Santa
Clara County
Biographies
JOHN
R. THOMPSON
JOHN R. THOMPSON. Endowed with great mechanical skill and
ingenuity, John R. Thompson has developed his native talent by patient
study and industrious labor, and is now holding a position of importance as
superintendent of the manufacture and distribution of gas for the United Gas
and Electric Company of San Jose, at the San Augustine street gas works. Coming from thrifty and substantial Scotch
ancestry, he was born September 11, 1877, in Cleveland Ohio. His father, Thomas Thompson, was born on the
Shetland Islands, Scotland, and while living in his native land followed the
sea, working his way up from cabin boy to first mate. Immigrating to America, he settled first in
Cleveland, Ohio, where for a time he was first mate on a lake vessel. Subsequently removing to Oberlin, Ohio, he
attended Oberlin College until compelled to relinquish his studies on account
of failing eyesight. Migrating with his
family to California in 1884, he located in Woodland, where he was employed in farming
for a few years. Subsequently entering
the employ of the Woodland Consolidated Electric Light and Power Company, he
was soon appointed its superintendent, and held the position until 1903, when
he retired from active pursuits, again taking up his residence on his farm at
West Woodland. Of his marriage with
Janet Thompson, a native of the Shetland Islands, four children were born,
namely: Mrs. Agnes Musgrove, of Tehama
county, Cal.; George T., an attorney in Woodland; John R., the
subject of this sketch; and James, in the United States navy, at Mare Island.
But nine years old when he came with his
parents to California, John R. Thompson attended the public schools of
Woodland, completing his early studies at the Woodland Business College. Then, after spending a short time in a
machine shop, he entered the employ of the Woodland Consolidated Electric Light
and Power Company, in 1894, and under his father’s instructions learned the
business of manufacturing gas, after which, at the age of nineteen years, he
was made assistant superintendent of the works.
Accepting then the position of superintendent of the Colusa Gas Company,
he was in the employ of that company from 1897 until 1902. For six months thereafter Mr. Thompson
was engaged in building the gas plant at Eureka, Humboldt county,
and the same year came to San Jose as builder of the gas machine for the San
Augustine street gas works. On the
completion of the work he accepted his present position with this company, and
has performed the duties thus devolving upon him with recognized ability and
fidelity. He also has charge of the
Redwood City gas works, and of the distribution of gas at San Mateo.
In Colusa, Mr. Thompson married Miss
Meta E. Mason, the daughter of John T. Mason, a pioneer farmer of
Colusa county, and they have one child, who was born
in 1904. Politically Mr. Thompson
is a Republican in national affairs, and fraternally he is a member of the
Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Knights of Pythias. He also belongs to the Pacific Coast Gas
Association.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California
by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 1392. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago,
1904.
© 2017 Donna Toole.