Robert Gordon Thompson
Robert Gordon Thompson [1]
a Presbyterian minister, was born Oct. 22, 1806, in Conemaugh township, Indiana Co., Pa. His education preparatory to the college was received in part from the Rev. Jesse Smith, pastor of the Ebenezer congregation in Indiana County, and in part in the preparatory department of Jefferson. College at Canonsburg, Pa. He uited, on profession of his faith, with the Chartiers Presbyterian Church, Washington Co., in 1827. He was graduated from Jefferson College in September, 1830, and passed from college immediately into Princeton Theological Seminary, N. J., where he. spent two and a half years (1830-33) in study. . He was licensed by the Presbytery of Philadelphia, April 19,1833; and was ordained by the same presbytery, sine tutela, in the Great Valley Presbyterian Church, Oct. 7, 1833. Mr. Thompson spent the first two years of his ministry (from June 1, 1833, to June 1,1835) as stated supply at Poundridge, Westchester Co., N. Y., where his labors were accompanied by a blessed revival. Having accepted a call to Yorktown, N. Y., he was installed as pastor of the Church at that place, May 18,1836; and after a most successful pastorate of ten years, having accepted, a call to Tariffville, Conn., was released Feb. 5, 1846, and installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Tariffville, March 17, 1846. There he labored with ability and fidelity six and a half years, when, his health becoming impaired, he was released by his presbytery, Sept. 30, 1852, and removed to Wisconsin. His next field was Roscoe, Ill., where he preached as stated supply from Oct. 24, 1852, to Oct. 8, 1854.
From 1855 to 1862 he supplied, for longer or shorter periods, as his health permitted, the churches of Rockford, Roscoe, Belvidere, and Willow Creek, Ill.; and Janesville and Brodhead, Wis. From July 1, 1862, he supplied Willow Creek Church for two years, when, having accepted a call from that Church, he was installed as pastor, July 6, 1864; and labored there very usefully until he was released, Nov. 16, 1868. He next preached as stated supply at Brodhead from Dec. 5, 1869, to Oct. 9, 1871. A few weeks after the latter date he removed to Greeley, Colossians, to take charge as pastor of a newly organized Presbyterian Church, but was never installed, although he continued as pastor elect to fill its pulpit until March 1, 1877. From this time he was without any charge, but continued to be, so far as his age and increasing physical infirmities would permit, active in laying the foundation both of the Church and of the State in that new region. He died at Greeley, March 19, 1879. Mr. Thompson's views of truth were clear and strong, and his voice gave no uncertain sound. As a preacher he was solid and able, at the same time earnest and affectionate; as a presbyter he was unsurpassed in Christian uprightness; as the head of a family he tenderly loved, and was beloved. (W. P. S.)
