Thomas H. Thompson is the efficient and faithful postmaster at Melrose and also handles a general merchandise establishment, where he has a good patronage. He is a man of stanch qualities, public spirited and active in the welfare of the place and the up building of the country.
Thomas H. Thompson was born in Blue Earth, Wisconsin, on January 2, 1859, being the son of Hans and Martha (Johnson) Thompson, natives of Norway, and now residents of Melrose. The father was born in 1837 and came to the United States in 1857.
Our subject lived in Wisconsin until of age, gaining a good training from the common schools. Then he went to Dakota and took land, farming for three years. After that he went into the lumber business, doing well, and later operated a threshing machine for himself and other parties, in all of which he did well. In 1888 he went to Seattle and for eight years he farmed but did not prosper. His next move was to Moscow and in the fall of 1896 he came to his present place, on the reservation.
He took the land as a homestead where Melrose now stands and donated twenty acres for a town site. He secured the establishment of a post office in 1897 and I. N. Huffman was the first incumbent of the office. In 1001 Mr. Thompson was appointed as postmaster and still retains it. At the same date. Mr. Thompson established his store and his ability and geniality made him successful.
On April 13, 1880, in Dakota, Mr. Thompson married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Matthias and Sarah Thompson, natives of Norway. Mrs. Thompson was born in Jackson County, Wisconsin and has four brothers and three sisters. Mr. Thompson has the following brothers and sisters, George, Ole, deceased: Carrie Douglas, and one other sister, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been blessed by the advent of four children, Sever, Annie, Hattie and Elmer.
Mr. Thompson is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the M. W. A. He is a Republican and always takes the active part that becomes the intelligent citizen, and is one of the delegates to the conventions nearly every year. Mr. Thompson is also a warm advocate of the up building of good schools and always labors for this worth end.
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Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903