THOMPSON. THOMSON. 60 1 Mr. Thompson became a member of the I. (). O. F. in 1841, and has identified him- self with the order as a loyal member and an efficient officer. His connections are with the Orthodox church, which he joined in 1835. His lib- eral and generous views, however, confine him to no one particular creed, and he lends a helping hand to the support of all religious societies. He takes a lively in- terest in literary associations, and has long been an active member of the town library committee. LEONARD THOMPSON. He is a life-member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. He has served many years on the school board ; was selectman four years ; town treasurer two years, representative to the General Court 1877 and '78, where his record was that of a diligent and useful legislator. He is a justice of the peace by many re-ap- pointments. Mr. Thompson's early life was that of a quiet, thinking, ingenious, fast-growing, weakly boy, patient in habit, a lover of nature in all its phases, skillful with rod and gun. He was a natural mechanic, and built the first portable iron boat in sections in this country, now much used in the West. His health failing, he sought relief in travel, and visited the West Indies and Russia in 1836. Later he made other sea voyages along our New England coast ; spent some months in a trip to the Pacific coast. Edgar, his son, is chief mechanical architect in the motive-power office of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. Father and son visited the Paris exposition of 1889 to study advances made in motors, machinery, etc. To Mr. Thompson, in a marked degree, is due the purchase of the birthplace of Count Rumford in Woburn, and its incor- poration as the Antique Museum of the Rumford Historical Society, and a branch of the Woburn Centre library. THOMSON, ORRIN, son of Samuel and Sally (Heald) Thomson, was born in Hub- bardston, Worcester county, October 24, 1821. His education was obtained in the com- mon schools, and by a yen's attendance at Leicester Academy. He has been a resident of Holliston since February, 1843. He taught school a portion of each of the next eight years. In 1S51 he formed a co-partnership with T. E. Andrews, under the firm name of Andrews i; Thomson, and bought out the variety store of Pond & Thayer. This connection continued for seven years, when he formed a co-partnership with E. F.
luting, under the firm name of Thomson
& Whiting, dealers in dry-goods, clothing, boots, shoes, etc. Nine years from this time he retired from active business. He is now treasurer of the Holliston Savings Bank, having held the position since its organization, 1872. He was married October 28, 1846, in Holliston, to Lizzie C, daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Heald) Stone. < )f this union were seven children, only two of whom are living : Silas O. and Charles S. Thom- son. Mr. Thomson has been a member of the school board, serving as chairman a greater part of the time, for twenty-live years ; selectman, town treasurer, assessor and overseer of the poor, trustee and treasurer of the public library, etc. He was a representative to the Legisla- ture in i860 and '66, serving as chairman of the committee on pay-roll in the latter year. He is a justice of the peace and notary public, having received the former appointment in 1858 and the latter in 1876. He held the position of trial justice six years from 1858. He was appointed a com- missioner for the state industrial school for girls in November, 1861. For several years he was acting coroner. He has done
