Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 253.

HON. DAVID P. THOMPSON

     One of the representative business men of Portland, is a native of Ohio.
He was born November 8, 1834, and nineteen years later, in 1853, came to Oregon.
He began business in Oregon City, where he remained for twenty years, being
engaged in surveying.  He made most of the surveys of Oregon, Washington and
Idaho.  He was Territorial Governor of Idaho in 1876, resigning that position to
come to Portland to engage in general banking.  He was president of the Oregon
Construction Company, that built a large portion of the line of the Oregon
Railroad Navigation Company, which office he filled for years.  Her served in
the First Regiment of Oregon Volunteers from 1861 until the close of the war, at
first as Lieutenant of Company E, later being promoted to the Captaincy of the
Company, serving in that capacity for two years.  He was elected president of
the Portland Savings Bank, serving from 1880 until 1886.  When the Commercial
National Bank was organized, he resigned, to take the presidency of the latter
institution, and was elected vice-president of the Savings Bank, which position
he still holds.  He was nominated by the Republican party, and elected to the
State Senate, serving from 1868 until 1872.  He was a member of the House in
1878 and 1879 and also in 1888 and 1890.  In the latter year, he was nominated
for Governor of the State, but was defeated.  He has twice been elected Mayor of
the city of Portland.  He has been engaged in many business enterprises in the
city and State, among which is the Willamette Falls Electric Light Company.  He
is vice-president of the Oregon Railroad Navigation Company, and for several
years president of the Anderson Stock Company; president of the Farmers' and
Traders' Bank of Pullman, Washington, and Bank of Johnston, Washington, and a
director in various other banks of Oregon and Washington.  He has been a member
of the School Board of the city for the past eight years, and president of the
Portland Business College.  He was one of the Blaine Presidental Electors in
1884, and has just received an appointment as Minister to Turkey, for which
position his acquaintances regard him as well qualified.
     He was married in 1861 to Miss Mary R. Meldrum, and they have three
children:  Ralph, a son, and two daughters, Bessie M. and Geneviva.
     Mr. Thompson has built several blocks in the city.  He is an active
business man, very quick in his decisions, accurate in judgment, and liberal in
his methods; he is full of business enterprise and push.  In contemplating the
business men of Portland, the source of its impetus and cause of its phenomenal
prosperity is readily discernible.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.