William L. Thompson was born in Wapello, Louisa county, Iowa, on July 18, 1857, being the son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Willis) Thompson, natives of Ohio. The father was born in 1820 and died in 1892. The mother was born in 1822 and is still living. Our subject was reared in his native place and labored on the farm and attended school, then earned money by teaching to gain an academic course at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and then earned more to put him through the scientific course in the Valparaiso school in Indiana. He followed teaching until he was twenty-seven and then set out on the journey to the great west. He finally landed in Nez Perces county and finding resources and surroundings congenial and to his liking he settled on a piece of land about three miles west from where Morrow now stands and set to the task of building a home, farming, and raising stock. He has been eminently successful in these worthy endeavors and has a fine well improved farm and considerable stock. The estate is a half section and a valuable piece of land. Mr. Thompson located the town site of Morrow in 1896, started a store and soon had a postoffice and since that time has continued as postmaster to the entire satisfaction of all. He has been active and influential in putting the educational affairs of the section in good shape both in this district and where his land is situated. Mr. Thompson sold his mercantile establishment in 1900, and since then has devoted himself to his stock and farms. He has twice been elected by the people to represent Nez Perces county in the state legislature. once in the time when Latah was set off, and once in 1894. He served his constituency to their entire satisfaction and demonstrated his ability in the halls of legislation as he had done in the quieter walks of life here.