59 8 THAVKR. THAYER. Kansas conflict : " It far surpasses in moral grandeur the whole war of the revolution." Later he said : " Kansas was made free by Eli Thayer's new science of emigration, in which capital precedes the emigrant," and he declared " the state of Kansas should be named 'Thayer'." Mr. Thayer has just published " The Kansas Crusade," giving a full account of his Kansas work (Harper & Brothers, New York, 18S9). Edward Everett Hale, who wrote the intro- duction, says : " This emigration at that time would have been impossible but for Eli Thayer. The first result was civil war in Kansas ; the second was the success of the free state settlers ; the third was the election of Abraham Lincoln." Mr. Thayer is a lineal descendant in the sixth generation from John Alden, of the " Mayflower," and also in thesixth genera- tion from Thomas Thayer, of Braintree (1640). THAYER, JOHN R., son of MowryR. and Harriet (Morse) Thayer, was born in Douglass, Worcester county, March 9, 1845. His early school days were passed in the common schools of Douglass. He attended Nichols Academy, Dudley, where he fitted for Yale, graduating therefrom in the class of 1869. He afterward studied law in the office of Judge Henry Chapin, Worcester, and was admitted to the bar in 1871. He then formed a co-partnership in the practice of law with S. A. Tingier in Web- ster, 1873, and the next year entered into co-partnership with VV. A. Williams, Wor- cester. The latter partnership existed until 1882, since which time he has been alone in business. Mr. Thayer was married in Worcester, January 30, 1873, to Charlotte H., daugh- ter of Pitt and Diana (Perrin) Holmes. Of this union are five children : Henry Holmes, John Mowry, Charlotte Diana, Marguerite Elizabeth, and Mary Perrin Thayer. Mr. Thayer has been a member of the common council, Worcester, four years ; a member of the board of aldermen four years ; a trustee of Worcester city hos- pital six years ; trustee of Nichols Acad- emy twelve years, and a member of its examining committee eight years. He was a representative to the General Court two years (18S0 and '82), serving on the judi- ciary committee. He was a candidate for district attorney, and also for mayor of Worcester, polling the largest vote ever cast for a defeated candidate for this office. The district and the city, however, are overwhelmingly Republican in their political majorities, which even the unquestioned integrity, ability, and popularity of Mr. Thayer were insufficient to overcome. He has long been a prominent and active leader of his party, and his services are continuously called into requisition, not only in his own county, but throughout the State. Mr. Thayer has acquired an enviable reputation as counsel and advocate in criminal causes, his talents being peculiarly adapted to the trial of cases before juries. THAYER, William Makepeace, son of Davis and Betsey Thayer, was born in Franklin, Norfolk county, February 23, 1820. His early education was received in the district schools. He also avers, "A good mother led, taught, and fashioned me." At fifteen years of age he entered Frank- lin Academy, and there fitted for college. WILLIAM M. THAYER. He entered Brown University, Provi- dence, R. I., 1839, and was graduated in the class of 1843. He afterward studied theology, with Rev. Jacob Ide, D. D., West Medway, and was licensed to preach in the spring of 1845. In June, 1848, he was ordained pastor of the Orthodox Con- gregational church, Ashland. He re- mained there eight years, and was then
