Royal W. Thompson

ROYAL W. THOMPSON has a record of service that almost constitutes a record in banking circles of Kansas. He moved to St. John in 1885, and was a lender in establishing the First National Bank there. When the bank opened for business he was at his post as cashier, and in that post he has since served, and takes pride in the fact he has made out every report for the comptroller of currency since the bank was established under a national charter. This bank has but six stockholders, and Mr. Thompson is one of the largest. It has a capital of $50,000 and surplus of $20,000, and has throughout enjoyed a most enviable record of prosperity and of substantial financial management. The president is F. S. Vedder and the vice president, F. C. Shaler.

Mr. Thompson was born at Fort Ann, Washington County, New York, October 8, 1844. His remote paternal ancestor, Anthony Thompson, emigrated from Coventry, England, and was living in New Haven, Connecticut, as early as 1639. His wife, Catherine, died in Connecticut in March, 1648. The grandfather of R. W. Thompson was Judah Thompson, who was born at Stanford, Dutchess County, New York, March 25, 1767. He died February 28, 1829, and is buried at West Fort Ann, New York. In 1792 he married Mary Harris, daughter of John and Mary (Gamble) Harris. She was born January 10, 1774, and died March 25, 1850. Judah Thompson was a farmer and lumberman.

Israel Thompson, father of the St. John banker, was born at Fort Ann, New York, in 1803. He spent all his life there as a farmer and lumberman and died in 1890. Before the war he was a democrat, but afterward was a stanch republican in politics. He served for a time in the New York State Militia. Israel Thompson married Martha Ann Baker, who was born at Fort Ann in 1814 and died there in 1891. They had four surviving children: William Baker, the oldest, was for a number of years general superintendent of the United States railway mail service and is now a retired railroad attorney at Washington; Gamaliel I. is a banker at Hudson, Michigan; R. W. Thompson is third in age; and the youngest, Sarah B., died unmarried at Glens Falls, New York, in November, 1918.

Royal W. Thompson was educated in the public schools of Fort Ann, New York, his education consisting chiefly in the rudiments known as the three R's. Up to the age of twenty-three he lived on his father's farm, and for one year worked as a civil engineer. He had a varied business training and experience before coming to St. John in 1885.

Mr. Thompson is a director in the Thompson Savings Bank at Hudson, Michigan. This bank is owned by him and his two brothers, William B. and G. I., above named. He is also a stockholder in the National City Bank of Kansas City, Missouri. He is unmarried, is a republican, served as mayor of St. John four years, and for many years has been treasurer of St. John Lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Pages 2364-2365.