532 HISTORY OF THE GRANGE 3IOVEMENT ; OR, 



learning these important branches of their business 

 under his training. 



Young Thompson received as good a common-school 

 education as could be obtained in Ohio, forty years ago. 

 When old enough to be of use on the farm, his school- 

 days were confined to the winter months, and the re- 

 mainder of the year was given to farm work. Of a 

 naturally intelligent mind, he learned rapidly, and 

 soon exhausted the store of knowledge the schoolmas- 

 ter had to furnish. He was an indefatigable reader, 

 and eagerly devoured everything in the shape of a 

 book or newspaper, that came within his reach. He 

 has carried this habit of study through life with him ; 

 and even now, might shame many a younger student by 

 his constant and untiring industry in this respect. He 

 is also an excellent example to the farmer-boys of the 

 land, of what may be accomplished in the way of self- 

 culture by a young man determined to keep himself 

 abreast of the age. Upon approaching manhood, Mr. 

 Thompson attended an Acadamy for three terms, and 

 distinguished himself by his close application and good 

 scholarship. 



At the age of twenty-one he commenced life as a 

 teacher of the common school of his native town, giving 

 such satisfaction to his fellow townsmen that he was 

 continued in his position for seven terms. 



He was very popular with the people of Vernon, who 

 were proud of his intellectual promise ; and as he took 

 an active part in the political questions of the day, was 

 elected, in succession, to all the various public offices 

 within the gift of his fellow citizens. Had he chosen 

 to continue in political life, there was a clear field be- 

 fore him j but such a life was not to his taste ; and in 



