Rev. John Roddick Thompson, D.D. When John Roddick Thompson D.C. died of acute dysentery on Feb. 19th, 1898 in Manila during the Spanish American War, General Otis telegraphed the U.S. War Department in Washington D.C. a brief account of his death. A telegram was then sent to Governor Rogers of Washington State by assistant Adjutant General Schwan of the War Department. Governor Rogers at once transmitted a message to the Legislature asking that body to honor by appropriate resolution the memory of the deceased officer of the first Washington Volunteers.

The Reverend John Roddick Thompson D.D. was one of the best known clergymen of Washington [state]. In 1870 he was called to the Pastorate of the little Presbyterian Church of Olympia from Halifax, Nova Scotia where he was ordained in1868. He was born in Liverpool, England of Scottish parentage, has ancestors having been active in the stirring events on the Scottish border 500 years ago. A family tradition gives one of them the honor of being dubbed (knighted) by the Knightly Robert Bruce for his gallant service in the Battle of Bannockburn.

The prince of pulpit orator Reverend Edward Irving, the Friend of Carlyle, was one of the same family. The father and grandfather of Dr. Thompson were Scottish Presbyterian Ruling Elders.

-- From an account in an Olympia, Washington newspaper.