William Barlum Thompson
William Barlum Thompson | |
|---|---|
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| 43rd Mayor of Detroit, Michigan | |
| In office 1907–1908 | |
| Preceded by | George Pierre Codd |
| Succeeded by | Philip Breitmeyer |
| 45th Mayor of Detroit, Michigan | |
| In office 1911–1912 | |
| Preceded by | Philip Breitmeyer |
| Succeeded by | Oscar Marx |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 10, 1860 Detroit, Michigan |
| Died | February 12, 1941 (aged 80) Detroit, Michigan |
| Spouse | Nellie Hymes |
William Barlum Thompson (March 10, 1860 – February 12, 1941) was the Mayor of Detroit from 1907 to 1908 and again from 1911 to 1912.
Biography[edit]
William Barlum Thompson was born on March 10, 1860, in Detroit, the son of Thomas and Bridget Barlum Thompson.[1] He graduated from the public schools of the city, and in 1876 from Goldsmith's Business University, located in Detroit.[1]
He went into the meat-market business with his uncle Thomas Barlum, became a partner with Barlum in 1880, and set off on his own in 1882.[1] In 1887 he married Nellie Hymes; the couple had nine children:[1] Mary (born 1888), Kathleen (1889), Irene (1891), William Grover (1892), Francis Leo (1895), Helen M. (1897), Edna L. (1899), Edith R. (1905), and Virginia M. (1909).[2]
Politics[edit]
William Barlum Thompson was a Democrat,[3] and served as an alderman for two terms, from 1891 to 1894, but declined to run for a third term.[1] However, by popular demand, he ran again in 1896 and was re-elected.[1] In 1897, he was elected city treasurer and resigned his seat as an alderman.[1] He served as treasurer for nine years.[3]
He was elected mayor twice, serving in 1907-1908 and again in 1911–1912.
Later life[edit]
Thompson went into partnership with his cousin John J. Barlum, forming the Cadillac Square Improvement Company.[4] The company constructed a number of buildings around Cadillac Square, including the Barlum Tower (now Cadillac Tower), the Barlum Hotel (now New Cadillac Square Apartments), and the Lawyers Building.[5]
William Barlum Thompson died in Detroit on February 12, 1941.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g The government of the city of Detroit and Wayne County, Michigan: 1701 to 1907, historical and biographical, 1907, pp. 52–55, ISBN 9780598455529
- ^ "Thompson Archive". Rootsweb. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ a b ALBERT NELSON MARQUIS (1908), THE BOOK OF DETROITERS, pp. 445–46
- ^ "History: New Cadillac Square". The New Cadillac Square Apartments. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ Ren Farley. "Cadillac Tower/Barlum Tower". Detroit1701.org. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
- ^ "WILLIAM B THOMPSON". New York Times. Feb 13, 1941.
External links[edit]
