age, but left after the first year and began to teach, at the same time studying divinity. He was ordained in 1832, and in 1833-'45 was pastor of the 1st Universalist society in Lowell, where his ministry was important in the history of Universalism in New England. During the crusade against Universalism, in 1840-'2, he established and edited in its defence the “Star of Bethlehem,” and with his co-worker, Rev. Abel C. Thomas, wrote the “Lowell Tracts” in the same interest. Mr. Thayer was called to a pastorate in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1845, where he edited the “Golden Rule” in the interest of the fraternity of Odd-Fellows. After six years he returned to his old parish in Lowell. In 1859 he became pastor of the Shawmut avenue church, Boston, which charge he resigned in 1867. In 1862 Dr. Thayer assumed the editorship of the “Universalist Quarterly,” which contains some of his most important literary work. He continued these labors, with an interval of travel in Europe and the East, until his last illness. He received the degree of D. D. from Tufts college in 1865, and he was for many years on the board of overseers of Harvard. Dr. Thayer was a biblical scholar of rare breadth, and a pioneer in Universalist literature. He wrote much verse that has never been collected, and published “Christianity against Infidelity” (Boston, 1833; enlarged, Cincinnati, 1849); “Bible Class Assistant” (Boston, 1840); “History of the Origin of Endless Punishment” (1855); “Theology of Universalism” (1862); and “Over the River” (1864).
THAYER, William Makepeace, author, b. in
Franklin, Mass., 23 Feb., 1820. He was gradu-
ated at Brown in 1843, studied theology, and was
settled over the orthodox Congregational church
at Ashland, Mass., in 1849-'57. In consequence of
a throat trouble he relinquished his pastorate, and
on his return to Franklin in 1858 devoted himself to
literary work. In 1857 and 1863 he was a member
of the legislature, and in 1860-'76 he was secretary
of the Massachusetts temperance alliance. He has
written many religious and juvenile books, the first
of which was published in 1852. In "The Bobbin
Boy" (Boston, 1859) he originated the conversa-
tional style, and its success was so great that he
wrote his succeeding biographies in dialogue.
After "The Pioneer Boy" (1863) was published,
the same style was adopted by other writers. His
most popular works are a series of biographies (10
vols., Boston, 1859-63) ; ".Youth's History of the
Rebellion "(4 vols., 1863-'5); "White House Se-
ries " (1880-5) ; and " Marvels of the New West "
(Norwich, 1887). Nearly 1,000,000 copies of his
works have been sold, " From Log-Cabin to the
White House " exceeding 300,000 copies, two thirds
of them being sold in Europe. " The Poor Boy
and Merchant Prince " (Boston, 1858), " The Good
Girl and True Woman" (1859), "The Pioneer
Boy," " Tact, Push, and Principle " (Boston, 1880).
" From Pioneer Home to the White House " (Nor-
wich, 1882), and "From Tannery to the White
House " (Boston, 1885), have each reached 50,000
copies. Many have been republished in England,
and some have been translated into German, French,
Italian, Greek, Swedish, and Hawaiian. Mr. Thayer
has also edited the " Home Monthly "and " Moth-
er's Assistant " (Boston).
THEAKER, Thomas Clarke, commissioner of
patents, b. in York County, Pa., 1 Feb., 1812; d.
in Oakland, Md., 16 July, 1883. He received a
good English education, removed to Bridgeport,
Ohio, in 1830, and was principally occupied as a
machinist and millwright. He served in congress
as a Republican in 1859-'61, and was an unsuccessful
candidate for the ensuing congress. He was
made a member of a board of commissioners who
were appointed to investigate the workings of the
patent-office, and was afterward made by President
Johnson commissioner of patents, serving
from 17 Aug., 1865 till 6 June, 1868.
THEBAUD, Augustine J. (tay-bo), clergy-
man, b. in Brittany in 1807; d. in Fordham, X. Y,
17 Dec, 1885. He studied for the priesthood, and
after his ordination was for several years engaged
in missionary work in Brittany. He afterward
went to Rome and entered the Society of Jesus.
In 1838 he came to the United States and was ap-
pointed professor in St. Mary's college, Ky., where
he remained until that institution passed from the
control of the Jesuits in 1845. He then taught
physics and mathematics in St. John's college,
Fordham, of which he was president in 1846-'52.
He was then made pastor of St. Joseph's church,
Troy, where he began his investigations in Irish
history. He was afterward transferred to New
York, where he continued the same line of research,
the result of which was the publication of " The
Irish Race," a work that placed him in the first
rank as a philosophic historian, and of which Dr.
Orestes A. Brownson wrote that it had caused him
to change life-long opinions on questions of para-
mount importance in the philosophy of history.
Father Thebaud went to Canada, where he re-
mained a year, and then returned to New York.
The rest of his life was spent in missionary labors
and literary pursuits. He was a frequent con-
tributor to Roman Catholic periodicals. Besides
the work already mentioned he published "Gen-
tilism"; "The Church and the Moral World";
and " Twit-Twatso."
THEKAKISQUI, Iroquois chief, b. in central
New York in 1756; d. in 1802. Owing to his
bravery and skill in the use of arms and in hunt-
ing, he became a chief at the age of twenty. He
made several raids ou the Spanish colonies, and
rendered considerable assistance to the English in
the wars of the Revolution. He led a body of In-
dians into the Carolinas, devastated the country
with fire and sword, and brought back numerous
slaves into the Iroquois territory. He gave up part
of the lands of his tribe to the government of the
United States in 1794. Under his sway his people
turned their attention to agriculture, and made
some advances in civilization.
THELLER, Edward Alexander, journalist, b.
in Canada East about 1810; d. in Honitas, Cal.,
in 1859. He was graduated as a physician, and,
having actively participated in the Canadian re-
bellion of 1837, was arrested, tried, convicted, and
sentenced to death. Escaping from prison, he
came to this country, and, after residing in New
York in 1841-2, went to California in 1853, and
was editor of several newspapers. He was at one
time superintendent of public schools in San Fran-
cisco. He published "Canada in 1837-'8: Show-
ing the Causes of the Late Attempted Revolution
and its Failure " (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1841).
THEONDECHOREN, Joseph, Indian convert, d. near Tadoussac, Canada, 26 June, 1652. Previous to his conversion it is related that he could take live coals and red-hot pebbles in his hands and
mouth without sustaining any injury, and plunge his arm into boiling water, and he attributed this power to satanic influence. He became a Christian in 1641, and endeavored to imitate the missionaries in everything and conform to their mode of life.
The Jesuit relations contain extracts from sermons that he preached, which are remarkable for fervor and rude eloquence. He went with Father Jogues
