For fifteen years a practicing physician and surgeon in Southern Illinois and since June, 1911, a resident of Mount Vernon, Dr. Thompson is a wholesale example of what may be accomplished by a man in the way of advancement when he is the possessor of a legitimate ambition, with the determination and ability to supplement that ambition. Beginning life with merely a common school education, Dr. Thompson when a boy of sixteen began to work with the intention of ultimately continuing his studies as a result of his labors, to the end that he might later become a member of that profession to which he aspired, and whose ranks he has graced through fifteen years of careful and efficient service.

Sam A. Thompson, M. D., was born on February 5, 1869, in Caledonia, Minnesota. He is the son of J. R. Thompson, a native of Missouri, who migrated to Minnesota.

In his earlier life J. R. Thompson was a steamboat captain, but in 1873 he engaged in the wholesale grocery business. He later removed to Sioux City, Iowa, but now resides in Louisiana, Missouri, where he is again engaged in the steamboat business. Together with a company of other men in Louisiana, Missouri, he is the owner of a line of river steamers, and they are conducting a thriving business in that line of industry.

Mr. Thompson served in the Union army as captain of a. company which he raised for the service, and did valiant duty for the cause during the period of his enlistment.

J. R. Thompson married Maggie E. Damron, of Missouri, a daughter of James and Maggie (Thurman) Damron, of Virginia. She was a cousin of Allen G. Thurman, one-time candidate for the vice-presidency. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson reared five children, all of whom are living. They are

1. Harry L., in Tulsa, Oklahoma;
2. Myrtie E. Moore, living in Grand Junction, Colorado;
3. Sam A., of this sketch;
4. Claude D., of Colon, Panama; and
5. Maud J.

Sam A. Thompson was a regular attendant of the public schools of Sioux City, Iowa, in which city he was reared. When he was sixteen years of age he left school and secured employment in a retail store in Sioux City, remaining there for some little time.

His next move took him to Austin, Texas, where he was employed as traveling salesman for a wholesale dry goods firm, being thus occupied for the space of three years. In 1893 he had accumulated sufficient from his labors of the previous years to permit him to enter Barnes Medical College in St. Louis, and there he completed the studies he had been conducting through several years past, graduating from that institution in April, 1897, with his well earned degree of M. D. The young doctor began practice immediately, settling in Ina, Jefferson county, and remaining there for fourteen years, where he built up a wide general practice and made a host of warm and admiring friends the while. In June, 1911, Dr. Thompson came to Mount Vernon and opened an office in the hospital consultation rooms. In the brief time of his location here Dr. Thompson has become well and favorably known among the profession, and is identified with the foremost people of the city in numerous ways.

He has become the owner of two valuable farms of one hundred and twenty acres each near Springfield, Illinois, and is a director of one of the Ina banks. He has been identified with Masonry for a number of years and has attained to the thirty-second degree in that fraternity. He is a member of the Blue Lodge of Ewing, the Chapter of Mount Vernon and the Oriental Consistory of Chicago.

In April, 1902, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Thompson with Mary C. Berger, of Jefferson county, but born and reared in Menard county. Three children have been born to them. They are

1. Louis, aged seven years;
2. Henry, five years old; and
3. Margaret, who came to them one year ago.

Source: History of Southern Illinois George Washington Smith, M. A. VOLUME I - III ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1912
Page 1336 - 1337
Submitted by Robert W. Loman