Otis H. Thayer - Biography

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This biography appears on pages 238 in "Soldiers' and Citizens'
Album of Biographical Record containing personal sketches of Army Men
and Citizens Prominent in loyalty to the Union"
Chicago, Illinois: Grand Army Publishing Company
Published in 1890

Otis H. Thayer, Palmyra, Wis., member of G. A. R. Post No. 138, was born
at Salem, Washington Co., New York, Aug. 12, 1831. His parents, Ruel and
Mary (Williams) Thayer, were born respectively in Sturbridge, Worcester
Co., Mass., and in Whitesboro, New York. The father was a soldier in
1812 under Colonel Harkness; was a shoemaker by trade and removed with
his family to Waukesha county in 1843, and he took a farm from the
Government on which he died in 1847; the mother died Feb. 7, 1876. They
were the parents of seven children of whom five survive. The paternal
grandfather, Oliver Thayer, was a cabin boy on a British man-of-war
before coming to this country; he was a soldier under Putnam, and his
grandson has the old Queen Anne musket he carried in service. The
grandfather Williams came to the country in the course of the war, as a
British soldier, but being disgusted with a cause into which he had been
forced, and sympathizing with the colonists, he deserted and became the
first rebel in the family, fighting through the remainder of the contest
in the Continental army.

The farm on which his father settled is now in the possession of the son
and he remained at home with his parents until he enlisted. He
determined to do so after the first regiments had marched to the scene
of war and he enrolled in September, 1861, in Company D, 1st Wisconsin
Infantry (reorganized) for three years' service. He was in connection
with his command about 20 months and was discharged March 9, 1863.
During the period he was able to perform military duty he was with his
regiment in Negley's Brigade and performed all marches and labor
required of him until he became ill and received his discharge. When he
entered the army he weighed 200 pounds and his weight on his return was
98 pounds. He returned to his farm where he resumed labor as soon as
recovered, and he has since been engaged in agriculture. About 1885,
with his brother and sister, he removed to Palmyra, where they have
since resided. His brother, Ruel, enlisted at Palmyra in Company E, 46th
Wisconsin Infantry, Feb. 8, 1865, and was mustered at Madison, going
thence to Athens, Ala., where he performed guard, camp, picket and
patrol duty on the railroad until discharged Oct. 10, 1865, when he
returned to Waukesha county and removed to Palmyra, Wis., with his
brother as stated. He is also a member of Post No. 138 at Palmyra.