George Moses Thomson

George Moses Thomson was born March 16, 1862 in Richmond to George and Alice Tomlinson Thomson. George is a Pioneer of Richmond. George served on the committee to establish the Richmond Carnegie Library.

History

George recounts his early years growing up in Richmond:

"Father was one of the guard at night. Many a night I lay listening to the Indians, as they had a camp a few rods from our house on the Indian trail where they would camp at night and dance and howl most of the night. The men had to take turns in guarding the homes. They could not go any distance from home without having their guns to protect them. I remember one instance so well. Father had gone to the canyon for wood, when two Indian women came to our house and wanted everything that they could see. Mother had given them food, but still they were not satisfied and began to take things. Mother resisted them and in the fight, they got a lasso around her fastening her arms to her body. One held her with the rope while the other was taking what she wanted. I was about six years old. Mother called for me to bring a little hoe we had. I ran and got it and raised it to bring it down on the [woman's] head. This made her dodge which loosened the rope and mother got her arms out, and soon made short work of them with the hoe. 

George had other instances with the Native Americans and grew up with an understanding of hard work on the family farm. After some time, George was offered a scholarship from the local school system with the stipulation that he become a teacher and teach at the local schools. George graduated from Brigham Young College in 1885 and the University of Desert (U of U) in 1887. His first teaching job was in Lewiston, Utah.

While working in Lewiston, George worked on the side building a home for his to-be family. George married Eva Cleantha Shepard on Sep 7, 1887 in the Logan, Utah Temple. 

"He was a kind husband and father, loved his family and home, would make any sacrifice to make his loved ones and friends happy. He loved his Temple work and was loved and respected by all who worked there and knew him. He ... took a number of leading parts, took them well and gracefully in every way and in everything he undertook to do."3

The following year, George began teaching in Richmond schools from 1888-1892. He was called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1892, and was set apart as a Seventy by Apostle F. M. Lyman. He served in England and preached in his mother's hometown, and later his father's in Scotland. George returned home in 1894.

After his return home, George continued to teach school in Richmond and Lewiston and work on his father's farm to provide for his family. In 1930, George built a home in Logan where her remained for his following years.

Member of the City Council (1912 - 1914)

Richmond Library

In June 1912, Herbert A. Adamson presented a petition signed by 67 individuals to the Richmond City Council about constructing a library in Richmond. An election was held about its construction and was in favor 95-12. The city appointed a Board of Directors for the library. Members were Charles Z. Harris, President; Mayor Samuel W. Hendricks, Vice-President; George G. Hendricks, Secretary, with other members James W. Funk, George M. Thomson, Thomas H. Merrill, and Herbert A. Adamson. The Board sent a letter to receive a grant to construct the library,1 asking for $10,000, but received only $8,000 for its construction, and was approved. The Richmond Carnegie Library was constructed in 1914.

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