Henry County AlArchives Biographies.....Thrasher, John T. 1846 - living in 1893
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Ann Anderson alabammygrammy@aol.com May 27, 2004, 2:48 pm

Author: Brant & Fuller (1893)
    JOHN T. THRASHER, stock dealer and general business man of Dothen, Ala., was
born in Newton county, Ga., in 1846, and grew to manhood on his father's farm,
following the plow eleven consecutive years. At the age of fifteen he moved with
his parents to Florida, they settling in Lake City, Columbia county. Here Mr.
Thrasher reached mature years, and after his marriage in Georgia, returned to
his home in Florida, and residing there a short time removed to Thomas county,
Ga., and followed farming there a year and a half. In 1871 he moved to Brooks
county, Ga., and settled in the thriving town of Quitman, where he engaged to
work in a livery stable at one dollar per day. By paying strict attention to
business, and by the use of good judgment, he soon got his wages raised to $150
per month, and in time bought out the business, which he continued to manage as
proprietor for twenty years. In 1873 he was elected sheriff of Brooks county,
and held the office eight years. He was also, during the same eight years, chief
of police of the town of Quitman. In 1889 he began the sale of horses and mules
in the village of Dothen, bringing large herds and cargoes of stock from Texas
and other places. It was not long before the business justified an established
base of operations, and he accordingly purchased a large barn and started a
livery and sale stable. Soon, however, he abandoned the livery portion of his
business, and devoted his attention exclusively to the importation and sale of
stock. In this line he has ever since continued with success. In 1890 Mr.
Thrasher moved his family to Dothen, and in the early part of 1892 he erected
his present handsome residence on Foster street, one of the thoroughfares of the
city. This new residence is a thirteen-room structure, standing on spacious
grounds, is complete in all its appointments and is one of the handsomest
residences in the city. Mr. Thrasher was married in 1868 to Miss Ophelia
Reynolds, daughter of Capt. Monroe Reynolds, who was a farmer in Georgia. Capt.
Reynolds enlisted in the Confederate service at the first call and went, out as
captain in the Fourth Georgia, fought gallantly for the southern cause, and lost
his life at Kemple Gap, Ga., in 1864. Mrs. Reynolds was married first in her
sixteenth year, and after her husband's death, she was married to James Jones in
1869, a prominent citizen of Georgia, and with him she spent the rest of her
life. Miss Ophelia Reynolds was born in Jackson county, Ga., and taking
advantage of her opportunities, she was educated as well as she could be under
the circumstances by which she was surrounded. In addition to the ordinary
education given girls, she took a short college course. She was married in her
seventeenth year, and is now the mother of six children, all of whom survive,
viz.: Jessie M., wife of Wallace M. Hunter, residing at Catskill, N. Y.; James
M., married Miss Maggie Barnes, who died August 8, 1892, leaving one child; Anna
B.; Miss Johnnie T.; Mary L.; Barbour D., and Jelks. Mrs. Thrasher is of
sterling worth, and to her far-sighted economical methods and sound judgment Mr.
Thrasher attributes a large share of his success in life. Early in life she
joined the Methodist Episcopal church, south, and she has ever since lived a
consistent, Christian life. She takes active interest in all church and
charitable work, and in this work she has the sympathy and assistance of her
family. Mr. Thrasher is the son of James C. and Nancy (Travis) Thrasher, the
former of whom was born in 1826, in Newton county, Ga., where he grew to manhood
on a farm. He was married in Henry county, Ga., and became a stock raiser and
trader, When the war broke out he raised a company and went into the field as
its captain, the company becoming a portion of the Thirty-eighth Georgia
infantry, and being assigned to the army of northern Virginia. He served until
failing health compelled him to resign, and he then removed his family to
Florida and subsequently joined James Dunham's artillery coast guards, and
served in that arm of the service until the close of the war. After the war he
continued farming and gradually turned his attention to dealing in live stock.
This he continued until near the time of his death, which occurred September 23,
1879. His wife was born in Henry county, Ga., and was married in her fifteenth
year. She became the mother of six children, three of whom now survive. She was
the daughter of James Travis, who was one of the early settlers of the state.
She died September 21, 1858. Mr. Thrasher, since locating in Dothen, has been
one of the most enterprising and progressive citizens, and has contributed
largely to the building of churches, and high school building. He erected in
1891, in company with Mr. McKinsey, a large two-story brick store room, with
offices above. This building occupies a prominent corner in the city, and is
really the commercial center of the place. He also erected another store
building near the first, which he still owns. He also owns other valuable
property, both business and residence. In June, 1892, he lost by fire his wooden
sale stable, and is now (1892) replacing it with a handsome brick structure,
60x80 feet in size, in which his son-in-law, Mr. Hunter, is partner. Mr.
Thrasher now owns nearly 1,000 acres of land near the city of Dothen. During the
fire panic of 1891, Mr. Thrasher was the only man in Dothen the insurance
companies would carry. During the summer of 1892 he was engaged in securing the
right of way for a railroad in Georgia, in which he was unusually successful. A
brother of Mr. Thrasher is now sheriff of Brooks county, Ga. John J. Thrasher,
an uncle of Mr. Thrasher, was one of the early settlers of Georgia. He lived in
the early days on the present site of the city of Atlanta, and cultivated it as
a farm. For many years Peach Tree street was the path which his cows followed to
the spring. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Thrasher, James Thrasher, was a
native of Georgia, and participated in the war of 1812, and also aided in
quelling the numerous Indian outbreaks that occurred in the early days: John T..
Thrasher has been a Mason since 1877, and he is a member of the following
orders: The Knights of Pythias, the R. A. C., and the C. O. T. He is also a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, south. Mr. Thrasher is a courteous,
dignified, civil, typical southern gentleman, and. has the respect of the entire
country.




Additional Comments:
from "Memorial Record of Alabama", Vol. I, p. 1120-1122
Published by
Brant & Fuller (1893)
Madison, WI

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