Thompson ( brother of William George Thompson ) was born near Butler , Pennsylvania . He attended the common schools and Witherspoon Institute . He studied law , was admitted to the bar in 1854 and began practice in Butler . He was a member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives in 1859 and 1860 , and served one year as speaker . He entered the Union Army during the American Civil War and served as major and subsequently as lieutenant colonel of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment , Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry . He was a delegate to the 1868 Republican National Convention
1868 Republican National Convention
1868 Republican National Convention
John McCandless Thompson