THE SLATER RUSTLER, THURSDAY, OCT. 19, 1916
John William Thomson
John William Thomson, 71 years, eight months and twenty-one
days old, died at his home in Slater Wednesday, October 18, of
cancer. The deceased was one of the old settlers of Saline County,
moving to Missouri with his parents from Fayette County, Ky.,
his birth place, when only two years old. His parents first settled
in Howard County and later moved to Saline. When a lad he joined
the army of the Confederacy. As a member of Company E, Gordon's
Regiment, Shelby's Brigade, he took part in engagements at Independence,
Westport, Little Blue and Fayetteville, Ark., marching through
to Texas. The army was reorganized after reaching Texas and Mr.
Thomson's company was cut down and thrown into Company C, William's
Regiment, Jackson's Brigade. Under this regiment Mr. Thomson surrendered
at Shreveport, Louisiana, June 21, 1865.
The deceased was married October 15, 1869 to Julia Franklin Graves,
daughter of Aaron Graves and wife. He was a son of the late Col.
P. M. Thomson and wife and was a familiar figure in and around
Slater for many years and was a staunch supporter of the Socialist
Party writing many articles in different newspaper publications
along the questions of labor and capital. No man was better known
in the county than Mr. Thomson. He was honest, straight-forward,
square in all his dealings and could always be relied upon. In
early life he became a member of the Rehoboth Baptist Church,
and was always a God fearing man. Up until a year or more ago
he lived on his farm south of Slater but on account of ill health,
moved with his family to Marshall. For a short while prior to
moving to Slater he was in a sanitarium in Chicago taking treatments
and came here seemingly much improved, but for several weeks he
has been gradually growing worse until the end came yesterday
morning.
He is survived by three brothers, Lloyd, Lucian and Pike Thomson,
all of Slater, three sisters, Mrs. Ruth V. Bush of Marshall, Mrs.
Lizzie Richardson of Gilliam, Mrs. S. R. Saltonstall of Slater,
his wife and three children, William E. of Idaho, Claude W. of
Slater and Mrs. V. L. Crawford of St. Louis.
The funeral services will be held at the Methodist Church at 2
o'clock this afternoon conducted by the Rev. P. M. Cain. Burial
will be in Rehoboth Cemetery.