Thompson, John M
From Lane Co Oregon
In poor health nearly all his adult life, John M. Thompson (1838-1882) still managed to be a lawyer, judge, state representative, and regent of the University of Oregon. When elected Speaker of the House in 1878, he set about investigating fraud in the state administration. It was not pleasant work, said the Oregon State Journal, but “he performed faithfully” and “as well and as vigorously as his feeble health enabled him to do.” He died at age 43. A “Resolution of Respect” from the Masonic Lodge, printed in the Journal, described him as “a man who was ever ready for duty, though that duty was death.”
Legislature
Thompson, John M., came from Lane County, District 22. He was the speaker of the House and a Democrat for the 1878 Regular Session (10th): September 9-October 18.
Illustrated History of Lane County
...on February 11, 1882, intelligence was received of the death of Hon. John M. Thompson on that date, at Prineville, Wasco county, Oregon, where he had gone to spend the winter in search of health. He was forty years of age. Having entered the legal profession he afterwards chose the field of politics, and there he made his mark. He was elected county judge of Lane county by the democrats, and was several times chosen by that party as a representative in the State legislature. He usually ran ahead of his party and received a good many republican votes. In 1878 he was elected speaker of the house and took a prominent part in investigating -and exposing alleged frauds committed by the democratic State administration headed by Governor Grover. This provoked the wrath of the persons implicated and their friends, but it increased his popularity and influence with the people and at the following election he was re-elected to the legislature. He was appointed as special counsel in 1879 by Governor Thayer to prosecute the ex-State officers for their alleged violations of law while in office, as charged in the report of the legislature to the governor above mentioned. This unpleasant duty he performed faithfully, like all other duties required of him during life, and as well and vigorously as his feeble health enabled him to do. Not long before his untimely death, when Hon. J. F. Watson resigned the office of circuit judge of the second judicial district to accept the office of United States attorney for Oregon, Governor Thayer tendered the appointment to Judge Thompson, to fill the vacancy until the next election and he had accepted the place but had not yet entered upon the duties of the office at the time of his death. He was the senior partner of the law firm of Thompson & Bean, of Eugene City, and had the reputation of being one of the best lawyers in the State. He was also one of the regents of the State University and was prominent in the start of that institution.
