Journalist.
Obituary:
COL. THOMPSON BURIED SUNDAY
Last Thursday, Colonel William Thompson, colorful Modoc County pioneer, Indian Fighter and Newspaperman passed away at his home in Alturas after a few days illness from bronchial pneumonia. His funeral was held in memorial Hall last Sunday afternoon, under the direction of Clifford Harter Post, of the American legion, according to his request. Father O'Toole officiated at the last rites. Those acting as pallbearers were members of the Legion, being Albert and Nolan Smith, L. J. Austin, Jesse Day, Billie Brown and Chester Lowell. The long cortege followed his remains to the cemetery, after a brief service a salute was fired in honor of the pioneer veteran, it was given by the Legion firing Squad. Capt. W. T. Gould acted as chaplain for the Legion and taps were blown by their bugler, Frank Gesford.
He was born between Springfield and Bolivar, Missouri, February 2, 1846; his father was Samuel George Thompson; he crossed the Plains with an ox team when he was six years of age; he recalls that trip very vividly; it took five months to make the trip and there was not a word of dissension or a person who left the company from 56 families which started.
Colonel Thompson was married in 1869, in August, to Elizabeth Charlotte Shannon. She departed this life March 7, 1919. Had she lived four more months, they would have been married 50 years. There were two children, Asher Thompson, who died of diphtheria as a child and Mrs. Sallie B. Coch, still living.
WAS JOAQUIN MILLER'S FRIEND
When fourteen years of age, who even at that age could ride and shoot like a man, joined one of the semi-military companies of miners and with them crossed the Cascade Mountains to the Oro-Fino gold diggings, meeting here for the first time the poet, Joaquin Miller, and forming a friendship which lasted till the famous poet's death.
Following the mining expedition, Thompson after a year's further schooling, associated himself with the Eugene City herald, being printer's devil and general factotum of the paper of which Joaquin Miller was owner and editor.
HAD VARIED ROLE
Colonel Thompson's role in Southern Oregon and Modoc County includes veteran pioneer, Indian fighter, stockman, miner, editor and author.
CAPTAIN JACK REBELS
He recalls vividly the time the Modoc trouble started. A white girl captive of the redskins. Ben Wright led some soldiers and demanded the girl. The Modoc chief declined. The words were not cold in his throat before Wright shot him. That was in 1868.
A couple of years later Jack had gathered a group of renegades, some from Modoc's, approximately one third; some from the Yakima's in far-away Washington; some from the Umatillas, and one at least, Bogus Charlie, who was raised in central Oregon, by a white man named Bill Phipps.
The notorious renegade, Captain Jack, with his fighting men, numbering only seventy-one warriors, gathered from various tribes and everyone of them conspicuous for his hatred of the white man, now took refuge with their women and children in the Modoc Lava Beds, on the south end of Tule Lake, just south of the Oregon – California line.
Here was staged one of the queerest and most tragic campaigns in western history and one which cost the lives of almost 100 white men, regular soldiers, volunteers and settlers. It is said to be the most costly war in lives and money considering the numbers engaged of any ever fought by the United States outside of the great World War.
DISASTROUS TO WHITES
It is a fact almost unparalleled in history that during the Indians' tenure of the stronghold of about six months' duration, not a single Indian was killed by white men, one Indian only losing his life in attempting to break open an unexploded shell.
Colonel Thompson, Captain O. C. Applegate, now of Klamath Falls, and other veteran Indian fighters and frontiersmen, offered their advice, often in vain and the campaign was more or less mismanaged affair, the authorities at Washington and the country in general lauding Captain Jack as a hero and tying the hands of the officers in command.
FOUNDS MODOC PAPER
During the latter part of the nineteenth century, Thompson located permanently in Modoc County and having sold his ranching interests, founded the Alturas Plaindealer. He had lived here ever since and his love for the northern country, embraced in northeastern California and southern Oregon is expressed in all of his writings.
