M.P. Thompson Services Held
Pioneer Citizen Summoned After Brief Illness
Imnaha, Oregon
One of the earlier pioneers of Wallowa county and Imnaha, Ore., passed away last Friday when M.P.. Thompson of Little Sheep creek died in the Enterprise hospital following a week’s illness.
Mark Pomroy Thompson, son of Eliza and Thomas B. Thompson, was born Oct. 26, 1874; in Dow City, Iowa, and passed away Friday, April 2, 1943, aged 68 years five months and six days.
He was married Nov. 23, 1893, to Mable U. Creasy of Imnaha, Ore., and is survived by his widow and four children: Mrs. Ethel Marks, Roy M. Thompson, Mrs. Earl Warnock, and Mrs. Lawrence Potter, all of whom were at his bedside during his last illness.
There are also ten grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a sister, Mrs. Katie R. Markham, two brothers, John E. Thompson of Seattle, Wash., and William B. Thompson of Dow City, Iowa.
Mr. Thompson came to Oregon in 1888 with his father and had lived on the Imnaha and in Wallowa county ever since with the exception of one year.
In 1890 Mark, then a lad of 16, helped his uncle, T.F. Rich, drive a band of wild horses to Colorado. After the horses were sold the Rich party wintered in Fruita, Colorado, and it is from this town that the post office of Fruita on the Imnaha river received its name.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Thompson lived on Imnaha most of the time until 1923. They spent two years in the valley during that time, and when they returned to Imnaha bought a ranch where they ran cattle for some 16 years, selling out in 1923 to Earl Warnock, who still is owner.
Mr. Thompson bought a ranch on Little Sheep creek in December, 1927, and this had since been their home and where they had planned to celebrate their Golden Wedding in November of this year.
Friendliness and hospitality was the keynote of the Thompson home and its doors were open to all. The many old friends and neighbors who came many miles to attend his funeral are evidence of the esteem in which he was held.
Any young man coming to Wallowa county in the 1880’s has seen the development of a country from crude pioneer days and ways, manners and customs, to its present state of comfort and prosperity. They have lived through interesting times and had all sorts of experiences. Mr. Thompson was of course no exception, and tried his hand at all sorts of labor but mostly cattle raising and farming. He went through many hard experiences but remained a kindly husband and father, friend and neighbor, who will be missed by many.
Practically every home on Imnaha was represented at the funeral of Mr. Thompson Monday afternoon. The Thompson’s had lived there so many years and the friendships of those living in this community who were so dependent on each other in the early days are lasting and sincere.
Wallowa County Chieftain, Thursday April 8, 1943, Front Page
Contributed by Joan Meister