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Ralph U. Thompson
Muscatine County
Senator from the twentieth senatorial district, composed of Muscatine and Louisa counties, was born October 29, 1878, on a farm in Louisa county, Iowa. At the age of ten years, his parents moved to Muscatine, Muscatine county, Iowa. He attended rural school in Louisa county and grade and high school in Muscatine. Was graduated from the college of law at the University of Iowa in 1903. In June of that year he opened a law office, in partnership with his brother, Herbert G. Thompson, in Muscatine, where he is still engaged in practice of law. Was married to Gertrude M. Carter on June 9, 1902. In 1907 acted as assistant city attorney of the city of Muscatine, and as assistant county attorney for two successive terms. In 1917 was elected city attorney of Muscatine, re-elected a second term. Received the nomination on the democratic ticket as a candidate for congress in the second congressional district in 1924. At a special election, held March 18, 1927, he was nominated by petition on the progressive independent ticket and elected state senator to fill the unexpired term of the late Samuel E. Wilson of Louisa county.