Author of Reminicences of a Pioneer, in which he recalls his involvement in a famous shootout with another publisher:
"Theirs was an old established paper, conducted by two brothers, Henry and Thomas Gale. They soon saw their business slipping away and sought to regain it by indulging in abuse of the coarsest character. I paid no further attention to their attacks than to occasionally poke fun at them. One Saturday evening I met one of the brothers in the post office. He began an abusive harangue and attempted to draw a pistol. I quickly caught his hand and struck him in the face. Bystanders separated us and he left. I was repeatedly warned that evening to be on my guard, but gave the matter little concern. The next morning, Sunday, June 11, 1871, I went to my office as was my custom, to write my letters and attend to some other matters before going to church. On leaving the office I was joined by a young friend, Mr. Virgil Conn. As we proceeded down the street towards the post office I saw the brothers standing talking on the street. One looked up and saw me, evidently spoke to his brother, and they then started toward me. I saw at once that it was to be a fight and that I must defend myself. Some said I could have avoided a meeting by turning in a different direction. Probably I could, at least for a time, but I had started to the post office and there I intended to go. As we approached the young men, one of them dropped behind, and as I passed the first one he dealt me a blow with a heavy cane. At the same instant the other drew a pistol and fired, the bullet taking effect in my side and passing partly through. Stunned by the blow on my cheek, I reeled and drawing my pistol fired point blank at the breast of the one who had shot me. I was then between the men, and turning on the one with the cane, he threw up his hands, as if to say "I am unarmed." As I again turned he quickly drew his revolver and shot me in the back of the head, and followed it up with another shot which was aimed at the butt of my ear. I felt the muzzle of the revolver pressed against my ear, and throwing up my head the bullet entered my neck and passed up through my mouth and tongue and lodged back of my left eye. As I rushed at him he fired again, the bullet entering the point of my shoulder while another entered my body. That was his last shot." Against all odds, Thompson recovered.
Bud Thompson killed Frank Mogan at the outset of the Vigilante Era in Prineville. He was ordered to pay restitution to the widow, but she was never able to collect. According to some, Bud Thompson was the ringleader of the vigilantes during the Prineville Vigilante Days.
Wikipedia article about William Thompson
Obituary:
COL. THOMPSON BURIED SUNDAY
Last Thursday, Colonel William Thompson, colorful Modoc County pioneer, Indian Fighter and Newspaperman passed away at his home in Alturas after a few days illness from bronchial pneumonia. His funeral was held in memorial Hall last Sunday afternoon, under the direction of Clifford Harter Post, of the American legion, according to his request. Father O'Toole officiated at the last rites. Those acting as pallbearers were members of the Legion, being Albert and Nolan Smith, L. J. Austin, Jesse Day, Billie Brown and Chester Lowell. The long cortege followed his remains to the cemetery, after a brief service a salute was fired in honor of the pioneer veteran, it was given by the Legion firing Squad. Capt. W. T. Gould acted as chaplain for the Legion and taps were blown by their bugler, Frank Gesford.
He was born between Springfield and Bolivar, Missouri, February 2, 1846; his father was Samuel George Thompson; he crossed the Plains with an ox team when he was six years of age; he recalls that trip very vividly; it took five months to make the trip and there was not a word of dissension or a person who left the company from 56 families which started.
Colonel Thompson was married in 1869, in August, to Elizabeth Charlotte Shannon. She departed this life March 7, 1919. Had she lived four more months, they would have been married 50 years. There were two children, Asher Thompson, who died of diphtheria as a child and Mrs. Sallie B. Coch, still living.
WAS JOAQUIN MILLER'S FRIEND
When fourteen years of age, who even at that age could ride and shoot like a man, joined one of the semi-military companies of miners and with them crossed the Cascade Mountains to the Oro-Fino gold diggings, meeting here for the first time the poet, Joaquin Miller, and forming a friendship which lasted till the famous poet's death.
Following the mining expedition, Thompson after a year's further schooling, associated himself with the Eugene City herald, being printer's devil and general factotum of the paper of which Joaquin Miller was owner and editor.
HAD VARIED ROLE
Colonel Thompson's role in Southern Oregon and Modoc County includes veteran pioneer, Indian fighter, stockman, miner, editor and author.
