John William Thompson (Washington, DC)
John William Thompson (Aug. 1, 1822 – July 11, 1901)
Biography
- Name: John William Thompson
- Birth: Aug. 1, 1822 Montreal Region, Quebec, Canada
- Death: July 11, 1901 Washington, District of Columbia
Early life and family
Mr. Thompson began life in very humble circumstances, but, owing to industry and energy, he overcame all obstacles and fought his way upward from obscurity and poverty. He was born in Montreal, Canada, August 1, 1822, of Scotch-Irish parentage. Mr. Thompson's first wife was Miss Jeannette McGill (1825-1884). She was a sister of Thomas McGill, printer and publisher of Washington. Five children were born to them. His son, Mr. Ross Thompson, became a banker and for about 6 years was connected with his father's bank, the National Metropolitan. His daughter, Miss Mary Ida Thompson, while presiding over her father's household, was the hostess at many entertainments attended by prominent Washingtonians and persons of both national and international prominence.
In the summer of 1896, August 24th, Mr. Thompson married Miss Flora Markward of Washington in a quiet ceremony conducted by Bishop Hurst. They honeymooned in New York and Europe.
When about sixteen years of age he left Montreal and went to Albany, New York, where he learned the printers' art, and it was when he was foreman of an office there that he was offered a position in New York City, which he accepted. During his residence in New York, he learned the plumbers' trade, and devoted his attention to that industry. In casting about to determine how to better his condition, he concluded that there were more opportunities in Richmond, Virginia, than in New York City for his line of business, and he decided to settle there. In 1847, on his way to Richmond, he stopped in Washington and eventually decided to remain there.
Life in Washington, DC
John W. Thompson began business in Washington in a small way, but the qualities which in later life gave him such a commanding position in the community soon won for him a patronage from his fellow citizens which grew rapidly. He had charge of the work of putting a plumbing system in the old Willard Hotel. This was before the days of sewers in the city and a water supply and it was one of the first buildings in the city that was supplied with these modern conveniences. Alexander R. Shepherd became associated with Mr. Thompson and his brother, William Thompson, in the plumbing business, and about the close of the war, Mr. Thompson and his brother sold their interest in the business to Shepherd who would become the second governor of Washington, DC. He then became interested in the Metropolitan Street Railroad, and was soon placed at the head of that organization, a position he held for some twenty years. During the existence of the territorial form of government in Washington, Mr. Thompson was a member of the upper house, he became identified with the New York, Washington, Alexandria and Georgetown Steamboat Company, which was afterward merged into the Inland and Seaboard Coast Company, and was the president of the latter.
For 23 years Mr. Thompson was president of the National Metropolitan Bank. His connection with the bank was first as a depositor, and then, in 1868, he became a director, and in 1873 he was made vice president, and finally elected president in February 1874. Some years ago the board of directors had a portrait in oil painted of Mr. Thompson, which was presented to the bank, and which adorned the wall of the directors' room. When the management changed hands, he retired June 1, 1897, upon the election of E. Southard Parker as president. As the directing head of this important financial institution, as well as on account of his business judgment and sagacity, Mr. Thompson for many years occupied an important position in the local financial world. He took an active interest in all matters relating to the welfare of the city, and, after the election of General Garfield as President of the United States, he was made chairman of the inaugural committee, and managed the arrangements for that event with so much skill that at the close the committee found there was an actual surplus in the treasury, a condition of affairs, which had never before been known in the conduct of the inaugural preparations. He was connected with the committees in charge of subsequent inaugural preparations, and at the McKinley inauguration, he was a member of the finance committee. For a number of years, he was a member of the board of trustees of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, and also performed the duties of treasurer.
One of the most important, If not the most important, service rendered to the public by Mr. Thompson was the fight which he undertook, almost single-handed, against the corruption which existed in the detective force of Washington. In the 1870s, a number of daring robberies were perpetrated where the thieves had escaped with their plunder, and it seemed as if those who were entrusted with the duty of protecting the public had proved false to their trust. In spite of threats made against his life and reputation, Mr. Thompson began an investigation which resulted in the passage by Congress of a law abolishing the detective service then existing and substituting a system of appointment of members from the police force. Only Mr. Thompson's pluck made it possible to persevere in the course he had mapped out. He received the approval of his fellow citizens, and it was generally considered that he had performed a public service of much value.
