfield, N. D.; Melvin, of Ladysmith, Wis.; Edwin, of New Richmond, Wis.; Gena, now Mrs. George Christenson, of Exeland, Wis.; Elmer, of Chippewa Falls; Ida, of Exeland; Mabel, wife of Charles Allen, of Cameron, Barron county; Edna, of Spooner, Wis., and Emma, who died in infancy. Thomas J. Thompson attended common school in Polk county up to the age of fourteen, when he began work as cook in lumber camps in the woods, an occupation which he followed during the cutting season for four years, the rest of the time working on the home farm. Then going to New Richmond, St. Croix county, Wis., he entered the employ of F. L. Bosworth, hardware merchant, with whom he remained one year. For two years after that he was in the employ of C. H. Todd, jeweler of the same place, with whom he learned watch repairing. In 1894 he opened a jewelry store at Amery, Polk county,Wis., and conducted it for three years, at the end of which time he moved his stock to Cameron, Barron county, and established a business there. While still residing there he opened another store in Barron in 1898 and one in Bruce, Rusk county, in 1900. The Bruce business he disposed of in 1910 and the Cameron business in January, 1916, while he sold his Barron store and business in 1920. In August, 1916, Mr. Thompson became Ford representative in Barron for the Ford cars, tractors and trucks, also carrying a variety of machinery and implements, such as plows, discs and ensilage cutters; also a full line of tires and automobile parts, his territory extending over a part of Barron county. In 1919 he built a tile garage, 50 by 120 feet in ground dimensions, and in 1921 a modern sales and display room of the same size, with a full basement, the building being of one story and solid brick construction He also for two years operated a Ford sales and service station at Ladysmith, Wis., as a partner in the Thompson & Drake Auto Co., his interest in which he sold to his partner Jan. 1, 1921. March 1, 1921, he bought a garage at Osceola where he operates a Ford garage and sales service. He has already a good trade and is building up a flourishing business. Mr. Thompson is a Mason of high degree, belonging to the Blue lodge, No. 220, in Barron; also to the Chapter at Rice Lake, the Commandery at Chippewa Falls, the Consistory at Milwaukee, Wis., and to Tripoli Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Milwaukee. He also belongs to the Odd Fellows' Lodge in which he has filled the chairs, and the lodges of Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Maccabees and Beavers, all in Barron. Politically a Republican, he served the city of Barron as mayor from 1914 to 1920. On Feb. 19, 1896, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage with Ida L. Turner, a native of Polk county, Wisconsin, and daughter of Paul and Charity (Babcock) Turner, later residents of Amery, Wis. The children of this union are as follows: Aurie May, born Dec. 23, 1896, who graduated from the Barron High school and is now Mrs. Clyde Walsh of Barron; Leah Bertine, born Nov. 3, 1902, who graduated from the Barron High School; Fern Marie, born April 27, 1907, who is a student in the high school; Sidney Thomas, born Feb. 18, 1900, who died in infancy, and Wayne Vernon, born Sept. 15, 1910. Mr. Thompson was reared in the Lutheran faith, but he and his family are now affiliated with the Episcopal church in Barron. --Taken from: History of Barron Co., Wisconsin, H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1922, pp. 89-90.