Thayer, John

THAYER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 20:27:00

John Thayer

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.483)
JOHN THAYER, a well known and prominent farmer of Washington Township, was born near Brookville, Indiana, in July 1825, son of Noah THAYER, a native of New Hampshire. His grandfather was a teamster in the Revolutionary War, and at one time had his wagon riddled with bullets, and also had a narrow escape. The mother of our subject was Hannah (REED) THAYER, who was born in Vermont. John THAYER was eight years of age when his parents moved to Marion County, Indiana, where the mother died at the age of sixty-five years. The father also died in his sixty-fifth year. They reared a family of three children, all of whom grew to maturity, but our subject is the only one now living. The father was a farmer during his whole life, and in his political views was a Whig.

John THAYER, our subject, was reared on a farm in Indiana, and was early taught to chop wood and grub and clear the land, which formed the foundation of his future successful life. He remained in his native state until 1856, when he came by wagon to Iowa, settling in Jefferson County, where he was among the early settlers and where he remained five years. Next, in 1861, he went to Monroe County, remaining five years; in 1870 he moved to Mills County, where he lived until 1876, and in that year he came to Pottawattamie County, settling on a farm near Council Bluffs. In 1878 he came to his present farm, which was then wild land, but which he has since improved until he now has 360 acres of well cultivated land.

Mr. THAYER was married when he was twenty-six years of age, to Margaret SPLENFIELD, and by this union there were two children: Hiram, who resides in this county; and Lucy Ann, the wife of Scott SNEATHER, who lives in Troy, Kansas. After the death of his first wife, he was again married in Hamilton County, Indiana, to Tamar MICHENER, daughter of Thomas and Susan (PHIPPS) MICHENER, natives of Pennsylvania. By this marriage, there are five children, viz.: George A., who is married and resides on the farm; Hattie, wife of James TOOLEY, of Neola; Luel, wife of Frank CLEVELAND of Washington Township; J.W. THAYER, who is in partnership with George THAYER in the management of the farm. Politically, Mr. THAYER is a Republican, having voted that ticket since 1856. Mrs. THAYER is a member of the Evangelical Church.