Nationality Canadian Name Clark Thompson | Role Minnesota politician Residence Hokah | |
Occupation Farmer, Miller, Legislator Died 1885, Wells, Minnesota, United States | ||
Clark W. Thompson (1825–1885) was a Canadian who served in the Minnesota State Senate, and the territorial House and Council for Minnesota Territory.
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Personal life
Thompson was born in Canada in 1825. He moved to Hokah, Minnesota in 1853 and worked as a miller before beginning his career in government. After finishing government service in 1872, he retired to Wells, Minnesota where he owned a farm. He died there in 1885.
Minnesota Territory
Thompson began his government service in Minnesota Territorial House. He was elected to the territorial house for district 4 in 1854 where he represented Ramsey, Wabasha, and Washington counties. He was later elected to the territorial council in 1855 for district 8 to represent Filmore, Houston, and Mower counties.
Minnesota State Senate
Thompson was elected to the Minnesota State Senate on November 8, 1870; however, the Senate seat was initially given to George Whallon. Whallon served in the Senate until January 1, 1871 at which point it was given to Thompson. Thompson served in the position as senator for the remainder of the term until January 1, 1872. He served in district 20 where he represented Cottonwood, Faribault, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Pipestone, and Rock counties.
Other government service
Thompson participated in the Territorial Republican Constitutional Convention from July 13, 1857 to August 29, 1857. He also served as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the U.S. Executive Branch (Lincoln and Johnson Administrations) in the Northern Superintendency from 1861–1865. In this capacity, he was supervisor of Ojibwe, Dakota, and Winnebago agencies in Minnesota as well as the LaPointe Ojibwe agency in Wisconsin. The U.S.-Dakota War and the subsequent removals of Minnesota's Dakota and Winnebago occurred during his term of office.
Legacy
Thompson is the namesake of Clark Township, Faribault County, Minnesota and Fort Thompson, South Dakota.