Willis Samuel Thompson

Photographer: Thompson
West Cherry Street, Nevada,Missouri
example from LOST GALLERY

Photographer: Thompson
Bonham, Texas
Example from LOST GALLERY

Willis Samuel Thompson
(1865 - )

Sources: city directories, US census, Kansas census, newspaper items as noted, contributor LP

1856 Oct 20 or 1858 Oct
Ohio, state records, US census, Willis Samuel Thompson is born to James R Thompson and Malana Thompson; sources do not all agree
1880 Jun 11
Calhoun, MO, US census Willis S Thompson as artist; living with family
1885 Jun 25
Nevada, MO, state records, Willis S Thompson and Mary Bernice Dilman are married
The 1885 History of Fannin County, Texas by W.A. Carter states Will S. Thompson "cast his lot with the people of Fannin County in July 1885, having just married one of Illinois' daughters to share his fortunes in the south-west."
1888 May
Texas, 1900 census records, daughter Florence Thompson is born

1890 Jul
Texas, 1900 census records, daughter Irma Thompson is born
1897 Apr
Missouri, 1900 census records daughter Wilma Thompson is born
1900 Jun 07
Nevada, MO, US census, Willis S Thompson as “Magnetic Healer”
1903
Iola, KS, city directory, Willis Thompson as photographer at 207 s Washington; res 423 s Washington; wife as M Bernice Thompson
1905
Iola, KS, city directory, Will S Thompson as photographer with Thompson and Hutchinson, frames and supplies; with Charles G Hutchinson;
1905 May 29
Iola (KS) Daily Record, news story gives home address as 207 S Oak, Iola, KS
1906
Iola, KS, city directory, Will S Thompson as photographer at 209 S Washington Av; res 207 S Oak; (wife Mary B and daughter Florence Thompson listed also at same address)
1906 May 02
Iola (KS) Daily Record, small ad for Thompson photographer at 209 s Washington in Iola, KS

1908
Iola, KS, city directory, W S Thompson as photographer at 209 S Washington St (Iola KS is just 59 miles from Nevada, MO)
1908 Aug 31
Iola, KS, Daily Record news item says Mrs W S Thompson and daughter Wilma have gone to Nevada, MO for a family reunion
1910 Apr 21
Iola, KS, US census Will S Thompson as photographer; res n Chestnut av
1912
Iola, KS, city directory, AND Coffeyville, KS, city directory, W S Thompson NOT listed
1912 Jan 05
Yates Center (KS) Woodson County Advocate, news item says Irma Thompson is visiting her parents Mr and Mrs W S Thompson
1912 May 31
Yates Center (KS) Woodson County Advocate, news item says Irma Thompson has married Walter C Jones in Yates Center, KS
1918
Coffeyville, KS, city directory, “W S M” Thompson as assistant for F S Johnson, photographer, 818 ½ Walnut; res same

1920 Jan 02
Coffeyville, KS, US census, William Thompson as photographer; wife as Bernice, res 718 So Maple
1920 Dec 30
Coffeyville (KS) Daily Journal news item says William S Thompson has moved to Colorado Springs, CO, to operate studio there; also mentions Thompson’s association with F S Johnson the photographer; (studio probably at 818 1/2 Walnut)
1921
Colorado Springs, CO, city directory William S Thompson as photographer at Studio Grand, 21 ½ N Tejon; wife Mary B also listed; res 5 Willamette
1925
Coffeyville, KS, city directory, William “F” Thompson as photographer at 818 ½ So Walnut; res same; this is probably W S Thompson; The studio address is the same as in 1918 and 1920;
1928
Coffeyville, KS, city directory, William “F” Thompson as photographer for L J Benefiel; res 818 ½ So Walnut; this is probably W S Thompson; The studio address is the same as in 1918 and 1920;

1930
Coffeyville, KS, city directory, W S Thompson NOT listed
1930 Apr 07
Lancaster, Fairfield, OH, US census, William J Thompson as photographer; this is not the same Thompson
1933 May 21
Iola (KS) Daily Register death notice says Willis Samuel Thompson dies at age 76; address is 716 s Cottonwood

Although the documentation is still a bit sketchy, it is fairly certain that the photographer Thompson of Bonham, TX, is the same as photographer Thompson of Nevada, MO and Iola, KS. For instance, although two of Thompson’s three daughters were born in Texas, no documentation has been found so far showing it was BONHAM, Texas.

As it looks now Thompson was in Texas, 1885, 1888 and 1890. By 1897, he is back in Missouri. After that, starting about 1903, he stays mostly in Iola, KS. There is a short stay in Colorado Springs, CO, but then he returns to Iola, KS.

Then there is always the possibility that there was more than one photographer Thompson. More research pending.

Iola (KS) Daily Record - 01 May 1905

Iola (KS) Daily Record -
29 May 1905

Iola (KS) Daily Register & Evening News -
06 Feb 1906


Iola (KS) Daily Record -
02 May 1906


Gas City (KS) Herald -
14 Jul 1908


Iola (KS) Daily Record -
31 Aug 1908

Yates Center-Woodson County (KS)
Advocate - 31 May 1912


Coffeyville (KS) Daily Journal -
30 Dec 1920


Iola (KS) Daily Register & Evening News -
22 May 1933

Iola, KS Daily Register and
Evening News - 24 May 1933


Colorado Springs (CO)
Gazette Telegraph - 09 Oct 1980

photographer: Thompson
Bonham, TX (really poor scan)
example from Slices of Time

photographer: Thompson
Bonham, TX (really poor scan)
example from Creative Commons
(note same prop in photo at left)

photographer: Thompson
Bonham, TX
example from auction site (same post again)

photographer: Thompson
Bonham, TX (really poor scan)
example from Slices of Time

photographer: Thompson
Bonham, TX
example from auction site

photographer: Will S Thompson
North Side Square, Bonham, TX
example from Slices of Time

photographer: Will S Thompson
Bonham, TX - Nevada, MO
example from:
James W. Slack and wife Aletha Fox Slack
(Owner dated 1889)

photographer: Will S Thompson
South side of Sqare, Bonham TX
example from auction site

photographer: Thompson
Nevada, MO and Bonham, TX
contributed by Find-A-Grave member LILIP

photographer: Thompson
Nevada, MO and Bonham, TX
contributed by Find-A-Grave member LILIP

credited to Thompson by owner
Cameron, MO
Cameron, MO is about 150 miles from Nevada, MO
example from auction site
Judging from other examples found, W S Thompson usually had an identifying imprint on any cards from his studio.

photographer: Will S Thompson
Post Office Row, Bonham, TX
example from Malinda Allison on Flickr

reverse of card at left

photographer: Will S Thompson
No. 10 Post Office Row, Bonham, TX
example from Malinda Allison on Flickr

reverse of CDV at left

photographer J R Thompson
Bonham, TX
example from auction site
(Any connection to W S Thompson is unknown at this time.)

The card at the right is probably by H B Thompson who operated in Garnett, KS.

Garnett, KS, is 80 miles from Elmdale, KS. Imprint does not resemble any imprint by W S Thompson found so far.

More research pending.

photographer Thompson
Elmdale KS
example from LOST GALLERY

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. Listed here are all the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY. This is a work in progress. For a look at the original postings go to LOST GALLERY.

New examples and additional information are always welcome. Any additional information will help narrow the time that these precious antiques were made. All submissions should be free of glare and shadows. Do not crop. Leave a border around each card. The edges are sometimes an important clue to the age of the card.

Some examples on this page have been enhanced or restored for clarity and presentation here.

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