Oscar Thompson was born in 1860 in Beloit to Mr. & Mrs. John Thompson, early settlers to Beloit and John the founder of Thompson Plow Works.

Oscar attended Beloit schools, graduated from Beloit High School in 1877 and attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. When he returned to Beloit in 1880 following a European tour, he went into his father’s business and continued in that capacity until the company ceased operations in 1918.

Oscar Thompson was very active in community affairs. He served 40 years on the Beloit Library board, 25 years as vestryman of St. Paul’s Episcopal church and 18 years on the Beloit school board during a period of much expansion in the school population. His residence on Bluff street was a well-known landmark for a number of years. Oscar died in 1958.