Judge William R. Thompson

This is one of the recollections written by Wallace A. McKay and published in The Pioneer-News. Follow the "Recollections" link above to find others of his writings.

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The Pioneer-News, March 3, 1933, pages 1-2

In this column last week the writer failed to state that Mr. R. J. Meyler in addition to teaching school for several years was elected Superintendent of the County Schools for two successive terms and made a very excellent record. He also served as County Attorney for one term after serving as County Court Clerk. He was a very approachable man and always had quite a strong personal following. His individual popularity in addition to the influence of his wife's family made him a very formidable antagonist in a political contest in Bullitt County.

In the last few years of his life Mr. Meyler was stricken with an insidious and incurable disease which caused him and his family great distress and suffering. He bore his misfortunes with great patience and fortitude and his mind continued active until the very last. All in all, he was one of the most prominent and public spirited men in the history of Bullitt County, and is affectionally remembered by a host of the older citizens of the County.

Judge William R. Thompson began the practice of law at Shepherdsville about the year 1838, eight years before the beginning of the war with Mexico, and continued during the remainder of his long life of some fifty years. During this long period of time Judge Thompson's mind was active and his memory keen. He continued a student of the law until the very last. Judge Thompson came from an old pioneer Kentucky family and lived in Bullitt County all his life. He met at the Bar such giants as James Guthrie, Humphrey Marshall, Joshua F. Bullitt, William R. Grigsby, Charles A. Wickliffe Ben Hardin and William Wilson, and was considered, by his contemporaries, one of the most astute and learned land Lawyer's in this section of the Country. The writer only knew Judge Thompson in the latter years of his life when he was a very old man nearing to four score years of age. He was a rather large portly man, above the average height, very bald, with a fringe of snow white hair, occasionally he wore small side burns just below the ears. He had a ruddy complexion and a robust, vigorous physique. His eyes were grayish blue and he had a very large Roman nose, every lineament of his features denoted force and strength of character. He usually carried a cane and wore a large cape and heavy scarf in winter, and invariably used a bandana handkerchief. He dressed with great care wearing a stove pipe hat and a swallow-tail black coat.

Judge Thompson resembled the pictures and cartoons of the well known symbol, "John Bull." The late Philip D. Armour, the great Chicago pork packer and capitalist, bore quite a striking resemblance to the Bullitt County Jurist. Judge Thompson was twice County Attorney, twice County Judge, was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1850 and served several times as special Judge of the Circuit Court He was dignified and somewhat reserved in his bearing and was universally esteemed for his legal learning and fine character. While a member of the Constitutional Convention he met and became intimately acquainted with a group of the strongest and ableist lawyers and political leaders of his time. Judge Thompson in his latter years was much sought after both by students of history and the younger members of the Bar in this section of Kentucky was better versed in Kentucky history. Messers R. J. Meyler, F. P. Straus Sam Simmons and "Jack" Croan frequently sought his advice and council when they were confronted with intricate and abstruse questions of law.

Judge Thompson had at least three children who lived to maturity and raised families, namely viz; Lt. John V. Thompson, who served with distinction with the Union Army during the Civil War, Carlton D. "Tot" Thompson, who moved out west in early manhood and became quite a prominent business man, and Letitia Thompson who became the wife of Capt. William H. Hudson, who also served in the Union Army, and afterwards entered the U. S. Revenue service where he continued for twenty-five years. John V. Thompson lived to a ripe old age, laving died recently, aged about 57 years. The younger son, Tarlton D. "Tot" Thompson was a devoted friend and great admirer of Senator Charles Carroll, who named his son, Tot Carroll, the well known lawyer, in his honor. Mrs. William H. Hudson, the only daughter, raised four children, Charles H., William D., H. Clay and Mallie Hudson. Charles H. Hudson is a well known business man of Chicago; William D. Hudson located in some western state, but the writer has no late information respecting the two other children, H. Clay Hudson and the only daughter.

W. A. M.

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