Chester C. Thompson
Encyclopedia
Chester Charles Thompson (1893–1971) was an Illinois
politician who represented Illinois' 14th District in the United States House of Representatives
from 1933 to 1939. Before serving in Congress he served the people as Rock Island County Treasurer and as mayor of Rock Island
.
. He was the son of Charles L. and Susan Miller Thompson. From an early age Thompson was introduced to the world of politics, his father was an Alderman on the City Council. Thompson attended Rock Island public schools and graduated from Rock Island High School in 1911. During World War I
Thompson served as a corporal in Headquarters Company of the Twenty-Fifth Coast Artillery from 1918-1919. He was engaged in the plastering business from 1910-1932.
, one of two Democrats
elected that year in the County he served in that office until 1926. In late 1926 Thompson announced his candidacy for Mayor of Rock Island, Illinois
. At this time the City of Rock Island was predominantly Republican
and the County Treasurer faced an uphill battle against popular Republican Alderman William R. Carse. In a tight race Thompson stunned the City by winning the election and becoming Rock Island's first Democratic Mayor in 30 years.
Thompson went on to win two more times in 1929 and 1931 defeating former mayor Walter A. Rosenfield by a wide margin and an even wider margin in two years later. Thompson, a New Deal
Democrat, announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress in 1931 pledging to bring the nation out of the Great Depression
. He went on to win the Democratic nomination and in a hard fought battle against popular incumbent Congressman John Allen
Thompson went rode to victory as just one of the many Democrats winning in a nationwide landslide.
As a member of Congress, Thompson was a big supporter of President Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal. With the aid of the New Deal and the help of Rock Island Mayor Robert P. Galbraith Thompson was able to secure funding for the construction of a new high school and a water treatment plant. Thompson served in Congress for three terms before his defeat for reelection in 1938 by political newcomer Anton J. Johnson
.
On November 15, 1939 former congressman Thompson was appointed president and chairman of the board of the Inland Waterways Corporation and he served there until his resignation on August 15, 1944. He was president of the American Waterways Operations, Inc where he served tell his retirement in 1957. He was a member and chairman of the Rock Island County Jury Commission and a member and chairman of the County Board of Supervisor from 1965 tell his death in 1971.
In 1964 Thompson announced that he would once again run for Mayor of his home community. In a fierce and competitive battle Thompson was defeated by City Councilman James Haymaker. Thompson died on January 30, 1971 at the age of 77 ending his fifty year career as a public servant.
D. Chester C. Thompson- 15,042 74%
R. John G. Miller- 5,419 26%
Election of April 1927, Mayor
D. Chester C. Thompson- 5,526 52%
R. William R. Carse- 5,060 48%
Election of April 1929
D. Chester C. Thompson- 7,700 64%
R. Walter A. Rosenfield- 4,248 36%
Election of April 1931
D. Chester C. Thompson- 7,677 65%
R. John W. Dee- 4,062 35%
Election of November 1932, U.S. House
D. Chester C. Thompson- 50,277 54%
R. John Allen- 43,082 46%
Election of November 1934
D. Chester C. Thompson- 44,965 53%
R. John Allen- 39,330 47%
Election of November 1936
D. Chester C. Thompson- 58,809 54%
R. Clinton Searle- 49,250 46%
Election of November 1938
R. Anton J. Johnson- 44,243 51%
D. Chester C. Thompson- 41,682 49%
Election of April 1965, Mayor
NP. James H. Haymaker- 5,023 53%
NP. Chester C. Thompson- 4,497 47%
Illinois Blue Book, 1937-1938
Rock Island Argus, 1922–1938, 1965
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
politician who represented Illinois' 14th District in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1933 to 1939. Before serving in Congress he served the people as Rock Island County Treasurer and as mayor of Rock Island
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
.
Early life
Thompson was born September 19, 1893 in Rock Island, IllinoisRock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
. He was the son of Charles L. and Susan Miller Thompson. From an early age Thompson was introduced to the world of politics, his father was an Alderman on the City Council. Thompson attended Rock Island public schools and graduated from Rock Island High School in 1911. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Thompson served as a corporal in Headquarters Company of the Twenty-Fifth Coast Artillery from 1918-1919. He was engaged in the plastering business from 1910-1932.