CAPTAIN JACK REBELS
He recalls vividly the time the Modoc trouble started. A white girl captive of the redskins. Ben Wright led some soldiers and demanded the girl. The Modoc chief declined. The words were not cold in his throat before Wright shot him. That was in 1868.
A couple of years later Jack had gathered a group of renegades, some from Modoc's, approximately one third; some from the Yakima's in far-away Washington; some from the Umatillas, and one at least, Bogus Charlie, who was raised in central Oregon, by a white man named Bill Phipps.
The notorious renegade, Captain Jack, with his fighting men, numbering only seventy-one warriors, gathered from various tribes and everyone of them conspicuous for his hatred of the white man, now took refuge with their women and children in the Modoc Lava Beds, on the south end of Tule Lake, just south of the Oregon – California line.
Here was staged one of the queerest and most tragic campaigns in western history and one which cost the lives of almost 100 white men, regular soldiers, volunteers and settlers. It is said to be the most costly war in lives and money considering the numbers engaged of any ever fought by the United States outside of the great World War.
DISASTROUS TO WHITES
It is a fact almost unparalleled in history that during the Indians' tenure of the stronghold of about six months' duration, not a single Indian was killed by white men, one Indian only losing his life in attempting to break open an unexploded shell.
Colonel Thompson, Captain O. C. Applegate, now of Klamath Falls, and other veteran Indian fighters and frontiersmen, offered their advice, often in vain and the campaign was more or less mismanaged affair, the authorities at Washington and the country in general lauding Captain Jack as a hero and tying the hands of the officers in command.
FOUNDS MODOC PAPER
During the latter part of the nineteenth century, Thompson located permanently in Modoc County and having sold his ranching interests, founded the Alturas Plaindealer. He had lived here ever since and his love for the northern country, embraced in northeastern California and southern Oregon is expressed in all of his writings.
Author of Reminicences of a Pioneer, in which he recalls his involvement in a famous shootout with another publisher:
"Theirs was an old established paper, conducted by two brothers, Henry and Thomas Gale. They soon saw their business slipping away and sought to regain it by indulging in abuse of the coarsest character. I paid no further attention to their attacks than to occasionally poke fun at them. One Saturday evening I met one of the brothers in the post office. He began an abusive harangue and attempted to draw a pistol. I quickly caught his hand and struck him in the face. Bystanders separated us and he left. I was repeatedly warned that evening to be on my guard, but gave the matter little concern. The next morning, Sunday, June 11, 1871, I went to my office as was my custom, to write my letters and attend to some other matters before going to church. On leaving the office I was joined by a young friend, Mr. Virgil Conn. As we proceeded down the street towards the post office I saw the brothers standing talking on the street. One looked up and saw me, evidently spoke to his brother, and they then started toward me. I saw at once that it was to be a fight and that I must defend myself. Some said I could have avoided a meeting by turning in a different direction. Probably I could, at least for a time, but I had started to the post office and there I intended to go. As we approached the young men, one of them dropped behind, and as I passed the first one he dealt me a blow with a heavy cane. At the same instant the other drew a pistol and fired, the bullet taking effect in my side and passing partly through. Stunned by the blow on my cheek, I reeled and drawing my pistol fired point blank at the breast of the one who had shot me. I was then between the men, and turning on the one with the cane, he threw up his hands, as if to say "I am unarmed." As I again turned he quickly drew his revolver and shot me in the back of the head, and followed it up with another shot which was aimed at the butt of my ear. I felt the muzzle of the revolver pressed against my ear, and throwing up my head the bullet entered my neck and passed up through my mouth and tongue and lodged back of my left eye. As I rushed at him he fired again, the bullet entering the point of my shoulder while another entered my body. That was his last shot." Against all odds, Thompson recovered.
Bud Thompson killed Frank Mogan at the outset of the Vigilante Era in Prineville. He was ordered to pay restitution to the widow, but she was never able to collect. According to some, Bud Thompson was the ringleader of the vigilantes during the Prineville Vigilante Days.
Wikipedia article about William Thompson
Journalist.
