Franklin Dewey Thompson, son of Jason Kellogg Thompson and Eliza Ann Frisbee/Frisbie, was born December 13, 1835 in Berlin Township, Erie County, Ohio. He attended country school near his home followed by high school in Berlin Heights and later attended Oberlin College for a time. He taught school a number of terms in country schools and later at Milan, Ohio he was principal of the graded school
He took up the study of law in 1858 and was admitted to the bar in Huron County, Ohio in 1860. Leaving Ohio he arrived in Nevada, Iowa in September of 1860 where he was associated with the law practice of George A. Kellogg.
He married Abbie N. Price, daughter of Nathan P. Price and Julia Ann Elizabeth Gardner, on November 27, 1862 in Story County, Iowa. In February of 1864 he enlisted in Company D, 12th Iowa Volunteer Infantry serving as chief clerk at General A. J. Smith’s headquarters of the 16th Army Corps. Upon his discharge in 1865, he returned home to Ohio for two months returning to Nevada in the spring of 1866.
At that time he became associated with the law practice of Capt. T. C. McCall and remained with that firm for sixteen years. He continued his practice of law until May 1889 when he was appointed Nevada’s postmaster by President Harrison.
He was elected mayor serving two terms from 1884 to 1885 and four more terms on city council from 1886 to 1890. He died on December 11, 1917. He was survived by his wife and six children.