Born in Hancock county, September 3, 1848. He is the son of Matthew and Martha (Spaulding) Thompson, his father a native of Ireland, and his mother of Vermont. He was reared as a farm boy, receiving his early education in the common schools. In July, 1863, he entered the service, enlisting in the 4th Iowa Battery, serving until the close of the war. In 1865 he was wounded in the leg at Thibodeaux City, La. At the close of the war he returned to Clayton county, and attended school an McGregor. In the fall of 1873 he entered the Iowa State University, graduating in the law department in 1875. In the fall of the same year he was appointed deputy register of the State land office, which position he held about two years. On May 1, 1877, he established the Winnebago County Bank, and January 1, 1880, sold a half interest to Jason H. Easton, and continued under the firm name of Easton & Thompson. Mr. Thompson was married December 22, 1875, to Julia Clark, a daughter of Judge Clark, the founder of Forest City. Mr. Thompson is, in politics, a staunch republican, and was the mayor of Forest City, having been elected by a large majority on the temperance ticket. He represented Clayton county in the Twenty-first and Twenty-second General Assemblies, 1886-88. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, being passed to a Knight Templar.

Born in Hancock county, September 3, 1848. He is the son of Matthew and Martha (Spaulding) Thompson, his father a native of Ireland, and his mother of Vermont. He was reared as a farm boy, receiving his early education in the common schools. In July, 1863, he entered the service, enlisting in the 4th Iowa Battery, serving until the close of the war. In 1865 he was wounded in the leg at Thibodeaux City, La. At the close of the war he returned to Clayton county, and attended school an McGregor. In the fall of 1873 he entered the Iowa State University, graduating in the law department in 1875. In the fall of the same year he was appointed deputy register of the State land office, which position he held about two years. On May 1, 1877, he established the Winnebago County Bank, and January 1, 1880, sold a half interest to Jason H. Easton, and continued under the firm name of Easton & Thompson. Mr. Thompson was married December 22, 1875, to Julia Clark, a daughter of Judge Clark, the founder of Forest City. Mr. Thompson is, in politics, a staunch republican, and was the mayor of Forest City, having been elected by a large majority on the temperance ticket. He represented Clayton county in the Twenty-first and Twenty-second General Assemblies, 1886-88. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, being passed to a Knight Templar.