Clark W. Thompson

Clark W. Thompson (1825–1885) was a Canadian who served in the Minnesota State Senate, and the territorial House and Council for Minnesota Territory.

Personal life Thompson was born at in Lincoln, Ontario in Canada on July 23, 1825 . After finishing government service in 1872, he retired to Wells, Minnesota where he owned a farm. Thompson served in the position as senator for the remainder of the term until January 1, 1872.

In 1863, Thompson arranged the removal of the Dakota and Ho-Chunk people to the Crow Creek reservation in South Dakota. The land he selected was dry, lacked game for hunting, and was not well suited for people accustomed to a woodland terrain. For six weeks after their arrival at Crow Creek, three or four people died every day from starvation or disease.

The people working above and below Thompson often sought political and business favors. They also encouraged Thompson to commit fraud, and he often went along. In 1863, he led a disastrous campaign to send goods from Mankato to the Dakota and Ho-Chunk at Crow Creek. The plan, called the Moscow Expedition by local papers, allowed Thompson to award lucrative contracts to business partners but delayed the delivery of food. Meanwhile, he ignored the dire situation of the people living at Crow Creek.

At the time, the government largely overlooked Thompson’s corrupt conduct. In 1861, special agent George E. H. Day accused Thompson of fraud in letter to President Lincoln that went ignored. Two years later, in a letter to Senator Henry M. Rice, Bishop Henry B. Whipple noted that Thompson brought $12,000 in gold to the Ojibwe annuity payment, but only $5,500 was paid.

Legacy Thompson is the namesake of Clark Township, Faribault County, Minnesota and Fort Thompson, South Dakota.