J. F. Bishop came to the county in 1853 and preempted the land where Thayer is situated in 1855. The town is located on the C.B.&Q. Railroad in Union Co., 2 miles west of the Clarke County line. The early inhabitants were largely from Ohio originally. The town is situated on a gentle slope raising from the valley of four mile creek. The site was selected as a railroad station by D. N. Smith in June 1867 but was not laid out until Oct, 1868. James H, Reed erected the first house in October 1868. John Daley and John McGowan came about this time and purchased lots of C. E. Perkins who represented the railroad interests. In 1869 the remaining lots in the town site were purchased by L. A. Willard, A. Downing, E. W. Clark and O. B. Gibson all of Boone, Iowa, and James Brogan was also one of the first residents.

Early merchants of Thayer were — Gibson & Clark, Barnum & Raymond, LaFavre & Atkinson, James Griffin, R. H. Atkinson, & George Gay. The first hotel was run by J. C. Lucas. The first physician located in Thayer in 1870 and was Dr. A. J. Guthrie. James Evans, J. F. Patchin, M. B. Coltraine and W. A. Wright also practiced in Thayer during the years.

Thayer was incorporated in 1894. The first mayor was F. Hendricks, the first recorder was Louis Gibson, councilmen, Jackson, Glynn, Wenger, Burd, Gibson and Bolinger.

The first child born in Thayer was Charles M. Daly.

In 1907 Thayer had an independent school and two churches, the Christian and Methodist, (still in existence). It was also well represented in mercantile and industrial enterprizes, as well as having four telephone lines, a telegraph station. There were masonic and I.0.0.F. orders.

In 1917 Thayer had a large fire that practically gutted the town. Flames started from an oil tank explosion and with no fire protection the town was doomed. The west side business houses all burned. The buildings destroyed were — Shields Hardware, McGuire merchandise and restaurant, the U.S. post office, Nellie Northup's Stationery, Garretts Feed Store, Brinegar Cafe, Optician and Jewelry, Bevens Barber Shop, W. T. Sandquist, General Merchandise Store, Pratt and Zohlers Garage, Claude Seeley's Auto house and Barn. The Thayer Bank building was in danger of being destroyed but was saved. The lumber yard was also saved.

As Thayer celebrates its 100th year we find it has gone the way of many small towns. There are two businesses remaining —Seeleys Grocery Store and Frank Browns Station. The school was caught up in the reorganization of the E. Union Schools in the early 1960's. It is currently being used for a grade school only. One church remains — the Methodist.

Street car in Thayer????

Schoolhouse

First Bank of Thayer

Post Office 1912