Glendale, California Biographies
Joseph
S. Thompson
Joseph S.
Thompson, ex-mayor of Glendale, was
born August 16, 1878, in Hancock
County, Illinois, a son of
James C. and Esther F. (Sheppard) Thompson.
His father was a native of Kentucky
and his mother of Illinois. His father was a trained nurse by profession,
and most of his services were given to the leading hospitals in Chicago,
where they were always in demand. The
last years of his life were spent in Quincy, Illinois,
where he retired.
Joseph S.
Thompson supplemented his high school education by taking a tow-year general
course at the Christian Church
College, Eureka,
Illinois, after which he took a full
course in accountancy at Gate City
Business College,
Keokuk, Iowa.
He was, for several years, in the employ
of the Big Four the Chicago & Alton Railway Companies. In 1907 he came to Los
Angeles and secured a position as auditor for the
Independent Steamship Company and remained with them for three years. He next became manager of the Arden Building
Material Company, of Los Angeles,
and in 1919 was also assistant manager of the Arden Plaster Company. For several years, in addition to holding a
regular position, he has also dealt in building material, improved and
developed real estate, and built modern residences in Glendale
and Los Angeles. More recently his time has been given to the
Los Angeles Lime Company in the capacity of salesman.
In May
1912, Mr. Thompson was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board of trustees of Glendale,
caused by the resignation of John Robert White.
He was re-elected in 1914, and again in 1916, being president of the board
the latter term. During his first term
as trustee he was chairman of the committee on welfare. He is Knight Templar, Mason and Shriner, and
is the representative of the Shrine for his district, which comprises the territory
of Glendale, Burbank and Eagle
Rock.
At Peoria,
Illinois, on June 14, 1905, Mr. Thompson married Hattie Crow, a
daughter of John and Margaret (Christie) Crow of that city. They have two sons, James Harold and John Russell. Mrs. Thompson is a member of the Tuesday
Afternoon Club. The family resides at
400 West Broadway.
From “History of
Glendale and Vicinity”
by John Calvin Sherer. The Glendale Publishing Company, c. 1922 F. M. Broadbooks
and J. C. Sherer. p. 369.
