Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Henry W. Thayer
Portrait and Biographical
Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
HENRY W. THAYER, who owns a highly
cultivated farm on sections 17 and 20,
Lincoln Township, Dickinson County, was
born near Morris, Grundy County, Ill., on
the 6th of September, 1859. His father, Hiram
Thayer, who lives on section 17, Lincoln Township,
was born in Highland County, Ohio, near
Hillsboro, January 16, 1825, and was a son of Joseph
and Kittie Ann Thayer, the former a native
of Connecticut. His mother died when he
was only three years old. On attaining his majority,
Hiram Thayer married Miss Harriet Kelley,
and they resided together as man and wife for
thirty-six years. In 1854, they removed to Illinois,
where the death of Mrs. Thayer occurred. Mr.
Thayer had learned the cabinet-maker's trade in
his youth, serving a five-year apprenticeship and
following it for sixteen years. After locating in
Illinois he gave his attention to farming. In
March, 1882, he came to Kansas and bought land
north of Solomon City. For four years he resided
upon the farm adjoining that which is now his
home, and removed to his present farm in January,
1891. He was again married, in Highland County,
Ohio, on the 20th of May, 1891, his second union
being with Miss Matilda E. Kelley, a relative
of his former wife. Mr. Thayer was a Douglas
Democrat until 1864 since which time he has been
a Republican.
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch
remained under the parental roof until twenty two
years of age. He afterward removed to Boone
County, Iowa, where he rented land and engaged
in farming. It was during his residence there
that, on the 4th of February, 1885, he led to the
marriage altar Miss Leona M. Frise, a native of
Livingston Country, Ill. The lady was born November
5, 1866, and is a daughter of Benjamin
and Mary (Austin) Frise, who removed to Iowa
when their daughter was a maiden of sixteen summers.
Mr. and Mrs. Thayer have one son. Burton,
who was born October 14, 1887, and is now five
years of age.
In his political affiliations our subject is a Republican
but does not take a very active part in
public affairs, preferring to devote his entire time
and attention to his business interests. He purchased
his present farm in March, 1891. It is a
valuable tract of one hundred and forty acres of
bottom land and is under a high state of cultivation,
yielding a golden tribute for the care and labor
bestowed upon it by the owner. An orchard
containing about one hundred and fifty fine bearing
apple trees is one of the excellent improvements
upon the place. Mr. Thayer is among the
latest arrivals in this community, but during his
short residence here his neighbors have recognized
his worth and he has thereby won many friends.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP