W. H. Tompkins
W. H. Tompkins, the well- known dealer in staple and fancy groceries at No. 236 South Pine street, Lima, is one of the progressive business men of the city. He was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1845, and is a son of Joel Tompkins.
The father of Mr. Tompkins was born in Pennsylvania and for 18 years was a car- builder in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Altoona, where he was also a prominent citizen and a member of the City Council. At the opening of the Civil War Joel Tompkins enlisted as a private in the Pennsylvania Reserves, but later resigned, having in the interim been promoted to a 2nd lieutenancy. He then reenlisted in the 20th Regiment, Pennsylvania Vol, Cav., and for a time was in charge of the Commissary department of the regiment. His death took place in 1884.
W. H. Tompkins was reared and educated in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, and left school when 18 years of age in order to enlist for service in the Civil War. His first service of six months was in Company E, 20th Reg., Pennsylvania Vol. Cav., during which time he was engaged mainly in West Virginia. On August 29, 1864, he reenlisted in Company F, 19th Reg., Pennsylvania Vol. Cav, at Memphis, Tennessee, and took part in the closing campaigns of the war in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. He was discharged in June, 1865, having served his country with loyalty and devotion. Mr. Tompkins then returned to Huntingdon County and entered the railroad shops at Altoona, where he worked as a car- builder until 1881, when he came to Lima and resumed work of the same kind in the shops of the L. E. & W. Railroad. Here he was made assistant foreman, in which position he continued until 1887 when he was placed in charge of the car-building department. Mr. Tompkins continued in this responsible position until he retired from the service in April, 1905, after an association of 24 years with this company, during 17 of which he was in charge of the car department. The department in which he was most interested was at that time moved to the shops at Collinwood; but Mr. Tompkins had made investments at Lima and had formed pleasant social ties here and was not disposed to change his home. Hence he entered into a new line of business, opening up a fine grocery store which has prospered from the beginning.
Mr. Tompkins was married September 17, 1865, to Clara Johnston, who died in August, 1901, leaving five children, viz: Emma, wife of J. F. Van Horn, of Lima; Laura May, widow of W. H. McClellan, a railroad fireman who was killed while on duty; Charles E., a carpenter; A. J., in charge of the "Red Cross" drug-store at Lima; and William Roy, a machinist in the L. E. & W. Railroad shops at Lima. On October 7, 1903, Mr. Tompkins was married to Sarah McClellan, who is a daughter of John McClellan, a retired citizen of Lima.
Mr. Tompkins is a member of the order of Odd Fellows and belongs also to the Mart Armstrong Post, No. 202, G. A. R. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Lima.