Political career
On November 7, 1922 Thompson won his first elective office winning the office of Rock Island County TreasurerTreasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
, one of two Democrats
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
elected that year in the County he served in that office until 1926. In late 1926 Thompson announced his candidacy for Mayor of Rock Island, Illinois
Mayor of Rock Island, Illinois
The office of Mayor of Rock Island, Illinois has existed since the Rock Island's incorporation in 1841 with Benjamin Barrett serving as the city's first mayor. Rock Island adopted a Mayor-Council form of government. It held that form of government for the next 110 years when in 1952 the city...
. At this time the City of Rock Island was predominantly Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and the County Treasurer faced an uphill battle against popular Republican Alderman William R. Carse. In a tight race Thompson stunned the City by winning the election and becoming Rock Island's first Democratic Mayor in 30 years.
Thompson went on to win two more times in 1929 and 1931 defeating former mayor Walter A. Rosenfield by a wide margin and an even wider margin in two years later. Thompson, a New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
Democrat, announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress in 1931 pledging to bring the nation out of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. He went on to win the Democratic nomination and in a hard fought battle against popular incumbent Congressman John Allen
John Allen
-Politicians:*John Allen , U.S. Representative from Connecticut*John B. Allen , first U.S. Senator from Washington*John Clayton Allen , U.S. Representative from Illinois...
Thompson went rode to victory as just one of the many Democrats winning in a nationwide landslide.
As a member of Congress, Thompson was a big supporter of President Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal. With the aid of the New Deal and the help of Rock Island Mayor Robert P. Galbraith Thompson was able to secure funding for the construction of a new high school and a water treatment plant. Thompson served in Congress for three terms before his defeat for reelection in 1938 by political newcomer Anton J. Johnson
Anton J. Johnson
Anton Joseph Johnson was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Peoria, Illinois, Johnson attended the public schools and the School of Agriculture of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. He served as first sergeant, Fifth Infantry, Company G, Illinois National Guard from 1898...
.
On November 15, 1939 former congressman Thompson was appointed president and chairman of the board of the Inland Waterways Corporation and he served there until his resignation on August 15, 1944. He was president of the American Waterways Operations, Inc where he served tell his retirement in 1957. He was a member and chairman of the Rock Island County Jury Commission and a member and chairman of the County Board of Supervisor from 1965 tell his death in 1971.
In 1964 Thompson announced that he would once again run for Mayor of his home community. In a fierce and competitive battle Thompson was defeated by City Councilman James Haymaker. Thompson died on January 30, 1971 at the age of 77 ending his fifty year career as a public servant.
Election history
Election of November 1922, County TreasurerD. Chester C. Thompson- 15,042 74%
R. John G. Miller- 5,419 26%
Election of April 1927, Mayor
D. Chester C. Thompson- 5,526 52%
R. William R. Carse- 5,060 48%
Election of April 1929
D. Chester C. Thompson- 7,700 64%
R. Walter A. Rosenfield- 4,248 36%
Election of April 1931
D. Chester C. Thompson- 7,677 65%
R. John W. Dee- 4,062 35%
Election of November 1932, U.S. House
D. Chester C. Thompson- 50,277 54%
R. John Allen- 43,082 46%
Election of November 1934
D. Chester C. Thompson- 44,965 53%
R. John Allen- 39,330 47%
Election of November 1936
D. Chester C. Thompson- 58,809 54%
R. Clinton Searle- 49,250 46%
Election of November 1938
R. Anton J. Johnson- 44,243 51%
D. Chester C. Thompson- 41,682 49%
Election of April 1965, Mayor
NP. James H. Haymaker- 5,023 53%
NP. Chester C. Thompson- 4,497 47%
External links
Biographical Directory, U.S. House of Representatives- http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000197
Illinois Blue Book, 1937-1938
Rock Island Argus, 1922–1938, 1965