"An Illustrated history of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties : with a brief outline of the early history of the state of Oregon." Chicago?: Western Historical Pub. Co., 1902. p. 508. Grant Co. MARTIN V. THOMPSON When nature's wilds were yet unbroken and all the stern and rugged beauty that mingles with the wilderness rested in its pristine grandeur, the subject of this brief sketch found his way into the region that is now comprised in Grant county, being a typical representative of that sturdy class of noble men that unclasped the fastnesses of the forests and blazed the way for men of less intrepidity and daring to follow. Here he explored the hitherto unknown vaults of treasure and was among the very first that broke the virgin soil in their quest. Born in Machiasport, Maine, on December 9, 1836, being the son of Elijah R. and Sarah (Cole) Thompson, both natives of the Pine Tree state, Martin V. remained there until he had arrived at man's estate. In 1858, his father having preceded him, he went to the Utopia of the west via the Isthmus and landed first in San Francisco. For one year he explored the new land and then returned to the eastern home and took unto himself a wife, who accompanied him on his second trip to the Golden Gate, where he rented his father's farm that comprised the land that is now in the suburbs of the metropolis of the Pacific coast. After a time spent in this occupation he took up stock raising on the Russian river, California, and then came to where Canyon City now stands. He was one of the second crowd of men that reached the gold fields of this region, the first having staked ground and taken water rights and departed again for provisions. The date of his arrival was June 20, 1862, he being in company with Fouts and Eastman and four others, and they were just two weeks later than the first number. He immediately commenced mining on Rich Gulch and around Marysville and continued in that line for eighteen years, in that time visiting all of the leading camps in this entire region, also doing hydraulic placer mining around Canyon City. It is of note that the second cabin that was built in Grant county was erected by Fouts and is standing to-day. The camp of Marysville was named from the wife of the man who built the first cabin in that memorable town, her name being Mary. This was Mr. Thebeau. In 1880 Mr. Thompson bought the city hotel of Canyon City and gave his attention to the duties of a host until 1885, when he bought the ranch that he now owns at Blue Mountain Springs, twenty-five miles from Canyon city at the head of the John Day valley. There he owns three hundred and twenty acres in partnership with A. H. Groth. In 1887 he sold out his hotel and mines and gave his entire attention to raising stock and building up the health resort at the hot springs on his estate. Mr. Thompson and Miss Charlotte A., daughter of Matthias and Elnora (Berry) Finney, were married in November, 1859. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Masonic fraternity at Prairie City, and also of the I.O.O.F., at Canyon City. He has taken great interest in the summer and health resort that is on his estate and it is an institution that justly merits richly by nature's preparation and also beautifully and comfortably arranged by the improvements that he has from time to time added to any one that wishes to enjoy the wildness of beautiful scenery in close proximity to the rugged mountains and health-giving ozone that is bountifully provided in the clear atmosphere of those regions, it is worth while to make the trip to the resort. And also it is to be mentioned that in connection with all these advantages, one is enabled to also enjoy the comforts and pleasure of a first-class hotel, while the health-giving properties of the beautiful springs are evidenced by the scores of suffering humanity that have been benefited and cured in their waters. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.