Denver County, History of Colorado, BIOS: THATCHER, Joseph Addison (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918)  Vol. II


p. 28, 30
photo p. 29


JOSEPH ADDISON THATCHER.

	Joseph Addison Thatcher, who passed away October 25, 1918, was 
chairman of the board of directors of the Denver National Bank and one 
of the earliest representatives of banking interests in Colorado, 
ranking with those whose activities have contributed in most 
substantial measure to the upbuilding and development of the state. 
Honored and respected by all, there was no man who occupied a more 
enviable position in business and financial circles, not alone by 
reason of the success he achieved but also owing to the 
straightforward, honorable business policy which he ever followed. 
Although in his eightieth year, he was active as a factor in the 
world's work up to the time of his death. He was born in Shelby county, 
Kentucky, on the 31st of July, 1838. He came of English ancestry, his 
grandfather having been John P. Thatcher, a native of England, who in 
the early part of the eighteenth century settled in Virginia. His 
father, John Pemberton Thatcher, was born in 1789 and served as a 
soldier in the War of 1812. He married Patsy Hickman, of Frankfort, 
Kentucky, the daughter of W. H. and Patsy Hickman, representatives of 
an old Cavalier family prominent in Virginia during colonial days, the 
ancestral home being established in Spottsylvania county, Virginia. 
Early in the nineteenth century John Pemberton Thatcher, then a young 
man, crossed the Blue Ridge mountains to become a resident of Kentucky, 
and it was subsequent to that time that he married.

	Joseph Addison Thatcher acquired his preliminary education in the 
country schools of Shelby county, Kentucky, and afterward pursued a 
course in commercial law, banking and bookkeeping in Jones Commercial 
College of St. Louis, Missouri. In 1849 his parents removed with their 
family to that state, settling at Independence, where Joseph A. 
Thatcher afterward accepted a clerkship in the store of his uncle, 
there remaining for two years. In 1858 he was elected assistant 
secretary of the state senate of Missouri. He was twenty-two years of 
age when in 1860 he removed westward to Colorado, establishing his home 
in Central City. Five years later, or in 1865, he was married in 
Central City to Miss Frances Kintley, of St. Louis.

	With his removal to Colorado, Mr. Thatcher turned his attention 
to commercial pursuits and found that his former experience in his 
uncle's store now proved of great worth to him in the conduct of his 
independent mercantile venture. He also became identified with mining 
while a resident of Central City, but in 1863 made his initial step in 
the field of-banking through accepting the appointment of cashier and 
manager of the banking house of Warren Hussey & Company, in which 
connection he conducted the business until 1870. He then. purchased the 
bank and in connection with Mr. Standley, a successful gold miner, 
established the firm of Thatcher, Standley & Company, Mr. Thatcher 
becoming president, while Frank C. Young was chosen cashier. On the 1st 
of January, 1874, the bank was converted into the First National Bank 
of Central City, Mr. Thatcher becoming president, with Otto Sauer as 
the vice president. Success attended the new organization and under Mr. 
Thatcher's competent direction the bank became a strong moneyed 
institution of that section of the state. He resigned the presidency in 
1882 and removed to Denver, where he has since made his home. He at 
that time retired from active business and he spent the greater part of 
the years 1883 and 1884 in travel through Great Britain and on the 
continent of Europe. But indolence and idleness were utterly foreign to 
his nature and with his return to his native land he again became an 
active factor in business circles, organizing in December, 1884, the 
Denver National Bank, of which he was chosen president. The consensus 
of opinion on the part of the banking fraternity of Denver is that Mr. 
Thatcher was a man of fine physique and agreeable personality, with an 
air of refinement which seemed reminiscent of his southern ancestors. 
As a banker he was a man of sound common sense, quick perceptions and 
good executive ability. He was a very positive man and had the 
remarkable grasp of business affairs which is so essential to safe 
banking. When obliged to refuse credit, his frankness in giving his 
reasons retained the friendship and goodwill of the customer. He was 
public spirited and always interested in the movements and social life 
of his city and state. He was very charitable but his giving was always 
in a quiet and unostentatious way. The Denver National Bank as it 
exists today is largely a monument to the enterprise, foresight and 
business ability of Mr. Thatcher, who remained chairman of its board of 
directors until his death.

	Important and extensive as were his business connections, Mr. 
Thatcher never allowed the accumulation of wealth to monopolize his 
time and attention to the exclusion of other interests which make for a 
well-rounded development and for public progress. He was well known as 
a discriminating critic and a devotee of both art and music and he ever 
greatly enjoyed travel. He published a volume entitled "A Colorado 
Outing," which is of much interest to those who have visited the state. 
He was a generous contributor to musical organizations of Denver and 
was a patron of all those interests and activities which are of 
cultural value to the city or which led to its substantial improvement 
and upbuilding. His life was indeed of great worth and although he 
passed his eightieth milestone, in spirit and interests he seemed yet 
in his prime, retaining an active interest in all that had to do with 
Denver's welfare and improvement and with national progress and 
advancement.