History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

208 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
tlie frontier. Settliug at Paw Paw, lie there eugaged in merchan-
dising for thirty-five years and was accounted one of the leailiug
business men of the town. He was also an influential factor in
republican politics and his fitness for the office led to his election
to the position of county clerk in 1886. He served as president of
the village board at Paw Paw until his removal to Dixon in 1886.
So capably did he discharge his duties as clerk that at the end of
the first term he was reelected and again and again that honor
came to him until he had filled the office for sixteen years, retiring
as he had entered it, with the confidence and good-will of all
concerned. In fact over his public cai'eer there falls no shadow
of wrong or suspicion of evil. He was prompt and reliable in the
discharge of his duties and his fellow townsmen ha^'e ever found
him a man in whom they could repose trust and confidence. His
wife, Catherine J. Thompson, came from Pennsylvania in early
life and they are now living in Jefferson City, Missouri. On November
1st he received an appointment as superintendent of the
national government cemetery in Jeiferson City, Missouri. Their
family numbered five children, two sons and three daughters.
William C. Thompson, the eldest, remained under the parental
roof throughout the period of his boyhood and youth and supplemented
his public-school education by a course in Dixon College,
from which he was graduated with the class of 1888. The
previous year he was appointed deputy county clerk by his father,
who in 3886 had been elected to office. He remained as deputy
throughout the sixteen years of his father's service in that posi-
tion and was then elected his successor in December, 1902, so that
his incumbency covers a i^eriod of eleven years. The name of
Thompson has been inseparably connected with the office for
more than a quarter of a century and stands as a synonym for
capability and fidelity in connection with the discharge of public
duties.
In 1890 William C. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss
Rusan B. Dimon, of Dixon, and luiio them have been born three
childi'en: Dorrance S., who is engaged in the grocery business;
Avis P., at home: and Eunice Elizabeth, also under the parental
roof. Mr. Thompson belongs to the Masonic fraternity and has
taken the Royal Arch degree. He is also identified with the Ben-
evolent Protective Order of Elks and he attends the Presb}i;erian
church. His political allocriance is given to the republican party
and he is an active and hel]iful worker in its ranks, while his
opinions carry weight in its coimcils. Twenty-seven years' con-