Lumber; born, Crawford Co., Pa., Jan. 17, 1856; son of James E. and Joan (Treadway) Thompson; educated in public schools and Meadville (Pa.) Academy; married at Lapeer, Mich., November, 1868, Julia M. Piper. Began business career by founding lumber firm of Thompson, Rich & Co., Lapeer, Mich., 1866; organized firm of Piper & Thompson, 1875; founded Delta Lumber Co. of Michigan and town of Thompson, Mich., 1880; president Brunswick Lumber Co., Brunswick, Ga., 1882-86; removed to Detroit, 1881; organized Thompson Navigation Co., 1883; formed the Detroit Lumber Co., of which is now president, 1899; organized Addison Apartments Co., 1905, and erected Addison Family Hotel, Woodward and Charlotte Avs., Detroit. Member Board of Commerce. Republican. Presbyterian. Recreation: Horseback riding. Office: 4 Chene St., Detroit. Residence: Walkerville, Ont.
From the Book of Detroiters 1908 by Albert Nelson Marquis