Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
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two years ; county<br />
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY<br />
auditor, two years,<br />
1895-96. Particularly in matters pertaining<br />
to agriculture was he active ; he was<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the organizers <strong>of</strong> the East Central<br />
Pomona Grange, and was first master,<br />
serving as such for two years from the<br />
date <strong>of</strong> its establishment. Also, he was<br />
the first master <strong>of</strong> Ellington Grange, serv-<br />
ing two successive years, and was leading<br />
worker in the Patrons <strong>of</strong> Husbandry<br />
Association. Religiously, he was a communicant<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Congregational church<br />
and, by reason <strong>of</strong> his war service was, <strong>of</strong><br />
course, a member <strong>of</strong> the Grand Army <strong>of</strong><br />
the Republic, affiliated with Burpee Post,<br />
No. 71, at Rockville.<br />
Mr. Thompson married, February 10,<br />
1870, Amanda J., daughter <strong>of</strong> Bissell and<br />
Johanna (Morton) Bancr<strong>of</strong>t, <strong>of</strong> Warehouse<br />
Point. To them were born four<br />
children: 1. Morton E., who succeeded<br />
to the family estate, which required all<br />
his time in farming operations. 2. Liz-<br />
zie M., who became the wife <strong>of</strong> B. F. Pinney,<br />
<strong>of</strong> Somers, <strong>Connecticut</strong>. 3. Royal<br />
W., <strong>of</strong> whom further. 4. Emery J., who<br />
during the Spanish War was in the<br />
United States naval service and latterly<br />
has been, for several years, connected<br />
with the United States Department <strong>of</strong><br />
Agriculture at Washington, D. C.<br />
Royal Windford Thompson was born<br />
October 23, 1874. He was educated in<br />
the common and select schools <strong>of</strong> Elling-<br />
ton, and at the High School at Rockville,<br />
from which, after graduation, he proceeded<br />
to the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham,<br />
Massachusetts. Deciding to<br />
enter business life he became a student<br />
at Huntsinger's Business College, Hartford.<br />
Thus well grounded in general and<br />
special knowledge, his first business posi-<br />
tion was not one <strong>of</strong> irresponsibility ; he<br />
secured appointment as secretary in the<br />
Hartford <strong>of</strong>fice <strong>of</strong> the superintendent <strong>of</strong><br />
the Central New England Railroad. A<br />
year later he received an advantageous<br />
;<br />
<strong>of</strong>fer from P. & F. Corbin Manufacturing<br />
Company, <strong>of</strong> New Britain, <strong>Connecticut</strong>,<br />
and he accepted the position <strong>of</strong>fered, that<br />
<strong>of</strong> secretary to the president and general<br />
manager <strong>of</strong> the company. Undoubtedly,<br />
he served the chief executive well, for he<br />
held the position for seven years, resign-<br />
ing then so that he might proceed to<br />
Washington, D. C, as private secretary<br />
to the Hon. Joseph R. Hawley, a United<br />
States Senator from <strong>Connecticut</strong>, whom<br />
he served throughout his term, and also<br />
as clerk <strong>of</strong> the United States Senate Com-<br />
mittee on Military Affairs. And an indi-<br />
cation <strong>of</strong> his value in secretarial <strong>of</strong>fice<br />
may be understood in the fact that when<br />
the Hon. Morgan G. Bulkeley succeeded<br />
Senator Hawley, he retained Mr. Thompson<br />
as his secretary, and also made him<br />
clerk <strong>of</strong> the United States Senate Committee<br />
on Railroads. Altogether, Mr.<br />
Thompson held these positions for four-<br />
76<br />
teen years, 1897-1911. And during his<br />
service in the federal capitol, he did not<br />
permit himself many moments <strong>of</strong> leisure.<br />
He had resolved to fit himself for admittance<br />
to legal practice, and that meant<br />
the consumption <strong>of</strong> considerable "mid-<br />
night oil." His application to the study<br />
<strong>of</strong> the fundamentals <strong>of</strong> law began under<br />
private tutelage, but he soon thereafter<br />
became an undergraduate at the National<br />
University Law School, the standing <strong>of</strong><br />
which among pr<strong>of</strong>essional schools is wellknown.<br />
In 1906 he graduated, and thus<br />
became entitled to the degree <strong>of</strong> LL. B.<br />
In 1907 he secured the major degree <strong>of</strong><br />
LL. M., from the same school, and he<br />
was admitted to practice at the <strong>Connecticut</strong><br />
legal bar on June 26, 1908. When<br />
Senator Bulkeley's term expired, in 191 1,<br />
Mr. Thompson returned from Washing-<br />
ton, and opened a law <strong>of</strong>fice at No. 50<br />
State street, Hartford. Since that time<br />
he has devoted himself closely to legal<br />
practice, and has established himself in<br />
good repute as a lawyer. He has every