Col. John Burton Thompson, 84 years old, prominent attorney, distiller, turfman and a well known citizen of Harrodsburg, died in Louisville at his apartment at the Seelbach Hotel, following a heart attack suffered the evening previous. He was brought to his home, "Clay Hill," in this city on Monday evening and the funeral took place there Wednesday afternoon, conducted by Dr. M. A. Hart, pastor of the Christian Church at Danville, and the Rev. J. W. Carpenter, pastor of the United Presbyterian Church in Harrodsburg. Burial was in Spring Hill Cemetery amid one of the most beautiful floral tributes from friends ever seen here. Only one member of his immediate family survives, Dr. Davis Thompson, of this city, but a number of relatives also remain. The active pall bearers at the funeral were: Messrs. James P. Spilman, T. W. Latta, Hanly Bohon, H. T. Soaper, I. C. James, Judge C. T. Corn. The honorary pall bearers were: Col. Thomas Jones, R. E. Alcorn, L. C. Bradley, of Louisville; Mr. Henry Jackson, Danville; Mr. Thomas Bond and Mr. I. B. Bush, of Lawrenceburg; Col. E. H. Gaither, Dr. J. Tom Price, Dr. J. B. RoBards, Messrs. George Bond, R. E. Goddard, Howard Forsythe and T. Sloan Eastland, of Harrodsburg. The death of Col. Thompson marks the passing of one of the best known men in Kentucky, who by his brilliant intellect, business ability and dominant characteristics made himself noteworthy, not only in his own state but beyond its borders. Coming from a family of ancestors, outstanding since Revolutionary days in the history of the sections of the country where they resided, Col. Thompson has had a picturesque career. The son of the late Capt. Phil B. Thompson, attorney and Mexican War veteran, and Martha Montgomery Thompson, he and his twin brother, the late Col. Phil B. Thompson, Jr., both followed the footsteps of their father in law and war. After serving in the Confederate Army in the War Between the States, Col. Thompson became County attorney of Mercer and identified himself with local and state politics. About 1878 he purchased the Old Jordan distillery at Harrodsburg and became prominent in this line of business, as well as accumulating wealth. He was an ardent sportsman, supporting the race horse interests that have always been an outstanding feature of Kentucky, and at one time he owned fine blooded animals. But his chief business was his large distilling interests, in which he was most successful. Personally Col. Thompson was a man of strong character, and as such he gained warm friends as well as enemies, for his characteristics were such that he knew no half way measures in anything he undertook. His bravery was unquestioned, his manners courteous and polished, and his brilliant mind always gained him attention. In early manhood he was married to Miss Mattie Anderson, daughter of the Rev. Henry T. Anderson, pastor of the Harrodsburg Christian Church. She passed on some years ago, as well as their son, Philip B. Thompson, Jr. Although Col. Thompson's health had been declining for sometime owning to his advanced years, yet his mind retained the clearness and activity to the last. Many friends from various sections of the state gathered at his home Wednesday to pay their last respects to him.
(Harrodsburg Herald Fri Mar 7, 1930)