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Story
Robert Augustine Thompson, Jr. and his brothers
Thomas Larkin Thompson and Frances Poulson Thompson settled in Santa Rosa with their wives.
Their father was Robert Augustine Thompson, Sr. who was born near Culpeper Court House, Virginia. He attended a private school at Gallipolis, Ohio, and the University of Virginia studying law. Admitted to the bar in 1826, he commenced practice in Charleston, Virginia(now West Virginia). He served as member of the State senate 1839-1846.
Thompson Sr. was elected as a Democrat to the Thirtieth Congress (March 4, 1847 - March 3, 1849) declining to be a candidate for reelection. He served as delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1852 and then served as member of the board of visitors to the University of Virginia in 1852. Thompson, Sr. moved to San Francisco, California, in 1853. He was appointed in 1853 a member of a commission to settle private land claims in California. He was appointed by the Governor a reporter of the California Supreme Court in 1870. He served as member of the justices' court of San Francisco from 1870 until his death in San Francisco, California, August 31, 1876. He was interred in Laurel Hill Cemetery.
Robert Jr. graduated from the
Virginia Military Institute in
1852. In that year he traveled across the plains to California settling on a farm in the Vallejo township.
Robert's brother, Thomas Larkin Thompson, was the editor at the Sonoma Democrat for about thirty years. He was deeply entrenched in the Confederate leanings and anti-Lincoln. It is reputed that he used racial language in his editorials. Robert, coming from the Confederate State of Virginia, fit right into the political-side of Santa Rosa. During his time in Sonoma County, he wrote books about the county's weather,
Capture of Sonoma by Bear Flag Men, and the resources and history of Sonoma County. In one of Gaye LeBaron's Notebook articles in 1988, she wrote about Robert's books and Robert had not lived in the county long enough to write an accurate chapter about the county's climate. In October 1897, Robert (65 years old) joined a few other speakers at the Farmers' Institute held in Santa Rosa. The 48 year old Luther Burbank was one of those speakers. Robert was referred to as the county's
amateur historian.
Robert was elected the Sonoma County Clerk in 1877 (1880 Census, Santa Rosa, profession – County Clerk) and for the successive three terms. In 1885, President Grover Cleveland appointed him as the appraiser for the Port of San Francisco, holding that position during Cleveland’s term. His name and title can be found in the
San Francisco Directory (bottom right column) beginning in 1886.
Family Group
Robert Augustine Thompson
Birth: 30 Nov 1832 in Culpeper County, Virginia, USA
Death: 3 Aug 1903 in San Rafael, Marin, California, USA
Burial: Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, USA (
Plot Number: 148 Unmarked)
WikiNo:
Thompson-46225
Obituaries
Married: 16 Apr 1860 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
to
Elizabeth Page West Thompson
Birth: 18 Apr 1837 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA
Death: 10 Feb 1892 in Redwood City, San Mateo County, California, USA
Burial: Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, USA (
Plot Number: 148 Unmarked)
WikiNo:
West-15249
Children:
Andrew Glasswell Thompson
Born: 30 May 1861 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
Died: 21 Jan 1875 in Santa Rosa, Sonoma, California, USA (14 years old)
WikiNo:
Thompson-46957
Reginald West Thompson (Louise Hawthome Henson)
Born: 30 Nov 1864 in San Francisco, California, USA
Died: 13 Feb 1942 in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, USA
WikiNo:
Thompson-46423
Mary Nixon Thompson (Paul Robert Deady)
Born: 14 Feb 1867 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
Died: 02 May 1955 in Fulton, Georgia, USA
WikiNo:
Thompson-46424
Virginia Carter Thompson (Alan Dean Whittaker)
Born: 06 Jul 1868 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
Died: 21 Aug 1960 in Fulton County, Georgia, USA
WikiNo:
Thompson-46425
Marion Elizabeth Thompson (Henry H Sutcliffe)
Born: 21 Jan 1872 in Santa Rosa, Sonoma, California, USA
Died on 07 Jan 1912 in Alameda, California, USA
WikiNo:
Thompson-46426
Edith Thompson
Born: 1874 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
Died: 1880 (6 years old, not included in June 1880 census)
It is believed she is buried in the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery, Plot #148
Paul Thompson
Born: 1876 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
Died: 1880 (4 years old, not included in June 1880 census)
It is believed he is buried in the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery, Plot #148
Robert Wilmer Thompson (Ethel Maule)
Born: 29 Nov 1878 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
Died: 13 Feb 1941 in Haverford, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA
WikiNo:
Thompson-46427
Obituary
Resources
Genealogical and Historical Notes on Culpeper County, Virginia, R.T. Green, 1900 - Culpeper County (Va.) - 160 pages, Page 88
Sonoma County History: Township Histories: Santa Rosa (Note: 53-page excerpted from 866-page
History of Sonoma County, Published in 1880 - For those interested in the early history of all of Sonoma County this is an interesting read. It includes
a township called Ocean.)