Mr. Thompson, while essentially a home man, was fond of social life and in his prime mingled frequently with his friends, both in public and private functions. He wished especially to bring in contact the representative men of the District and the national legislators, and to thereby produce a more intelligent interest in District affairs on the part of the latter. Most of the elaborate entertainments for which his home was noted were characterized by this motive, and the pleasure the events afforded him were often referred to in his latter days. He was particularly fond of dinner giving and going, while most abstemious in his tastes so far as eating or drinking was concerned. He made several trips to Europe, Mexico, China and Japan, generally accompanied by members of his family. He was an observant traveler and was a most interesting talker on what he saw, especially of the wonders of the far east. He was fond of enriching his home with beautiful specimens of oriental handiwork and the process of the construction of the article, whether in metal, china or embroidery, being carefully studied by him when purchased. The spacious residence at 1419 I street was his pride. He loved every brick in it, he used to say, and was never as happy as when he was home. Since relinquishing active business, which preceded by six months or so his first failure in health, he left his home reluctantly when the heat became too oppressive each summer only to return to it in the early fall more gladly than ever. His first attack of aphasia prostrated him for nearly two months in the fall of 1897. His rapid recovery, however, after he was able to get outdoors, was regarded as remarkable. His wonderful grasp of business and the keen judgment with which he was wont to discuss such matters at once reasserted itself, and until the beginning of his last illness, the last days of May, he devoted a large part of every day to his private business affairs. He was a large owner of real estate in his city, and also of the securities of local corporations.
Later life and death
On Thursday morning, July 11, 1901, Mr. John W. Thompson died at 12:20 o'clock at his residence after an illness of six weeks. Present at his bedside were Mrs. Flora Markward Thompson, Mr. Thompson's second wife, his son, Mr. Ross Thompson and his wife, and Dr. John W. Shaw, his physician. Funeral services were conducted at 4 o'clock on Saturday, July 13, 1901 at his late residence 1419 I Street northwest by the Rev. Dr. Wallace Radcliffe, pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church which Mr. Thompson attended for many years. The services were short but impressive and included a brief address and a prayer by Dr. Radcliffe. The New York Avenue Church choir composed of Mrs. N.W. Shir-Cliff, soprano; Miss Whittaker, contralto; Mr. Pierce, tenor; and Mr. Nolan, bass, and led by J. Porter Lawrence, rendered "Lead Kindly Light" and "Rock of Ages." Numerous floral offerings from Mr. Thompson's many friends, both in this city and many other places where he was well known, adorned the casket and were banked in masses of blossoms about the mantel. The interment was at Rock Creek Cemetery where the brief burial service of the Presbyterian Church was read by Dr. Radcliffe. The honorary pallbearers were Nathaniel Wilson, Charles J. Bell, Matthew G. Emery, John Cassels, Myron M. Parker, Dr. Daniel Macfarlan, John B. Wight, Robert I. Fleming, and Thomas L. Jones. The active pallbearers were E.L. White, George W. White, J. Gales Moore, A.B. Briggs, Alfred Wood, Harry K. Willard, Carter Ballantyne, W.C. Cunningham, Charles N. Staley, and W. Buckingham.
Bank Officer Summary
During his banking career, John W. Thompson was involved with the following bank:
- National Metropolitan Bank/National Metropolitan Citizens Bank, Washington, DC (Charter 1069): Director 1868...1896, Vice President 1873, President 1874-1896
Sources
- John William Thompson on Findagrave.com
- Banks & Bankers Historical Database (1782-1935), https://spmc.org/bank-note-history-project
- Washington Times, Washington, DC, Tue., Aug. 25, 1896.
- Evening Star, Washington, DC, Thu., July 11, 1901.
- The Washington Times, Washington, DC, Sun., July 14, 1901.
- The Washington Times, Washington, DC, Sun., Dec. 30, 1906.