Mini Bios of People of Scots Descent
Biography of Will H. Thompson

WILL H. THOMPSON, who resides on section 26, Clearwater township, Miner county, is a prosperous and well-known agriculturist. Mr. Thompson was born February 22, 1853, in St. Lawrence county, New York, and is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth Thompson, natives respectively of Scotland and New York. He remained in St. Lawrence county until his eleventh year, when he went to Minnesota with the family, settling in Fillmore county, where his mother afterward died. His father died in Miner county, South Dakota, in August, 1890. He worked upon a farm until he attained his majority, receiving a common-school education. He then removed to Faribault county, in the same state, where he was employed upon various farms for some time. In the spring of 1882 he went to South Dakota and settled upon his present farm in Miner county. The land was all wild at that time and had to be broken yard by yard. Mr. Thompson got the plow through twenty-five acres of this soil the first year, and also put up a shanty which served as a place of abode during the next two years. From this humble beginning he has come to be one of the best known and most prosperous farmers in the township, and has kept gradually adding to his possessions until to-day he is the owner of four hundred and forty acres of fine land, every square foot of which has been paid for, and is entirely free from debt. Three hundred and forty acres are under cultivation. The improvements are of a permanent character, modern and tasteful, the residence being especially worthy of remark. Mr. Thompson carries on mixed farming, his live stock being one of the features of the farm. Politically he is a Populist, and is now treasurer of Clearwater township, and also school director and clerk. He has been a member of the township board of supervisors and chairman of the board, and has held the office of justice of the peace.

In the fall of 1885 Mr. Thompson married Miss Martha Yuill, a daughter of John and Mary (Barr) Yuill, both natives of Glasgow, Scotland. She herself is a native of Canada. William and Robert Yuill, sketches of whom appear in this volume, are her brothers. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of two children, William and Violet. The family are members of the Presbyterian church at Vermilion township, of which Mr. Thompson is a trustee.