Biographical Sketches
JOHN H. THOMSON
Clerk of the criminal court of Kansas City, was born near Independence, Missouri, November 5, 1841, and is a son of Benjamin F. and Maria L. (Shortridge) Thompson, natives of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather, Matthew Thomson, was a native of Virginia and removed to Kentucky at an early day in its history. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. There he followed farming throughout his business career, and died in Clark county, at an advanced age. The maternal grandfather, Samuel Shortridge, was also a Kentucky farmer and died at the age of 50. The father of our subject carried on the same pursuit. He is numbered among Missouri's pioneers of 1839, at which time he took up his residence about 3 � miles SW of Independence, where he engaged in cultivating his land and reared his family. His death occurred on the 1st of May, 1861, at the age of 42 years. His widow still survives him, and now makes her home in Independence. Both were consistent member and active workers in the Christian church, and the father served as deacon. He was sheriff of Jackson county for 2 terms, and also a member of the legislature. While acting in the former capacity, he also performed the duties of assessor and collector. He was a man of recognized prominence in the community, and his sterling qualities commanded the respect of all. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson had 8 sons and 2 daughters, and 6 are yet living, namely: William A., John H., Matthew T., Benjamin F., Edwin H., and Robert B.
The subject of this review was reared in Jackson county on the old home farm and acquired his education in the district schools. To his father he gave the benefit of his service until he had attained his majority, after which he engaged in teaching school for one term. He then engaged in farming for 2 years, after which he established a grocery store in Kansas City, conducting the same from 1868 until 1872. In 1874 he was elected clerk of the criminal court, but after about 5 months was forced to resign on account of ill heath, and went to New Mexico. For 7 months he was employed as clerk in the post-officer at Santa Fe, and was then appointed clerk of the district court of that territory, by virtue of which office he was clerk of the supreme court, and in those capacities he served for 3 years. The following year he spent in California, after which he returned to Santa Fe, and was secretary of the territorial board of immigration for a year. Ill health then forced him to go to California, and in 1885 he returned to Jackson county, Missouri, being soon after appointed clerk of the probate court of Independence. In 1890 he was nominated and elected clerk of the criminal court for a term of 4 years, and in 1894 was re-elected, so that he is now serving his second term.
During the civil war our subject was for 6 months a member of the Missouri state guard in Price's command. Socially, he is a 32 degree Mason, and a member of Palestine commandery, of Independence. He votes with the democracy. All his life has been passed in Jackson county, with the exception of the years which he passed in New Mexico and California for the sake of his health. His is therefore well known to many citizens of the community and has lived so as to command their confidence and respect. He is popular and has many warm friends who esteem him highly for his sterling worth and many excellencies of character.
This page was last updated August 2, 2006.