Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Thacher, George I. 1877 - living in 1917 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com July 21, 2005, 5:03 am Author: B. F. Bowen GEORGE I. THACHER, M. D. Among the well-known and prominent residents of Marshall county, is Dr. George I. Thacher, who was born in Hornell, New York, on April 17, 1877, the son of Safford M. and Sarah (Langworthy) Thacher. Safford M. Thacher was born on December 21, 1834, in Hornell, New York, where he received his primary education in the public schools and grew to manhood. After he had completed his common-school work he entered the Alfred University, from which institution he was later graduated. As a lad he had a taste of pioneer life in his native state, but received a splendid education. In 1856 he came to Kansas during the time of the fierce agitation on the slavery question. He and his brother, Dwight, established themselves in the printing business, and published the Lawrence Republican, a strong anti-slavery paper, and developed strong opposition. Their lives were even in danger on account of their opposition to the extension of slavery. At the time of the Quantrel raid in August, 1863, the brother, Dwight, was at Kansas City as editor of the Journal, but S. M. Thacher was in Lawrence and came near losing his life when the printing plant was destroyed by fire, started by the raiders. After the destruction of the plant the two brothers joined forces at Kansas City and the Republican plant was not rebuilt. After the close of the Civil War, Mr. Thacher returned to Hornell, New York, where on October 25, 1865, he was united in marriage to Louise Langworthy, and to this union four children were born: Frank Eugene, of Salina, Kansas; Dr. Mowry Safford Thacher, of Turon, Kansas; Dr. George Isaac Thacher and one that died in infancy. Mr. Thacher was a man possessed of much public spirit and took a lively interest in all that would tend to elevate and inspire a better life. During the time Grant was President he served as postmaster of Hornell. In 1885 Safford M. Thacher returned to Kansas and with his family established their home on a farm near Topeka. After three years of farm life Mr. Thacher moved to Lawrence, where he became associated with the Western Farm Mortgage Company and remained with the firm until 1892, at which time he accepted a position with the City Real Estate Trust Company of Topeka and moved to that city. His wife, who was born in 1834, died in 1898, and after the death of Mrs. Thacher, he was married to Kate Lewis, of Hudson, Wisconsin, who died at Waterville five years later. Mr. Thacher spent much of his time at Blue Rapids and at Waterville with his sons, and died at the home of his son, George I., on November 19, 1911. During his residence at Waterville the people of the city entertained a high regard for him. He kept well posted on current events, and up to the time of his death he was interested in political affairs. Much of the time of his later years was devoted to the collecting and recording of interesting data of the Thacher family, whose history is traceable for many generations. The father of the first Thacher who came to America, was the Rev. Peter Thacher, who was minister at Salem, England, in 1620, and the son became pastor of the old South church at Boston, and it seems evident from family records that for more than a century and a half there was a continuous line of Thachers in the Congregational ministry of Massachusetts. In a sermon over the remains of Judge Otis Thacher, of Hornell, in 1868 the minister said, "Mr. Thacher s ancestry for two and a half centuries, at least, were puritans and Congregationalists, and thus they have become in America a part of that powerful influence that has helped so much in making this a Christian nation." Safford M. Thacher early in life became a member of the Congregational church. At Lawrence he was associated with Dr. Richard Cordely in his Christian work, with its humble beginning. At Kansas City, what is now a great consolidated Congregational church, was in 1863 a weak struggling organization, but it had in the Thacher Brothers a good foundation and strong support. Mr. Thacher often said that in those days, his brother, Dwight, and family and himself made up the congregation. When he located at Waterville, he transferred his membership from the Congregational church at Topeka to the English Lutheran church of that place, and when his health permitted he was a regular attendant at all church services. Dr. George I. Thacher received his primary education in the district schools of Kansas, after which he entered the public schools of Lawrence. He then attended the high school of Monte Vista, Colorado. In 1893 he completed a course in the Strickler Business College at Topeka. After completing his education he was employed by the City Real Estate Trust Company and the Shawnee Milling Company, as stenographer. In 1898 he entered the Medical College at Topeka and completed his work in 1902 and since 1903 has been actively engaged in the general practice at Waterville, where he has met with much success. In 1903 Doctor Thacher was united in marriage to Lucy Knowles, a native of Topeka, the daughter of C. O. and Rebecca (Holmes) Knowles. Her father was born at Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 1843. There he received his education in the public schools and there he lived until he was seventeen years of age, when he came to Kansas, and was for a number of years engaged in driving an ox team from Leavenworth to Denver, Colorado, being engaged in the freighting business. His trips took him through Marshall county, but he had never seen Marysville until Doctor Thacher took him there some time before his death, which occurred in 1916. For many years Mr. Knowles was engaged successfully in the real-estate business at Topeka and was one of the progressive and prominent men of the community. His widow is now living at Topeka at the age of sixty-four years. They were the parents of five children, George, who died in New Mexico in July, 1916; Katherine, the wife of J. A. Cole, superintendent of the bridge and iron works at Topeka; Charles; Lucy, the wife of Doctor Thacher and one that died in infancy. Mrs. Thacher received her education in the public schools of Topeka, and is a graduate of Washington College at Washington, D. C. She then took a course in kindergarten at Kansas City, Missouri, after which she taught for one year before her marriage. She and Doctor Thacher are the parents of three children, Rebecca L., Philip L. and Luin K., they being twelve, ten and seven years of age respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Thacher are prominent in social life of the community and are held in the highest regard. Doctor Thacher has long been identified with the Republican party and has ever taken the keenest interest in local affairs. In 1907 he was elected a member of the council of Waterville and served for two terms, and was then elected mayor, which position he held for two terms. During his term of office the electric lights and waterworks were installed and many other substantial improvements were made, that have added much to the beauty and importance of the city. The Doctor is progressive and is an advocate of the highest class of public improvements. He is a firm believer in the best schools possible and the building of good roads, for in these he feels that much of the future depends. He served as county health officer for four years, and his term of office was regarded as successful. To him the health department, if rightly conducted, is of the greatest importance. Fraternally, Doctor Thacher is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and has held all the offices in the local organization. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He takes much interest in the conduct of these orders. Few men in the community have met with more success in their chosen work and few are held in higher regard. He and his wife are active members of the Evangelical church; they take much interest in all church work and are liberal supporters of the local society. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions by Emma E. Forter Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/thacher11bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/ksfiles/ File size: 8.8 Kb