|
Rossville Press, April 3, 1913
(Contributed by Mary Paulius)
DEATH ENDS
LONG LIFE OF LEWIS M. THOMPSON
Born in State of Indiana in 1829, He settled in Vermilion County
with his Parents in 1831
The long career of Lewis M. Thompson, Rossville’s oldest continuous
resident was ended by death Wednesday morning shortly after 8
o’clock. Mr. Thompson’s death had been expected for several
days, as condition had been precarious since Easter day. Death
was caused by general debility from old age, his fame not being
strong enough to withstand the ravages of disease. His serious
illness dated from the first of the year, before which he was
frequently seen in the business district, making the trips in his
buggy.
The funeral service will be held at his late home at 10 o’clock
Friday and the burial will take place at Danville, the funeral party
going to the county seat on the noon train. Rev E. H. Lugg
will officiate at the funeral. One of the requests made by Mr.
Thompson reveals a feature of his character well known to his
friends. The request was that his friends be asked not to send
floral offerings.
Lewis M. Thompson, son of the late
John and Esther (Payne) Thompson born May 31, 1829 in
Dearborn County, Ind. At the age of two he came to Vermilion
County with his parents who settled in Catlin. He remained
there until 1846, when he removed to Rossville and had remained here
ever since.
Mr. Thompson in his early days taught school. Later he was
engaged in the cattle business. Later he became one of the
wealthy farm owners of north Vermilion county and was associated
with such great land owners as the late
Alvin Gilbert, Abraham Mann and Thomas Hoopes.
Mr. Thompson was twice married. His first wife,
mother of the six children of Mr. Thompson, was Miss Judith A.
Burroughs, who was married to him on August 17, 1848. She
passed away March 14, 1890. To this union were born six
children, Mrs. W. H. Chamberlin, now residing in Chicago;
Mrs. Charles A. Allen, of Hoopeston;
Mrs. A. P. Green, of Attica, Ind., Mrs. Arch E. Ray of
Madison, Wis., Mrs. James W. Morrow and John G. Thompson,
both of Danville.
His second wife, who survives was Mrs. Belle
Bales, to whom he was married June 18, 1891 at the home of
Mrs. Abraham Mann.
Mr. Thompson never aspired
to political office, but in 1854 he was elected clerk of Rose
Township which office he held for six years. He served as
collector two terms and was again elected clerk for 1863 and 1864.
Mr. Thompson was a charter member of the local Odd
Fellows lodge and a republican from the inception of the party.
-------
Rossville
press
April 10, 191(3?)
L. M.
Thompson
The funeral of
the late L. M. Thompson last Friday morning was largely attended by
friends of the family and men and women who had been associated with
Mr. Thompson for years and who expressed in that way the respect
in which he had been held by the general public. Mr. Lugg
officiated and paid graceful tribute to the many good qualities of
the deceased and said the comforting words that assure eternal life
in the world to come to those who live the Christian life in this
world. The pallbearers were the five sons-in-law and one son
of Mr. Thompson. The funeral party went to Danville on the
noon train and interment took place in Springhill. A quartet
composed of Mr. and Mrs. P. M. Warner, Mrs. F. M. Mason and J. W.
McKown tendered two hymns and a trio of grandsons, Lawrence and
John Allen and Lewis Green,
sand “Lead Kindly light.” Rev. E. H. Lugg, pastor of the
Methodist Episcopal Church conducted the service. The
following obituary was read:
Lewis Milton Thompson, son of John and Ester Payne Thompson,
was born in Dearborn County, Ind. May 31, 1829 and died in
Rossville, Illinois April 2, 1913.
When a small
child his parents moved to Vermilion County near Catlin, Illinois,
where his early life was spent. On August 17, 1848 Mr.
Thompson was married to
Judith Ann Burroughs and came to the old homestead east of
Rossville where they lived until a873. The remainder of his
life was spent in Rossville. The wife and mother died March 4,
1890. Mr. Thompson was the father of six children all of who
survive him and are present.
On June 18, 1891, Mr. Thompson
was married to Mrs. Belle Bales, who survives him, and
who has tenderly cared for him in his declining years. He also
leaves a sister, Mrs. Harriet McElroy of Decatur.
The following additional facts are also of interest: The names
of the children are Viola, wife of Prof. W. H.
Chamberlin of Chicago; Mary, wife of
Hon. Charles A. Allen of Hoopeston, Judge John G.
Thompson of Danville: Esther, wife of Alonzo P. Green
of Attica, Indiana; Lena, wife of Arch E. Ray
of Madison, Wisconsin, and Hattie, wife of James Morrow
of Danville.
In addition to these Mr. Thompson
gave fatherly training and council to C. I. (Roy) and J. F. (Woodie)
Bales. The former lives in Danville and attended the
funeral but the latter whose home is at Spring Butte, North Dakota
was prevented by reason of long distance.
The pastor added brief remarks to the obituary and said in part:
“A tall, wide spreading oak has fallen
And left a vacancy against the sky
To those who have been accustomed
To find shelter beneath the branches
And to bask in its shadow
The vacancy can never be filled.”
He is gone, but not to be forgotten. Upon his
fellow men he made a dep and lasting impression. His creed, if
indeed he formulated one, might be expressed in the words of a
modern poet.
“Let me live in a house by the side of the road
Where the race if men go by
The men that are good and the men that are bad
As good and as bad as I
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man”
To his influence may be explained in the language of Prov. 13:22.
“A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children.
Of him Jehovah’s description of Abraham is appropriate, “I know him
that he will command his children: (Gen 18:19) In his family,
Mr. Thompson was firm without being severe, and the strong character
thereby developed in his children, is an inheritance that their
children are the proud possessors of.
Several elements contributed to formation of his character:
1.
His mother – Of her he ever spoke in highest terms of
respect.
2.
He was a diligent reader and an earnest thinker.
3. His relation to the church. He became
a member in the early days of the existence of Mann’s Chapel.
For a number of years he was a trustee of the Methodist Church in
Rossville It is the church that enables a man to have a religious
faith with which he can meet death without fear. Tennyson’s
Passing The Bar was quoted as an expression of his faith |
