William George Thompson
Encyclopedia
William George Thompson (January 17, 1830 – April 2, 1911) was a Civil War
officer, trial-court judge, territorial justice, and Republican
Representative in the U.S. House of Iowa's 5th congressional district
.
, the younger brother of future Pennsylvania Congressman John McCandless Thompson
. In 1853, he was admitted to the bar
and moved to Marion, Iowa
. He became the prosecuting attorney for Linn County, Iowa
in 1854, then left in 1856 to serve in the Iowa Senate
, serving until 1860. When the Civil War
broke out he became a major
in the 20th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
.
After the War, he served as district attorney for Iowa's eighth judicial district for six years. He then served briefly as Chief Justice
of the Territory of Idaho, from January to April 1879.
In April 1879, Thompson resigned as Chief Justice to run as a Republican to represent Iowa's fifth district
in the Forty-sixth Congress
, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Rush Clark
. Thompson won the special election, and served in most of the Forty-sixth Congress
. In 1882, he was re-elected, serving in the Forty-seventh Congress
, but chose not to run in 1884 for the Forty-eighth
.
On his return to Iowa, Thompson served on the Marion City Council, and ran for the Iowa General Assembly
. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives
from 1885 to 1887. Returning to the bench, he was elected as judge of Iowa's eighteenth judicial district, serving from 1894 to 1906. He retired to Kenwood Park, Iowa
where he died April 2, 1911. He is interred at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
officer, trial-court judge, territorial justice, and Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Representative in the U.S. House of Iowa's 5th congressional district
Iowa's 5th congressional district
Iowa's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers most of Western Iowa and includes the cities of Council Bluffs and Sioux City...
.
Biography
Thompson was born and raised in Butler, PennsylvaniaButler, Pennsylvania
The city of Butler is the county seat of Butler County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, situated north of Pittsburgh. The population was 15,121 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, the younger brother of future Pennsylvania Congressman John McCandless Thompson
John McCandless Thompson
John McCandless Thompson was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.-Biography:...
. In 1853, he was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
and moved to Marion, Iowa
Marion, Iowa
Marion is a city in Linn County, Iowa, United States. The population was 26,294 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 32,172 in 2007. The city is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. He became the prosecuting attorney for Linn County, Iowa
Linn County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of . There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.-2000 census:...
in 1854, then left in 1856 to serve in the Iowa Senate
Iowa Senate
The Iowa Senate is the upper house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 50 members of the Senate, representing 50 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 59,500 per constituency. Each Senate district is composed of two House districts...
, serving until 1860. When the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
broke out he became a major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
in the 20th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
20th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 20th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 20th Iowa Infantry was organized at Clinton, Iowa and mustered in for three years of Federal service on August 25, 1862.The regiment was mustered out on July...
.
After the War, he served as district attorney for Iowa's eighth judicial district for six years. He then served briefly as Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Territory of Idaho, from January to April 1879.
In April 1879, Thompson resigned as Chief Justice to run as a Republican to represent Iowa's fifth district
Iowa's 5th congressional district
Iowa's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Iowa that covers most of Western Iowa and includes the cities of Council Bluffs and Sioux City...
in the Forty-sixth Congress
46th United States Congress
The Forty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1881, during the last two years of...
, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Rush Clark
Rush Clark
Rush Clark was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Iowa, who died on the floor of Congress in 1879....
. Thompson won the special election, and served in most of the Forty-sixth Congress
46th United States Congress
The Forty-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1879 to March 4, 1881, during the last two years of...
. In 1882, he was re-elected, serving in the Forty-seventh Congress
47th United States Congress
The Forty-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1881 to March 4, 1883, during the administration...
, but chose not to run in 1884 for the Forty-eighth
48th United States Congress
The Forty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1883 to March 4, 1885, during the last two years...
.
On his return to Iowa, Thompson served on the Marion City Council, and ran for the Iowa General Assembly
Iowa General Assembly
The Iowa General Assembly is the legislative branch of the state government of Iowa. Like the federal United States Congress, the General Assembly is a bicameral body, composed of the upper house Iowa Senate and the lower Iowa House of Representatives respectively...
. He served in the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
from 1885 to 1887. Returning to the bench, he was elected as judge of Iowa's eighteenth judicial district, serving from 1894 to 1906. He retired to Kenwood Park, Iowa
Linn County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 211,226 in the county, with a population density of . There were 92,251 housing units, of which 86,134 were occupied.-2000 census:...
where he died April 2, 1911. He is interred at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.