State agent Travelers’ Insurance Co.; born, Dansville, N.Y., May 2, 1847; son of Charles Albert and Maria (Peck) Thompson; educated in public schools of Kalamazoo, Mich.; married at Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. 5, 1886, Cora Calkins. Began active career as clerk in book store, Kalamazoo, Mich.; then was clerk in quartermaster’s department, Army of the Cumberland, at Nashville, Tenn., 1864-65; returned to Kalamazoo and engaged in merchant tailoring for three years, after which he became identified with general insurance; became state agent Travelers’ Life Insurance Co., 1872, and has conducted agency since 1897 under firm name of J.W. Thompson & Son. Also president Walter, Cobb & Fisher Co., Kalamazoo, and of the Hillsdale Gas Company; vice president Detroit Stoker and Foundry Co., Coldwater (Mich.) Gas and Fuel Co., Mac Sim Bar Paper Co., Pilling Air Engine Co., Detroit Hoist and Machine Co.; director Monroe Gas Light and Fuel Co., Otsego Coated Paper Co., Kalamazoo National Bank, Kalamazoo Gas Co., King paper Co., Kalamazoo, Michigan Fire and Marine Insurance Co., Detroit; treasurer J.D. Hearkner Jewelry Co., Grand Rapids. Member Detroit Board of Commerce. Republican. Episcopalian. Member Sons of American Revolution. Clubs: Detroit, Detroit Boat, Detroit Golf. Recreation: Automobiling. Office: 610 Chamber of Commerce. Residence: 90 Putnam Av.
From the Book of Detroiters 1908 by Albert Nelson Marquis