In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1856
From Past and present of Guthrie County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead (1907)
GEORGE THOMPSON.
George W. Thompson, manager of the Casey Lumber Company, is one of Guthrie county's native sons. He was born May 16, 1856, his birthplace being on the present site of the town of Casey. He is a son of Samuel Thompson, of whom extended mention is made on another page of this work in connection with the history of John F. Thompson. The subject of this review was reared under the parental roof and at the usual age he became a student in the public schools, mastering the usual branches of English learning therein taught. He had the advantage of further educational training and discipline in the Iowa State College at Ames, being graduated on the completion of a course in civil engineering with the class of 1884.
Mr. Thompson worked for six months at railroad surveying following his graduation and then located on a farm in Adair county.
Iowa, which he had purchased in 1879. Here he farmer for five years and then came to Casey, accepting the appointment of principal of the Casey school. He remained in charge of the educational interests of the town for four years, after which he went to Baxter, Iowa, where he was engaged in the lumber business, conducting a lumberyard at that point for four years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and accepted a position with the Standard Lumber Company, of Dubuque. Iowa, as manager of its retail interests, there remaining for two years, after which he went to Medford, Wisconsin, to assume charge of the retail business of the Medford Manufacturing Company. About a year later, however, the plant there was destroyed by fire and Mr. Thompson then went to Chicago and for a short period he represented the Hines Lumber Company on the road. On the purchase of the Northern Wisconsin Lumber Company at Hayward, Wisconsin, by the Hines Company, Mr. Thompson was sent to Hayward as billing clerk and estimator, in which capacity he remained for three years. On severing his connection with the firm he started for Verdi, Nevada, to accept a position with a large lumber company, with which he was to act as manager of their shipping interests and also inspect their grades of lumber, but on reaching Des Moines he was persuaded to abandon his western trip and remain in that city. There he engaged in the bakery business but he did not find it congenial and after eight months he came to Casey to assume charge of the business of the Casey Lumber Company, in which position he has since remained. His worth as a manager is widely acknowledged, as is well indicated by the responsible positions which he has filled. He is one of the well known lumber men of Casey and is conversant with every detail of the business. In 1884 Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Hettie Walters, of Guthrie county, and unto them were born a
8io daughter and two sons: Grace, who is now residing with her grandfather, Robert Walters, in Casey; Ray, who resides on a farm with his uncle, Isaac Thompson, in Thompson township, this county; and Robert, at home. The wife and mother died on the 7th of December, 1892, her death being deeply regretted by many friends for she had many excellent traits of character which endeared her to all who knew her. In 1894 Mr. Thompson was again married, his second union being with Miss Catherine Grace, ot Des Moines, and they now have two interesting daughters, Helen and Ruth.
Mr. Thompson is a member of Casey lodge, No. 256, I. O. O. F. In politics he is independent but in all matters of citizenship he is progressive and is a co-operant factor in many measures that have proven directly beneficial to Casey and Guthrie county. In his business life he has sustained an unassailable reputation for reliability as well as enterprise and has thus always been enabled to command excellent positions involving large responsibility and also bringing to him a gratifying financial return.
As printed in Past and present of Guthrie County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead (1907). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1907. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.