William Thompson

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, 1902
Transcribed by John Melton!

William W. Thompson, who for some years represented Peoria County in the State Senate, was born at Brimfield, Massachusetts, on February 23, 1786. In the year 1826 he removed to Northampton in the same State, where he resided until his removal to Peoria County in 1839. During his residence in Massachusetts he became a member of the legislature and, as that State was in the fore-front in the matter of public education, he became well qualified to take a leading part in his new home. The settlement about Charleston, as it was then called, and the neighboring one at French Grove, were made up of an exceptionally intelligent class of people, mostly from the East among whom Mr. Thompson found congenial companionship. Amongst others may be mentioned the Wolcotts, Wileys, Freemans, Fessendens, Haywards, Willards, Churches, Belchers, Guyers, Cutters, Tuckers, Metcalfes, Sutherlands, McRills, Cockles, Wellses and Riggses, many of whom became prominent in the affairs of the county. As stated elsewhere, they formed a lyceum association in which Mr. Thompson took a prominent part.

When only three years in the State he was elected to the State Senate, and, at the expiration of his term, was re-elected, serving in that capacity from 1842 to 1846. While a member of the Senate he attended and took a prominent part in the educational convention held in Peoria, in 1844. as elsewhere noted. He was also elected a member of the Convention which framed the Constitution of 1848, in which body he was a strong advocate of all measures having as their object the establishment of a system of common-school education. From early manhood he almost constantly held some office in the gift of the people. While a member of the State Senate he procured the passage of a bill changing the name of the village of Charleston to that of Brimfield after his native town. He was a “Democrat,” not only in politics, but in personal feeling and demeanor, according to the high and low alike, not only equality in civil rights, but equality in that personal courtesy and consideration which mark the true gentleman. His influence in moulding the character of the community in which he lived was of a lasting character.

Mr. Thompson died at his residence in Brimfield, Peoria County, on February 24, 1850, aged sixty-four years.

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