Santa Rosa History, A Far Away Outpost of Dixie, 1861
Santa Rosa History, Robert A. Thompson's Editorial Rhetoric (Caution: Language and Content)
Sonoma County Historical Society, Timeline. Robert is mentioned at dates 1857, 1877, and 1896.
A History of St Mark's Parish, Culpeper County, Virginia: With Notes of Old ... By Philip Slaughter, Page 176 (Note: Robert Augustine Thompson, Sr.)
California, Biographical Index Cards, 1781-1990, Snow - Z (Note:
This card may be related to Robert as an author)
1880 Federal Census, Santa Rosa, Sonoma, California, 22 Jun 1880, page 32. Robert and Elizabeth are found on the last two entries.
A Bibliography of the History of California and the Pacific West 1510-1906 by Robert Ernest Co wan, page 229
Books Written by Robert A. Thompson
Conquest of California: Capture of Sonoma by Bear Flag Men June 14, 1846, by Robert A. Thompson
Historical and Descriptive Sketch of Sonoma County, California, Robert A. Thompson, L.H. Everts, 1877 - Sonoma County (California) - 104 pages
The Russian Settlement in California Known as Fort Ross, Founded 1812, Abandoned 1841: Why the Russians Came and why They Left, Robert A. Thompson, Sonoma Democrat Publishing Company, 1896 - Fort Ross (California) - 34 pages
News Articles
The Petal Courier (Petal, Sonoma, CA), 11 Nov 1885, Wed, Page 2, Article Title: A Deserved Reward, appointment as appraiser
The San Francisco Call, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 17 Oct 1897, Sunday, Page 2, Article Title: Farmers' Institute Adjourns, Closing Session of a Highly Interesting Meeting. Robert A. Thompson attended this meeting with Luther Burbank who was 48 years old
The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 14 Apr 1888, Saturday, Page 8, Article Title: Appraiser Thompson. This is a political speech referring to Governor Cleveland and Senator Stanford who were both running for President
Frank P. Thompson Dec 1897, Robert's brother dies of yellow fever while working in San Salvador and is interred there.
Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb 1898, Page 3, Robert's brother Thomas L. Thompson dies by suicide
Petal Daily Morning Courier, (Petal, California), 16 Mar 1898, Wed, Page 2, Robert identifies himself with the Pioneer. a San Francisco paper
Petal Daily Morning Courier, (Petal, California), 19 Oct 1898, Wed, Page 2, Article Title: Democratic State Ticket with listing of Robert running for Secretary of State (Note: He did not win)
The Petal Argus-Courier, (Petal, California), 20 Mar 1902, Thurs, Page 1, Article Title: Robert A. Thompson Again Here to Boom the Town Again
Petal Daily Morning Courier, (Petal, California), 16 Jun 1903, Tue, Page 2, Article Title: Robert A. Thompson III, obituary
The Petaluma Argus-Courier, (Petaluma, California), 10 Aug 1903, Mon, Page 2, Article Title: In Honor of the Late Robert Thompson, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Pen is Laid Aside, Press Democrat, 5 Aug 1903, Editor Robert A. Thompson's Long and Useful Career has Ended in Death
Oakland Tribune, (Oakland, California), 7 Aug 1903, Fri, Page 6, Article Title: Robert A. Thompson obituary
More . . .
Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States, Volume 25, Page 95, Second Entry, United States. Congress. Senate 1901 - United States
Langley's San Francisco directory for the year commencing .. Publication date 1886, Publisher San Francisco : Francis, Valentine & Co., Volume 1886 Page 1140, Lower Right Corner Above Advertisement
California Voter Registers 1866-1898: There are two registers both for the same time period, one for San Francisco and one for Sonoma County. Robert is found listed as coal merchant in San Francisco and as a merchant in Sonoma County. It is assumed that the San Francisco listing is before moving to Santa Rosa and the Sonoma County listing is applicable for Santa Rosa.
The National Society of Colonial Dames in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Rhode Island, The Society, 1908 - 55 pages (Page 494) (Note: Scroll down to page 54)
Find A Grave Memorial #143379245 (Note: the Thompsons are located in Main Circle plot #148 and not plot#184)
Burials in Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery
Pseudonyms of California Authors, News Notes of California Libraries, Volume 7, Number 2, McTavish, Page 146
History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women (Elizabeth's sister Mrs. Mary West Thompson is included) of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, by Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846- Publication date 1922, Pages 763-764
Although Robert was considered a local historian, some feel that he embellished stories and wrote racial epitaphs throughout his time at the Sonoma Democrat.
This eBlog includes information about Santa Rosa including Robert. (I See by the Papers... Sonoma county history explored through a look at original sources, managed by Jeff Elliot.) Visit
SantaRosaHistory.com for mobile-friendly version.