Obituary of Rev Erastus William Thayer, Crawford County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 2000 Cindy McCachern From the Robinson Argus, 25 January 1973   Old Crawford County by Chris H. Bailey   Rev. Erastus William Thayer   Rev. Erastus William Thayer, son of Joseph Thayer and Susannah Connor, was born June 7, 1812, in Massachusetts.  His father, Joseph Thayer was a 7th generation descendant of Richard Thayer, a pioneer settler of Braintree, Massachusetts, and who became a freeman there in 1640. Joseph Thayer moved his family to Springfield, Illinois between about 1830 and 1833 where he was a merchant and banker.   Erastus W. Thayer was educated at Amherst College and graduated from there in 1831.  He finished his theological studies at Andover Seminary (Massachusetts) and was ordained a Presbyterian clergyman in 1840. Soon after that he settled in Palestine where he met and married Angeline Alexander, daughter of John Caldwell Alexander and Nancy Wilson.  They were married in Palestine by J. P. Bennett, June 28, 1843.   Book "A" of Crawford County marriages show Rev. Thayer performing a number of marriages between June 3, 1840, and January 2, 1845.  Not long after this date, they settled in Chatham, Illinois, where he was pastor over the Presbyterian church.  Here they were living in 1874. Angeline was born May 30, 1825, in Palestine, Illinois.  She and Erastus had the following children:   1.  Joseph Alexander Thayer, b. July 4, 1845. 2.  Genevie Thayer, b. Sept. 22, 1848; d. September 20, 1849. 3.  Ellen Genevie Thayer, b. May 2, 1851; d. February 12, 1853. 4.  Charles Edward Thayer, b. April 29, 1858; d. January 17, 1861. 5.  Ida Frances Thayer, b. September 7, 1860. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb Archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Cindy McCachern