William Townsend Thompson was an American lawyer who served as Nebraska Attorney General and Solicitor of the United States Treasury.
Occupation
lawyer, politician
Position held
member of the Nebraska House of Representatives
Citizenship
United States
Born
May 23, 1860
Died
June 20, 1939
Overview
William T. Thompson (May 23, 1860 – June 20, 1939) was a lawyer who served as state Nebraska Attorney General and Solicitor of the United States Treasury.
Biography
William Townsend Thompson was born near Fennimore, Wisconsin on May 23, 1860. After being orphaned at age 11 he was raised first by a family friend, and later by an older, married sister in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. At age 19 he began attending Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, teaching school to pay his tuition, and also studying law.
In 1884 Thompson was admitted to the bar in Des Moines. He practiced for a year in Indianola, and then relocated to Central City, Nebraska.
A Republican, Thompson served a term as Merrick County Attorney (1889 to 1901) before serving two terms in the Nebraska House of Representatives, 1899 to 1901 and 1903 to 1905.
