Memorial Record of Western Kentucky, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904,
pp 586-590 (Portrait in document) [McCracken]

     GEORGE C. THOMPSON, president of the American German National
Bank of Paducah, is a numbered among the most sapient business men
and best known and popular citizens of this city.
     Mr. Thompson was born February 7, 1849, at Blandville, the
former county seat of Ballard county, Kentucky.  His parents were
Augustus and Susan (Grundy) Thompson.  His father was a son of Moses
and Nancy Thompson, and was born in Graves county, Kentucky.  He was
a school teacher during his younger days, but later studied medicine
at Louisville and after receiving his medical diploma began his
career as a physician at Blandville, Kentucky.  He soon rose to a
high rank in his profession, and for several years enjoyed a large
and lucrative practice, but during the dreadful scourge of cholera
in the year 1849 he fell victim to that pestilential disease, dying
when only thirty-five years of age.  His widow survived him many
years.  She was a daughter of Joseph and Lucy Grundy, natives of
Nelson county, Kentucky.  For some six years after her husband's
death she continued to reside in Blandville, then removing to
Columbus, Kentucky, she resided there on year, and then took up her
residence on the old Joe Grundy homestead, situated between Milburn
and Lovelaceville, on the Milburn and Lovelaceville road, five miles
from the former and eight miles from the latter town, and seven
miles from Blandville.  Here she continued to reside till she passed
away in death in 1867, aged fifty-one years.  She was twice married. 
Her second husband was Fielding Bland, whom she married in 1857.  By
her first marriage she became the mother of five children, of whom
George C. is the only survivor.  One of these children was the late
Dr. J. W. Thompson, of Paducah, who for many years ranked among the
most skillful and successful physicians of western Kentucky.
     George C. Thompson was educated at Blandville, Columbus and
under a private tutor at home on the Joe Grundy farm, above
mentioned; and at the Christian Brothers College at St. Louis, where
he spent two and a half years.  He then took up the profession of
teaching.  In the year 1866, he went to Paducah, and for three years
thereafter taught in the public schools of this city.  During the
last two years of that period he was principal of the schools.  Mr.
Thompson then took up the study of law.  Six months later he and his
former instructor in law, Mr. Quigley, formed a partnership, which
continued about three years and was then closed in consequence of
Mr. Thompson giving up the practice of law to assume the duties of
cashier of the American-German National Bank, of which bank he is
now president, and has been such official since 1890.
     In the discharge of his duties, both as cashier and president
of this institution, Mr. Thompson has given evidence of unusual
financial ability.  Under his management and that of his associates
this has become one of the most successful banks in western
Kentucky.  This bank has a capital stock of $230,000 and a surplus
and undivided profits of $90,000.  For two terms Mr. Thompson was
president of the Kentucky State Banking Association, which fact
indicates his prominence among Kentucky bankers and financiers.  He
has ling since been closely identified with industrial and business
enterprises in Paducah.  He was an organizer, in 1886, of the
company which first operated a street railway in the city of
Paducah, and was president of that company.  Several changes in the
ownership of the Paducah city railway have occurred, but of all
companies that have controlled this system of street railway he has
been president.  The present owners and operators of the system
comprise the Paducah City Railway Company and he is president of the
company.
      While Mr. Thompson has always manifested considerable interest
in political affairs, he has never sought political preferment,
preferring the life of a strictly business man.  He has always been
a Democrat in politics, but in 1896, believing the measures of his
party to be unwise, he gave his support to Palmer and Buckner, who
were the presidential and vice presidential candidates respectively
of the "gold Democrats."  Fraternally he is a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is a demitted Master Mason.
     In November, 1883, Mr. Thompson married Miss Mamie Taylor. 
Mrs. Thompson is a native of Union county, Kentucky.  Her parents
are now residents of Kansas City, Missouri.  The home of Mr. and
Mrs. Thompson has been blessed by the birth of three children,
namely, Susie, George C., Jr., and Juliett.  The family are among
the most popular people of Paducah, their home being celebrated for
its generous hospitality.

Thompson Grundy Bland Quigley Taylor
=
Ballard-KY Graves-KY Nelson-KY MO Union-KY

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