I note in the book of yarns that you may want to hold them until you write a book and then use them. It may be that you will want to bring me into your book. I have no objections. If that is the case you may want a short outline of my life. Here goes.
Deathbed Letters: The Meekest Man
At the end of 1906 I went to N.Y. to be a big shot on Wall Street and found that to be a big shot I had to have a butler. So I got one.
Deathbed Letters: Coming to Blows
I was free to run around City hall where I met an “expug” who was City Jailer. He taught me to punch bag and the manly art of self-defense.
Deathbed Letters: The Near Killing of Uncle Bill
Having a lot of time on my hands, am writing you a lot of old time experiences. This is about a near killing of your Uncle Bill.
Deathbed Letters: The Young Swede
Dear Bill: The old red blood count has not gone up yet so still have to stay in bed so another laugh for you if you can find it. Your Uncle Will [William Boyce Thompson] and I put on our skis at the old Boulder Chief mine to go to the Basin to spend Xmas […]
Legendary Frontiersman William Thompson Lost Everything–Several Times
In 1859, William Thompson won an important commission to build a government fort and houses in Yankton, then the extreme frontier of the Northwest Territory. Unfortunately, before the young frontiersman could get paid for his work tragedy struck: Indians burned the buildings. The situation left the 21-year-old penniless. It wouldn’t be the first time. An unusual number of financial tragedies befell the hard-working William Thompson […]