Polk County MINNESOTA Biographies.....Thompson, Hugh July 4 1850 - xxxx
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File contributed for Minnesota Biographies Project by:
Carol Eddleman deddle@ix.netcom.com November 2, 2004, 10:41 am

Author: Anonymous
Hugh Thompson, of East Grand Forks, an eminent citizen of Polk county, is 
widely known as a pioneer, whose career has been significantly associated with 
the development of the various important interests of northern Minnesota.  He 
was born in Huntington county, Canada, July 4, 1850, the son of John L. 
Thompson, a well known farmer of that region, who continued to reside in 
Huntington county until his death.  His son, Hugh Thompson, spent his early 
youth on the Canadian homestead and came to this country when sixteen years of 
age, securing a position as a clerk in a store owned by his brothers, at St. 
Croix Falls, Wisconsin.  Two years later he left St. Croix for Menominee, where 
he engaged in similar employment.  In 1873 he came to Crookston, then in the 
earliest days of its settlement and has since been actively identified with 
growth and progress of Polk county.  For a few years he was employed in the 
store operated by W. D. Bailey but in October, 1875, he embarked upon his 
independent commercial career, opening a general store at Fisher's Landing.  
This proved a successful venture and in 1879 he extended his activities to the 
milling business, erecting a fouring mill which was destroyed by fire some 
three years later.  In 1879 Mr. Thompson organized the Fisher bank as a private 
banking house and as president, capably directed its affairs during the first 
years of its operations.  This bank became a State bank in 1896 and is one of 
the most substantial and prosperous financial insitutions of the county.  In 
1885 Mr. Thompson became associated in his various business interests with 
Marcus Johnson, buying the mercantile business owned by Andrew D. Stephens and 
erecting a flour mill which they operated for nine years when it was merged 
with the North Dakota Milling Association, of which Mr. Thompson became 
president.  This corporation had extensive milling interests in North Dakota 
and Minnesota and Mr. Thompson remained at the head of its board of directors 
for several years.  During these busy years of commercial enterprise, he found 
time for active cooperation in public affairs and gave his services in public 
offices, as county commissioner, and was the first postmaster appointed at 
Fisher.  In 1891 he was appointed registrar of the United States land office at 
Crookston and during the four years of his incumbency of that position, resided 
in Crookston.  He removed to East Grand Forks in 1896 and since that time has 
given his attention largely to the direct service of public interests in the 
various official positions to which the confidence and regard of his fellow 
citizens have called him.  Aside from the local offices which he has held, Mr. 
Thompson was also an able member of the State board of Equalization for ten 
years, being first appointed to the board in 1882.  He has been prominently 
identified with civic affairs as mayor and president of the town council and 
for four years was county commissioner from the fifth district.  As a pioneer 
citizen, merchant and baker, his career has been notably marked with that 
intelligent and constructive citizenship which lays the foundation for the 
steady prosperity and rapid development of all commercial and social activity.  
Mr. Thompson has been twice married, his first union was with Luella May 
Thompson in 1875.  She was born in St. Paul and was a teacher in the first 
school of Polk county, at Crookston.  Three children were born to them, two of 
whom died in infancy.  The death of the mother occurred at Fisher in 1888 and 
she was survived by one daughter, Luella M., who is the wife of Bert Townsend.  
Mr. Thompson's marriage to Lees McMaster, a native of Olmstead county, 
Minnesota, and a teacher in the Fisher schools at the time of her marriage was 
solemnized in 1891 and they have two children, Charlotte H. and June.

Additional Comments:
Source: Compendium of History and Biography of Polk County, Minnesota.  
Minneapolis: W. H. Bingham & Co., 1916, pp. 141-2.

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