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Charles H. Thompson (Illinois judge)

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Charles H. Thompson
Thompson's official photograph, c. 1945
Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court
In office
1949–1950
In office
1945–1946
Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court from the 1st district
In office
1942–1951
Preceded byPaul Farthing
Member of the Illinois State Senate
In office
1937–1942
In office
1927–1933
State's Attorney of Saline County, Illinois
In office
1920–1924
Personal details
Born(1882-11-11)November 11, 1882
near Mount Vernon, Illinois
DiedNovember 26, 1972(1972-11-26) (aged 90)
Resting placeSunset Hill Cemetery in Harrisburg, Illinois
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Ethel K. Knight
(m. 1914; died 1967)
Alma materChicago-Kent College of Law

Charles Henry Thompson[1] (December 11, 1882 – November 26, 1972) is an American politician and judge who served as a justice of the Illinois Supreme Court (1942–1951) and a member of the Illinois State Senate (1927–1933, 1937–1942), and the state's attorney of Saline County, Illinois (1920–1924). While on the state supreme court, he was twice the court's chief justice (1945–1946, 1949–1950).

Early life and education

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Thompson was born on December 11, 1882[1] near Mount Vernon, Posey County, Indiana to Lewis (also known as Louis) Thompson, a farmer, and his wife Emma Monroe Thompson. [2] In 1884, he and his family moved to Harrisburg in Saline County, Illinois. By 1910, his father had begun mining coal, and Charles was working as a bookkeeper in the coal office.[3] In 1914, Charles married Ethel K. Knight of Harrisburg.[2]

Thompson left Harrisburg to attend law school in Chicago. He graduated from the Chicago-Kent College of Law (1918) and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1919.[2] While in law school, he worked as a law clerk and a stenographer.[2]

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Thompson returned to Harrisburg to practice law. Soon after, he entered politics and was elected in 1920 as the state's attorney (county prosecutor) of Saline County.[2] He held this office from that year until 1924.[4]

In 1926, he was elected as a Republican to represent the 51st district in the Illinois State Senate.[2] He held this seat from 1927 through 1933 (during the 55th, 56th and 57th iterations of the Illinois General Assembly).[4]

Additionally, from 1929 until 1932, he was a member of the Lincoln Memorial Commission. In 1933 and 1934, he served as a member of the Illinois Century of Progress Commission, overseeing aspects related to the Century of Progress (a world's exhibition in Chicago).[2]

From 1936 to 1937, he served as president of the Federation of Local Bar Associations chapter for Illinois' first supreme judicial district.[2]

Thompson again served in the state from 1937 up until after his 1942 election to the state supreme court (during the 61st and 62nd iterations of the General Assembly).[4][5]

Illinois Supreme Court (1942–1951)

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In 1942, Thompson won election to a first district seat on the Illinois Supreme Court.[2] He served until retiring from the court in 1951.[2] Twice during his judgeship, he was the court's chief justice (first in 1945 and 1946; again in 1949 and 1950).[2]

Later career

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After retiring from the court, Thompson returned to practicing law in Harrisburg.[2]

Personal life

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Thompson was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Harrisburg, and also a member of the Harrisburg Masonic Lodge and Knights Templar.[2]

In 1914, Thompson married Ethel K. Knight.[4] He was widowed on November 3, 1967, when she died. Thompson died on November 26, 1972, and was buried at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Harrisburg, where his late wife had been buried years earlier.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Thompson, Charles Henry. "World War II Draft Registration". National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; State Headquarters: Illinois; Microfilm Series: M2097; Microfilm Roll: 291. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Former Illinois Chief Justice Charles H. Thompson dies Sunday". The Daily Register. Harrisburg, Illinois. 27 Nov 1972. p. 2.
  3. ^ "Thompson, Lewis and family". Year: 1910; Census Place: Harrisburg Ward 1, Saline, Illinois; Roll: T624_324; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0103; FHL microfilm: 1374337. www.ancestry.com. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d Illinois blue book, 1945-1946. State of Illinois. p. 134. Retrieved 20 November 2024 – via www.idaillinois.org.
  5. ^ "Illinois Legislative Roster" (PDF). Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved 20 November 2024.

Original data: Works Progress Administration. Index to Birth Records. Indiana: Indiana Works Progress Administration, 1938–1940.

  • Entry for Louis Thompson family, Year: 1900; Census Place: Harrisburg, Saline, Illinois; Roll: 342; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0084; FHL microfilm: 1240342, online at www.ancestry.com.
  • Obituary of Lewis Thompson, The Daily Register (Harrisburg, IL), 15 Sep 1933, page 1.
  • Entry for Lewis Thompson family, Year: 1910; Census Place: Harrisburg Ward 1, Saline, Illinois; Roll: T624_324; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0103; FHL microfilm: 1374337, online at www.ancestry.com.