Thompson, Benjamin

Commerce Oklahoma. Jun 9 Moderate eating habits, plenty of fresh air and sleep and total abstinence from intoxicating liquors were advocated today by Benjamin Franklin Thompson, 101 year old man living at 102 North Elm street in Commerce, if one wishes to live past the 100 mark. The centenarian observed his first birthday anniversary past the century mark Tuesday, June 5. Until six months ago he was very active about the house, cutting grass and working in the yard, his only daughter and immediate relative, Mrs. G. W. Hight, said. He has been confined to his bed at his daughter's home since that time, but remains in excellent spirits... Named after the famous Philadelphia printer and internationally known statesman and diplomat, Benjamin Franklin, Thompson was born in Lee county Iowa, in 1833. His parents moved to Morgan county Missouri, when he was less than a year old, and he was reared and lived most of his life there. The aged man did not remember the first time he voted, but said it must have been at the time Lincoln ran for the presidency or possibly Buchanan, who preceded the Civil War chief. He used to farm in Missouri, later sold out his holdings and engaged in wood cutting for many years. "My father died before I was a year old," he stated in reminiscing over almost a century of elapsed time. "My parents were of Scotch-Irish descent, but I don't remember just when any of my people came to this country.". . . "I always went to bed early, and at night I had a six-shooter under my pillow all the time because there were so many panthers. It was a timber section where I lived and not many settlers were around. Besides the panthers, there were numerous "Hoop" snakes, which were deadly once they struck a person. The snakes were particularly dangerous in the daytime. They moved in a manner much like that of a hoop." Mr. Thompson has lived with his daughter in Commerce the last six years. His second wife died 26 years ago. His first wife had lived with him 50 years when she died. He had three children by his first marriage, but all are now dead. Last summer he walked frequently to the downtown business section, sometimes making as many as two trips a day, his daughter said.

Obituary -- Commerce, Jun 21 Benjamin Franklin Thompson, 101 years old, died at 7 o'clock Wednesday night at the home of his daughter. He observed his 101st birthday in early June. . . He is survived by his daughter Mrs. G. W. Hight, two nephews, Sherman Thompson of Baxter Springs Kansas and John Thompson of Sedalia Missouri. Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon at the Methodist church in Commerce. The Rev. Claude Simmons will officiate. Pallbearers are: William Stanford, Frank McGaw, Grover Green, Carl James, Bob Castle and Ike Fulcher. Burial will be in G.A.R. cemetery, Miami.