My Genealogy Hound

W. H. Thompson, general merchant at Beloit, Barton County, Mo., was born in Roodhouse, Ill., in 1859, and is one of five children born to the marriage of John P. and S. M. (Thompson) Thompson, both of whom were born, reared and married in Greene County, Ill. The father was a farmer, and died in February, 1864, being a son of Thomas Thompson, a Kentuckian, who emigrated to Illinois at an early day, where he spent the rest of his days in tilling the soil. W. H. Thompson, our subject, was thirteen years old when he came to Missouri with his mother. They lived first in De Kalb, then in Clinton, and finally came to Barton County in 1874, where W. H. received part of his education in the public schools of Lamar. After leaving school he passed an examination for a certificate to teach, but soon after began clerking in the mercantile establishment of E. C. Morlen, with whom he remained two years, then embarking in the same business with his brother at Dublin, being thus associated one year. His brother died, and in 1881 Mr. Thompson opened his present establishment in connection with his younger brother, the style of the firm being Thompson Bros. In June, 1887, he purchased his brother’s interest, and has since been successfully managing the establishment alone, his stock being valued at about $3,000, and his annual sales amounting to $12,000. In 1883 he was elected township trustee and ex-officio treasurer, being re-elected in 1885, 1887 and 1889. Since 1881 he has filled the position of postmaster of Beloit, and in his political views is a Democrat. In October, 1884, he was married to Miss Clara Beamer, who was born in West Union, Iowa, in 1863, which union has resulted in the birth of two children: Maud and Roy Cleveland. Mrs. Thompson received her education in the graded schools of Springfield, also taking a course of music in that city.