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- No birth registration was located for Thomas at the Archives of Ontario. Never married. Attended Orillia High School. In 1896, Thomas attended the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, Philadelphia, USA and graduated in 1899 (he never practiced as a dentist). In Philadelphia "he was one of our strong men and a good football player. He captains the La Cross team, which for three years running has held the world's championship". Tom enjoyed the game of field Lacross in Orillia as well. Was a soldier in South Africa and World War I. Canadian Special Service Forces, South Africa 1899-1900, Regimental Number 7112, Pte. T. Thompson, Corps. 2nd Special Service - Battn. Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry. Enlisted in Winnipeg, Manitoba 21 October 1899 at age 26. Born in Orillia, Ontario, former Corps. 90th Regt. Was a Dentist, single and Presbyterian. Father was James Thompson. His recruitment report dated 23 October 1899 for Transvaal Service showed Thos Thompson, age 26, height 5' 8 1/2", weight 144, chest girth 36 1/4", muscular development good, previous occupation Dentist, intelligence good, complexion dark, hair dark, eyes dark, hearing good, feet good, heart good, lungs normal, hernia healthy. hemorrhoids & varix none, vaccine marks, good, body marks mole on back. He was awarded Queens Medal with four clamps; Paardeberg, Dreifontein, Johannishore, Cape Colony. Was discharged 25 December 1900. After returning from Africa, Tom soon left for Peace River country in northern Alberta, where he joined a surveying crew. Thomas signed his enlistment Attestation Papers for WWI on 22 March 1915. He listed himself as born 28 November 1875 ?? and his trade as a Fire Ranger. He was 5' 9 1/4" tall, had dark complexion, blue eyes, black hair and was a Presbyterian. Regimental Number 84006 and may have been a Corporal with the 15th Battery. He was assigned to the gunnery division and suffered hearing loss as a result. After returning from the war, Tom appears to have gone west again, where he did some prospecting and some forestry work. Was living in Town of Orillia in 1908 when his father died. He received $4,224.00 from his father's estate. He was on military duty outside Canada in 1915 when his mother died. He received $19.13 from his mother's estate. When Tom returned to Orillia, he was a curler and helped win the Ontario Tankard in 1933. Was a member of the Masonic Lodge and a member of the Red Tam hunt club. He was a dark complexioned man who became known as "Black Tom". He was thought to have had an affinity for the devil's brew, as well. Buried with his parents in St. Andrew's Cemetery, Orillia.
The Orillia Packet and Times, March 21, 1940, Archives of Ontario microfilm N039 Reel 76NP reported:
" THOMAS THOMSON, a well known Orillian, was found dead in his apartment on Mississaga Street shortly after noon yesterday. The discovery was made by Mr. D.C. Town, over whose store Mr. Thomson lived alone. Dr. W.E. Brown decided that death had occurred some hours before, apparently due to a heart attack. "Tom" Thomson, as he was known to his friends was a native of South Orillia, a son of the late James Thomson and his wife Margaret Dunn. He was 67 years old. After matriculation from Orillia High School he took his dental degree at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. But he never practiced preferring an outdoors life as a surveyor. In 1899, when the call came for volunteers for South Africa, he joined the Royal Canadian Regiment and served through the war, taking part in the hot fight at Paardebury, where the regiment lost heavily, and marched with it from the Orange River to Pretoria. He was of the opinion that the South African campaign had more hardships for the troops than the Great War in which he also served in the artillery. He was a staunch Britisher, and only regretted that age prevented him from taking the field again when the present war broke out.
Mr. Thomson had a strong physique and was a noted sportsman. He played defence for the Orillia Lacrosse Club for a number of years, and was a member of the rinks that brought home the Ontario Curling Tankard several years ago. At the High School and at the University of Pennsylvania he had his mark in football. Of late years he had taken up golf, in which he had become proficient and was a member of the hole-in-one club.
In politics he was a staunch Liberal.
He is survived by his elder brother, Prof. David Thomson, Dean of the University of Washington, Seattle, and by his sister, Mrs. Samuel Harvie, South Orillia.
The funeral was held on Friday from A.T. MacDonald’s Funeral Home, Matchedash Street at 2 o’clock."
The Orillia Packet and Times, Thursday, March 28, 1940, Archives of Ontario microfilm N039 Reel 76NP reported under Forest Hill news:
"The passing of Mr. Thos. Thomson of Orillia, recalls the school days of long ago when Tom was a popular playmate at S.S. No.2. Life here is short at best. Friend after friend departs."
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1872 - 1940 (67 years)
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