Lewis T. Thompson, one of the most prominent and substantial business men of Leland, LaSalle county, is a native of that village, having been born there August 5, 1866. He is a son of Thomas F. Thompson, a pioneer citizen here, and was reared to manhood and received his primary education in the public schools. He then accepted a clerkship in the hardware store of Hovda & Johnson, where he remained five years, gaining much valuable experience, which was afterward turned to good account when he engaged in business for himself. He now felt that a commercial education was necessary for a successful business career, and went to Chicago, where he took a complete course in one of the best business colleges of that city. He then clerked for a short time for Stark Brothers, general merchants of Chicago, when he went to Pullman as head clerk in the hardware establishment of L. H. Johnson. The grocery business appeared to offer inducements to a man who possessed push and energy to carry it on and he engaged in that for about two years, but finally sold out and secured a position with L. Franklin, of Franklin Park, with whom he remained until 1893, when he returned to the home of his childhood and opened a general store in partnership with Andrew Hayer, under the style of Hayer & Thompson. This partnership continued until 1896, when the business was disposed of and Mr. Thompson engaged in business by himself, opening a stock of general merchandise and adding furnace and plumbing material. He has worked up a lucrative business and has contributed materially to the prosperity of Leland in pushing his own trade. It is a matter of gratification that the city possesses a man whose business propensities and enterprising spirit have brought it into the notice of the surrounding country and called here an outside trade that has added to the general prosperity. Mr. Thompson was married in the fall of 1889 to Miss Linda Jacobson, a daughter of Thomas Jacobson, an old settler of this vicinity, and five children have been born to them, two of whom have been taken to the better world to await the happy reunion. Mr. Thompson is a Republican and has been on the county committee of that party, giving unstinted support to their success. He has been a member of the village board of trustees and was elected supervisor of Adams township in 1896, and re-elected in 1898. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of the Globe. His prosperity has been accomplished by untiring perseverance and industry, combined with strict, honorable dealings, and has caused him to be regarded with admiration and respect by every one.
Extracted 19 Dec 2018 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, pages 575-576.
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