Dan Tompkins was born in Webster, NC in 1890. He graduated from high school in Waynesville and studied law at Wake Forest College. The Jackson County Journal started up in 1906, and Tompkins became its editor in chief in 1912. He served in the military in 1917 and 1918 during World War I (“Special Collections”), during which time he was part of the offensive that broke the Hindenburg line at Ballicourt, France (Jackson County Genealogical Society). After his honorable discharge, Tompkins returned to his job at the Journal and was elected Mayor of Sylva (Austin). He was Jackson County’s representative to the General Assembly in 1933, 1939, and 1943.This letter is a request of Tompkins to sign his name on behalf of someone seeking a loan.