The Scandinavian element in our great western population is a good one.
The men from Sweden and Norway who have cast their lot with us have
demonstrated their ability to seize upon the advantages of American
citizenship as practically and as patriotically as men "to the manor born."
One of the most prominent Scandinavians in LaSalle county is Thomas F.
Thompson, grain merchant and banker, at Leland, who has made his way to
permanent success in life in the face of many obstacles.
Thomas F.
Thompson was born in Norway, September 7, 1832, and was brought to the
United States by his parents in 1844, and the family found a home in Norway,
Racine county, Wisconsin. His parents were Thomas T. Flattre and Isabella
Thompson. His mother died in Norway, Wisconsin, and his father in Leland,
LaSalle county, Illinois, where he located in 1853, though he later lived in
Kansas for a time.
Thomas F. Thompson remained at the family home in
Norway, Wisconsin, until 1852, when he was twenty years old, and then he
went to Chicago, where he remained two years. In 1854 he first came to
Leland, where for two years he was in partnership with A. A. Klove.
Disposing of his interests to Mr. Klove, he went to Atchison county, Kansas,
where he ran a sawmill two years. After his return to Leland he was for a
time employed in the store of Hans Thompson. In 1861 Mr. Thompson and Thomas
Iverson began to deal in grain at Leland and they continued the business
with varying success until 1866, when Mr. Thompson disposed of his interest
in it and was associated, for a time, with C. F. Okefield in the same
business. He then removed to Crescent, Illinois, where for eight years he
was engaged in merchandising. Returning to Leland, he formed a partnership
with Knute Buland and bought the grain business of Mr. Okefield, who had
died just before that time. In 1883 Andrew Anderson bought Mr. Buland's
interest in the business and the firm became Thompson & Anderson, under
which style it exists at this time. Its banking department was added in May,
1896.
Mr. Thompson is a Republican. He has served for his townsmen
since 1880 as town clerk and has filled several other important offices. He
was confirmed in the Lutheran church more than fifty years ago. He married
Miss Caroline Selter, a daughter of Ole T. Selter, June 19, 1861. Mrs.
Thompson was a native of Norway and was brought to the United States when
she was only about a year old. She bore Mr. Thompson ten children and died
deeply regretted in 1886. Six of their children are living: Lewis T.,
Stanley O., Cora M., Nettie E., Jeannette O. and Charlotte T. Mr. Thompson
has proven himself a public-spirited citizen, alive to the best interests of
his town, county and state and deeply interested in national affairs. There
is no public movement affecting the weal of the people of LaSalle county in
which he is not active and helpful.
Extracted 19 Dec 2018 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 564-565.
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