ROSSVILLE PRESS
News Articles

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.

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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.