1891 Biography - J. J. Thompson

J. J. THOMPSON, OPELOUSAS. – J. J. Thompson, familiarly known as Jack Thompson, Treasurer of St. Landry parish, is a native of this parish, born March 10, 1852. He is the son of Colonel James M. and Celestine (Dupré) Thompson. Colonel James M. Thompson was born in 1818 on the ocean, under an English flag, while his parents were on their way as immigrants to America. His parents settled in Illinois, near Shawneetown, where they lived and died. Life at Shawneetown grew monotonous to Colonel Thompson, and at an early age he left his paternal roof and went out to face the world for himself. When the war broke out between the United States and Mexico it afforded an inviting field of excitement to his restless disposition. As a consequence of this, he enlisted in the United States service and served through the whole of the struggle. At its close he came to Louisiana, studied medicine in New Orleans and became a successful practitioner in St. Landry parish. At the breaking out of war between the States, in 1861, he entered the Confederate States service as captain of a company which he had organized. His company was assigned to the Second Louisiana Regiment. He was subsequently commissioned major and afterward colonel. He was acting in the latter capacity at the cessation of hostilities. The hardships of the war at his age told upon his physical manhood, and as a result of this he did not resume the duties of his profession after the war. He sold his plantation, located in Opelousas, opened a drug store and gave his attention to general business. He conducted a large mercantile business; was interested in a steamboat; and, subsequently, was appointed sheriff of St. Landry parish, and finally was elected recorder of the parish, in which latter capacity he served four years. He died in 1885, after a life full of exciting events and general usefulness.

The mother of our subject was born in this parish of French parentage. She became the mother of ten children, of which J. J. Thompson is the fourth in the order of their birth.

J. J. Thompson was educated at the Louisiana State University, but owing to the delicate state of his health he was unable to remain at college long enough to complete his course. At an early age he was employed in the sheriff's office, and was subsequently appointed executive deputy in the tax collector's office. He was afterward appointed superintendent of registration for the parish, and in this capacity served two years, at the end of which time he went to New Orleans and studied law. He was admitted to the bar and practised [sic] in Opelousas a short period. In 1885 he was married to Miss Rosa Boagni, the daughter of a wealthy physician of St. Landry parish. Finding the freedom of a plantation life more congenial to his taste than that of an attorney's office, Mr. Thompson abandoned the profession of the law, and he has become one of the thrifty and successful planters and stock raisers of St. Landry parish. During a part of the time in which he had control of the plantation he devoted himself to the culture of sugar cane, but for the last eight years cotton planting and stock raising has been his principal vocation. His success in the breeding of fine stock has been marked, as is attested by the fine grade of horses and cattle which he now has on his place. Although not an aspirant for office, Mr. Thompson was appointed returning officer for St. Landry parish in 1874 by Governor McEnery, and was retained by Governor Nicholls, and is the present incumbent of that office. He was elected treasurer of St. Landry parish in June, 1888, and performs the duties of that office at the present time. Mr. Thompson's wife was an accomplished lady and highly educated. She became the mother of two children, Adela and Jennie. In the bloom of womanhood and just when life had gained its strongest grasp, she was called to eternity on June 2, 1888.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Southwest Louisiana Biographical and Historical, edited by William Henry Perrin, published in 1891, Biographical Section, pages 80-82.