Obituary:
COL. THOMPSON BURIED SUNDAY
Last Thursday, Colonel William Thompson, colorful Modoc County pioneer, Indian Fighter and Newspaperman passed away at his home in Alturas after a few days illness from bronchial pneumonia. His funeral was held in memorial Hall last Sunday afternoon, under the direction of Clifford Harter Post, of the American legion, according to his request. Father O'Toole officiated at the last rites. Those acting as pallbearers were members of the Legion, being Albert and Nolan Smith, L. J. Austin, Jesse Day, Billie Brown and Chester Lowell. The long cortege followed his remains to the cemetery, after a brief service a salute was fired in honor of the pioneer veteran, it was given by the Legion firing Squad. Capt. W. T. Gould acted as chaplain for the Legion and taps were blown by their bugler, Frank Gesford.
He was born between Springfield and Bolivar, Missouri, February 2, 1846; his father was Samuel George Thompson; he crossed the Plains with an ox team when he was six years of age; he recalls that trip very vividly; it took five months to make the trip and there was not a word of dissension or a person who left the company from 56 families which started.
Colonel Thompson was married in 1869, in August, to Elizabeth Charlotte Shannon. She departed this life March 7, 1919. Had she lived four more months, they would have been married 50 years. There were two children, Asher Thompson, who died of diphtheria as a child and Mrs. Sallie B. Coch, still living.
WAS JOAQUIN MILLER'S FRIEND
When fourteen years of age, who even at that age could ride and shoot like a man, joined one of the semi-military companies of miners and with them crossed the Cascade Mountains to the Oro-Fino gold diggings, meeting here for the first time the poet, Joaquin Miller, and forming a friendship which lasted till the famous poet's death.
Following the mining expedition, Thompson after a year's further schooling, associated himself with the Eugene City herald, being printer's devil and general factotum of the paper of which Joaquin Miller was owner and editor.
HAD VARIED ROLE
Colonel Thompson's role in Southern Oregon and Modoc County includes veteran pioneer, Indian fighter, stockman, miner, editor and author.
CAPTAIN JACK REBELS
He recalls vividly the time the Modoc trouble started. A white girl captive of the redskins. Ben Wright led some soldiers and demanded the girl. The Modoc chief declined. The words were not cold in his throat before Wright shot him. That was in 1868.
A couple of years later Jack had gathered a group of renegades, some from Modoc's, approximately one third; some from the Yakima's in far-away Washington; some from the Umatillas, and one at least, Bogus Charlie, who was raised in central Oregon, by a white man named Bill Phipps.
The notorious renegade, Captain Jack, with his fighting men, numbering only seventy-one warriors, gathered from various tribes and everyone of them conspicuous for his hatred of the white man, now took refuge with their women and children in the Modoc Lava Beds, on the south end of Tule Lake, just south of the Oregon – California line.
Here was staged one of the queerest and most tragic campaigns in western history and one which cost the lives of almost 100 white men, regular soldiers, volunteers and settlers. It is said to be the most costly war in lives and money considering the numbers engaged of any ever fought by the United States outside of the great World War.
DISASTROUS TO WHITES
It is a fact almost unparalleled in history that during the Indians' tenure of the stronghold of about six months' duration, not a single Indian was killed by white men, one Indian only losing his life in attempting to break open an unexploded shell.
Colonel Thompson, Captain O. C. Applegate, now of Klamath Falls, and other veteran Indian fighters and frontiersmen, offered their advice, often in vain and the campaign was more or less mismanaged affair, the authorities at Washington and the country in general lauding Captain Jack as a hero and tying the hands of the officers in command.
FOUNDS MODOC PAPER
During the latter part of the nineteenth century, Thompson located permanently in Modoc County and having sold his ranching interests, founded the Alturas Plaindealer. He had lived here ever since and his love for the northern country, embraced in northeastern California and southern Oregon is expressed in all of his writings.
