B. A. Thompson: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
''' | '''Burgess Asbury Thompson''', (born [[May 9]], [[1849]]<!--see talk page--> in Chambers County; died [[July 23]], [[1922]]), was [[Mayor of Birmingham]] from [[1888]] to [[1890]]. | ||
Thompson was the eldest son of builder [[Jesse Thompson|Jesse Samford Thompson]], and his wife, the former [[Henrietta Thompson|Henrietta Collins]] | Thompson was the eldest son of builder [[Jesse Thompson|Jesse Samford Thompson]], and his wife, the former [[Henrietta Thompson|Henrietta Collins]]. He was raised in Coosa County and attended public schools there. He came with his family to the new city of Birmingham in October 1871 and assisted in his father's contracting business until the elder Thompson died in July [[1872]]. Burgess and his brother, [[T. C. Thompson|Thomas]]<!--namesake of Thompson High School-->, were partners in the continuation of their father's contracting business until about [[1875]]. Burgess left construction to become a foundry worker while Thomas went on to found the [[Thompson Brick Company]] in Birmingham and the [[Siluria Cotton Mill]] in [[Shelby County]]. | ||
Thompson married the former [[Flora Thompson|Flora Richards]] and had | Burgess worked as a pattern maker at [[Linn Iron Works]] and rose to take charge of the pattern shop as foreman. He then left to take a position with the [[Williamson Iron Company]]. In [[1880]] he was elected to the [[Birmingham Board of Aldermen]] as part of Mayor [[Thomas Jeffers]]' second administration. In [[1882]] he was elected to the post of City Treasurer and Tax Collector. He resigned in [[1885]] to join his brother in the brick manufacturing trade. | ||
Thompson was returned to public office, this time as Mayor, in the [[1888 Birmingham municipal election|December 1888 election]]. He defeated three-term incumbent [[A. O. Lane]] for the office and served one two year term. He was praised for efficiency in his short tenure, which was mainly marked for the sensational events following the [[Hawes murders]]. Thompson declined to run for re-election, instead entering the real estate and loan business and serving as president of the [[Birmingham Building & Loan Association]]. | |||
In [[1901]] [[Governor of Alabama|Governor]] [[William Samford]] appointed Thompson to the [[Jefferson County Tax Commission]]. He also chaired the [[Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee]] during his tenure on the commission. After five years he returned to private business. By [[1907]] he joined the [[Security Savings & Loan Company]], and later the [[Columbia Loan and Investment Company]], as a loan officer and director. He also sat on the board of the [[Southern States Fire Insurance Company]]. | |||
Thompson married the former [[Flora Thompson|Flora Richards]] on [[March 31]], [[1881]] and had four children; Lee, Stanley, Jessie and Emily. | |||
Thompson died in [[1922]] and is buried at [[Oak Hill Cemetery]]. | Thompson died in [[1922]] and is buried at [[Oak Hill Cemetery]]. | ||
| Line 18: | Line 24: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* {{Dubose-1887}} | * {{Dubose-1887}} | ||
* {{Cruikshank-1920}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| Line 26: | Line 33: | ||
[[Category:1922 deaths]] | [[Category:1922 deaths]] | ||
[[Category:Contractors]] | [[Category:Contractors]] | ||
[[Category:Iron workers]] | |||
[[Category:Birmingham Board of Aldermen]] | |||
[[Category:Birmingham mayors]] | [[Category:Birmingham mayors]] | ||
[[Category:Birmingham Board of Education]] | [[Category:Birmingham Board of Education]] | ||
[[Category:Oak Hill burials]] | [[Category:Oak Hill burials]] | ||
Revision as of 15:59, 2 July 2014
Burgess Asbury Thompson, (born May 9, 1849 in Chambers County; died July 23, 1922), was Mayor of Birmingham from 1888 to 1890.
Thompson was the eldest son of builder Jesse Samford Thompson, and his wife, the former Henrietta Collins. He was raised in Coosa County and attended public schools there. He came with his family to the new city of Birmingham in October 1871 and assisted in his father's contracting business until the elder Thompson died in July 1872. Burgess and his brother, Thomas, were partners in the continuation of their father's contracting business until about 1875. Burgess left construction to become a foundry worker while Thomas went on to found the Thompson Brick Company in Birmingham and the Siluria Cotton Mill in Shelby County.
Burgess worked as a pattern maker at Linn Iron Works and rose to take charge of the pattern shop as foreman. He then left to take a position with the Williamson Iron Company. In 1880 he was elected to the Birmingham Board of Aldermen as part of Mayor Thomas Jeffers' second administration. In 1882 he was elected to the post of City Treasurer and Tax Collector. He resigned in 1885 to join his brother in the brick manufacturing trade.
Thompson was returned to public office, this time as Mayor, in the December 1888 election. He defeated three-term incumbent A. O. Lane for the office and served one two year term. He was praised for efficiency in his short tenure, which was mainly marked for the sensational events following the Hawes murders. Thompson declined to run for re-election, instead entering the real estate and loan business and serving as president of the Birmingham Building & Loan Association.
In 1901 Governor William Samford appointed Thompson to the Jefferson County Tax Commission. He also chaired the Jefferson County Democratic Executive Committee during his tenure on the commission. After five years he returned to private business. By 1907 he joined the Security Savings & Loan Company, and later the Columbia Loan and Investment Company, as a loan officer and director. He also sat on the board of the Southern States Fire Insurance Company.
Thompson married the former Flora Richards on March 31, 1881 and had four children; Lee, Stanley, Jessie and Emily.
Thompson died in 1922 and is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery.
| Preceded by: A. O. Lane |
Mayor of Birmingham 1888-1890 |
Succeeded by: A. O. Lane |
References
- Dubose, John Witherspoon (1887) Jefferson County and Birmingham, Alabama: Historical and Biographical Birmingham: Teeple & Smith, Publishers; Caldwell Printing Works.
- Cruikshank, George H. (1920) History of Birmingham and Its Environs: A Narrative Account of Their Historical Progress, Their People, and Their Principal Interests 2 volumes. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
External links
- B. A. Thompson at findagrave.com