Thayer, William Henry 1843 – 1897

THAYER, ALEXANDER, RICHARDS, MORGAN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/23/2013 at 16:46:26

Source: The Howard County Times January 13, 1897 – Lead Page

THAYER – William Henry Thayer, Jan. 9, 1897, Aged 54 years and 9 months
Born April 27, 1843, at Rockton, Ill.

Mr. Thayer was unloading hay from a wagon with a hay fork into his barn, the trip rope broke as he pulled it and he fell to the frozen ground upon his back crushing his skull, death resulting instantly.

Few men were better known in Howard county than Henry Thayer, having been a resident since 1856, coming here at the age of 13 with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John F. Thayer. Deceased was married to Miss Augusta Alexander. In March, 1866, Mrs. Thayer and babe were buried in one grave. In 1868 he was married to Miss Maggie Richards.

They had three children, little Bertie died in 1878, at an early age, with diphtheria. Lillian Morgan, of Cresco and little Carl, with the bereaved wife, mourn the loss of an affectionate father and husband. He was a man of genial and generous impulses, imparting cheer by his cordial manner; he was a tender and efficient nurse in sickness, as many of his neighbors gratefully testify. During many years of patient and extreme toil he accumulated a competence, but is cut off from its enjoyment in age by transition to that realm where rest eternal is promised. He united with the Cresco M. E. Church in 1888. Rev. Shaffer conducted the funeral services at the home. Mrs. Moon, Miss Mamie Garrett, Wm. Patterson and Chas. Burgess sang very impressively.

In Howard Center Cemetery the lifeless form was laid; but none of the loved ones think of him there, but in that brightest of homes above, where he is viewing the marvels of Heaven.

His mother, one sister and brother were at the funeral, one sister was too ill to attend, and his daughter was detained by the serious illness of her baby.

Transcribed from a newspaper clipping submitted by Janice Sowers.

Added by Joy Moore Sept. 11, 2017

Iowa Plain Dealer January 12, 1897, FP, C7

Fatal Accident.
William Henry Thayer fell from a load of hay at his farm in Howard Center and was instantly killed, Saturday morning. He was engaged in unloading hay using a hay-fork, the trip rope breaking, he seems to have lost his balance and fell upon the frozen ground with sufficient violence to cause instant death. John Miller, who was in the barn at work, seeing but one forkfull of hay discharged, came around to see what was the trouble, finding Mr. Thayer as stated above. The deceased was a native of Illinois, born in 1842, and with his parents became one of the earliest settlers of Howard county, locating at Howard Center as early as 1856. He was united in marriage with Maggie Richards in 1868, who with two children remain to mourn their irreparable loss. The eldest, Lillie K., is the wife of Herbert E. Morgan, and resides adjoining Cresco, where Mrs. Thayer was when the sad news came. The younger child is a son in his teens. Mr. Thayer was a frugal, industrious, honest man, without an enemy in the world. He had by his industry accumulated a handsome property, two miles from Bonair. With the family and friends thus suddenly bereft of husband, father, brother, in common with the entire people of the county do, we deplore their sorrowful affliction. The funeral will be from the family residence to-day.

Source: Decorah Republican Jan. 14, 1897 P 3 C 2

Fatal Accident.
Cresco Plain Dealer:—William Henry Thayer fell from a load of hay at his farm in Howard Center and was instantly killed, Saturday morning. He was engaged in unloading hay, using a hay fork. The trip rope breaking, he seems to have lost his balance and fell upon the frozen ground with sufficient violence to cause instant death. John Miller, who was in the barn at work, seeing but one forkfull of hay discharged, came around to see what was the trouble, finding Mr. Thayer as stated above.

Howard Center Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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