Author of Reminicences of a Pioneer, in which he recalls his involvement in a famous shootout with another publisher:
"Theirs was an old established paper, conducted by two brothers, Henry and Thomas Gale. They soon saw their business slipping away and sought to regain it by indulging in abuse of the coarsest character. I paid no further attention to their attacks than to occasionally poke fun at them. One Saturday evening I met one of the brothers in the post office. He began an abusive harangue and attempted to draw a pistol. I quickly caught his hand and struck him in the face. Bystanders separated us and he left. I was repeatedly warned that evening to be on my guard, but gave the matter little concern. The next morning, Sunday, June 11, 1871, I went to my office as was my custom, to write my letters and attend to some other matters before going to church. On leaving the office I was joined by a young friend, Mr. Virgil Conn. As we proceeded down the street towards the post office I saw the brothers standing talking on the street. One looked up and saw me, evidently spoke to his brother, and they then started toward me. I saw at once that it was to be a fight and that I must defend myself. Some said I could have avoided a meeting by turning in a different direction. Probably I could, at least for a time, but I had started to the post office and there I intended to go. As we approached the young men, one of them dropped behind, and as I passed the first one he dealt me a blow with a heavy cane. At the same instant the other drew a pistol and fired, the bullet taking effect in my side and passing partly through. Stunned by the blow on my cheek, I reeled and drawing my pistol fired point blank at the breast of the one who had shot me. I was then between the men, and turning on the one with the cane, he threw up his hands, as if to say "I am unarmed." As I again turned he quickly drew his revolver and shot me in the back of the head, and followed it up with another shot which was aimed at the butt of my ear. I felt the muzzle of the revolver pressed against my ear, and throwing up my head the bullet entered my neck and passed up through my mouth and tongue and lodged back of my left eye. As I rushed at him he fired again, the bullet entering the point of my shoulder while another entered my body. That was his last shot." Against all odds, Thompson recovered.
Bud Thompson killed Frank Mogan at the outset of the Vigilante Era in Prineville. He was ordered to pay restitution to the widow, but she was never able to collect. According to some, Bud Thompson was the ringleader of the vigilantes during the Prineville Vigilante Days.
Wikipedia article about William Thompson
Obituary:
COL. THOMPSON BURIED SUNDAY
Last Thursday, Colonel William Thompson, colorful Modoc County pioneer, Indian Fighter and Newspaperman passed away at his home in Alturas after a few days illness from bronchial pneumonia. His funeral was held in memorial Hall last Sunday afternoon, under the direction of Clifford Harter Post, of the American legion, according to his request. Father O'Toole officiated at the last rites. Those acting as pallbearers were members of the Legion, being Albert and Nolan Smith, L. J. Austin, Jesse Day, Billie Brown and Chester Lowell. The long cortege followed his remains to the cemetery, after a brief service a salute was fired in honor of the pioneer veteran, it was given by the Legion firing Squad. Capt. W. T. Gould acted as chaplain for the Legion and taps were blown by their bugler, Frank Gesford.
He was born between Springfield and Bolivar, Missouri, February 2, 1846; his father was Samuel George Thompson; he crossed the Plains with an ox team when he was six years of age; he recalls that trip very vividly; it took five months to make the trip and there was not a word of dissension or a person who left the company from 56 families which started.
Colonel Thompson was married in 1869, in August, to Elizabeth Charlotte Shannon. She departed this life March 7, 1919. Had she lived four more months, they would have been married 50 years. There were two children, Asher Thompson, who died of diphtheria as a child and Mrs. Sallie B. Coch, still living.
WAS JOAQUIN MILLER'S FRIEND
When fourteen years of age, who even at that age could ride and shoot like a man, joined one of the semi-military companies of miners and with them crossed the Cascade Mountains to the Oro-Fino gold diggings, meeting here for the first time the poet, Joaquin Miller, and forming a friendship which lasted till the famous poet's death.
Following the mining expedition, Thompson after a year's further schooling, associated himself with the Eugene City herald, being printer's devil and general factotum of the paper of which Joaquin Miller was owner and editor.
HAD VARIED ROLE
Colonel Thompson's role in Southern Oregon and Modoc County includes veteran pioneer, Indian fighter, stockman, miner, editor and author.
CAPTAIN JACK REBELS
He recalls vividly the time the Modoc trouble started. A white girl captive of the redskins. Ben Wright led some soldiers and demanded the girl. The Modoc chief declined. The words were not cold in his throat before Wright shot him. That was in 1868.
A couple of years later Jack had gathered a group of renegades, some from Modoc's, approximately one third; some from the Yakima's in far-away Washington; some from the Umatillas, and one at least, Bogus Charlie, who was raised in central Oregon, by a white man named Bill Phipps.
The notorious renegade, Captain Jack, with his fighting men, numbering only seventy-one warriors, gathered from various tribes and everyone of them conspicuous for his hatred of the white man, now took refuge with their women and children in the Modoc Lava Beds, on the south end of Tule Lake, just south of the Oregon – California line.
Here was staged one of the queerest and most tragic campaigns in western history and one which cost the lives of almost 100 white men, regular soldiers, volunteers and settlers. It is said to be the most costly war in lives and money considering the numbers engaged of any ever fought by the United States outside of the great World War.
DISASTROUS TO WHITES
It is a fact almost unparalleled in history that during the Indians' tenure of the stronghold of about six months' duration, not a single Indian was killed by white men, one Indian only losing his life in attempting to break open an unexploded shell.
Colonel Thompson, Captain O. C. Applegate, now of Klamath Falls, and other veteran Indian fighters and frontiersmen, offered their advice, often in vain and the campaign was more or less mismanaged affair, the authorities at Washington and the country in general lauding Captain Jack as a hero and tying the hands of the officers in command.
FOUNDS MODOC PAPER
During the latter part of the nineteenth century, Thompson located permanently in Modoc County and having sold his ranching interests, founded the Alturas Plaindealer. He had lived here ever since and his love for the northern country, embraced in northeastern California and southern Oregon is expressed in all of his writings.
Author of Reminicences of a Pioneer, in which he recalls his involvement in a famous shootout with another publisher:
"Theirs was an old established paper, conducted by two brothers, Henry and Thomas Gale. They soon saw their business slipping away and sought to regain it by indulging in abuse of the coarsest character. I paid no further attention to their attacks than to occasionally poke fun at them. One Saturday evening I met one of the brothers in the post office. He began an abusive harangue and attempted to draw a pistol. I quickly caught his hand and struck him in the face. Bystanders separated us and he left. I was repeatedly warned that evening to be on my guard, but gave the matter little concern. The next morning, Sunday, June 11, 1871, I went to my office as was my custom, to write my letters and attend to some other matters before going to church. On leaving the office I was joined by a young friend, Mr. Virgil Conn. As we proceeded down the street towards the post office I saw the brothers standing talking on the street. One looked up and saw me, evidently spoke to his brother, and they then started toward me. I saw at once that it was to be a fight and that I must defend myself. Some said I could have avoided a meeting by turning in a different direction. Probably I could, at least for a time, but I had started to the post office and there I intended to go. As we approached the young men, one of them dropped behind, and as I passed the first one he dealt me a blow with a heavy cane. At the same instant the other drew a pistol and fired, the bullet taking effect in my side and passing partly through. Stunned by the blow on my cheek, I reeled and drawing my pistol fired point blank at the breast of the one who had shot me. I was then between the men, and turning on the one with the cane, he threw up his hands, as if to say "I am unarmed." As I again turned he quickly drew his revolver and shot me in the back of the head, and followed it up with another shot which was aimed at the butt of my ear. I felt the muzzle of the revolver pressed against my ear, and throwing up my head the bullet entered my neck and passed up through my mouth and tongue and lodged back of my left eye. As I rushed at him he fired again, the bullet entering the point of my shoulder while another entered my body. That was his last shot." Against all odds, Thompson recovered.
Bud Thompson killed Frank Mogan at the outset of the Vigilante Era in Prineville. He was ordered to pay restitution to the widow, but she was never able to collect. According to some, Bud Thompson was the ringleader of the vigilantes during the Prineville Vigilante Days.
Wikipedia article about William Thompson
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