The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-01-25
RSDAY, JANUARY 25, 1894
Death of a Pioneer.

Thayer at Oakland Garrett county
has lost one of its oldest inhabi-
tants and Oakland one of its most
widely known and highly respected
citizens.
Mr.. Thayer was the last link
which bound these closing years of
the 10th century to its opening.
Having been born in Massachu-
setts in 1906 he had listened TO
stirring tales of the days of "76''
from the lips of those who had par
ticipated in them-his grandfather,
Captain Abel Thayer, having been
one of General Gates officers and
taken an active part in the battle of
| Saratoga and others.
Mr.. Thayer's memory was some
thing phenemlnal. lie could quote
poems he had not read for nearly
so years and after the lapse of "
years he recalled and wrote out in
a firm clear hand the route his
father and his two uncles, Murray
and Job Thayer, pursued when
they emigrated from Massachusetts
to Maryland about 1916. Starting
| from Northampton in December
they came across Connecticut, pass
ing through Litchfeld, which was
then the largest town in the state;
from there to Fishkile, N. Y,
where they crossed the Hudson to
Newburg; then through Western
New Jersey, crossing the Delaware
at Easton. Pa, through Reading,
Carlisle and Harrisburg where the
Susquehanna was crossed and after
passing through Shippensburg,
Hancock, Cumberland, Cresaptown
and Westernport, "Yough Glades"
was reached the 22nd of February.
Land was purchased, a house built
and orchard planted and the family
of nine sturdy New England boys
and girls set to work to hew out Il
home in the wilderness, p miles
from the present site of Oakland on
what is now known as the "Abra-
ham Spiker place" on the Aurora
road. At hat time their nearest
neighbors were the Rhineharts, 4
miles away, who lived where Sunny
side P. O. stands. There too was
the nearest school house. The first
log church stood on the site of the
old cemetery on the Totten place
and the first postotfice was IN log
CABIN at the same place kept by
Isaac McCarty and was known as
Yough GIades p O,
In those days the whole of what
now is Garrett county did not con-
tain half as many inhabitants as
the town of Oakland to-day. One
could ride 20 miles and never see a
house or a human being. Then the
scream of the panther or the howl
of the wolf was heard in the silent
watches Of the night, Bears and
deer We're more plentiful than pleas
ants are to-day. Everyone made
their own sugar from the naples
nature had so lavishly supplied
they raised flax and from it spun
and wove table cloths, towels. tick
ings and summer clothing. All
the wool then was carded, spun and
woven by hand. Roads were but
little better than bride paths and
salt was brought on pack horses
: from Cumberland and the Big
Kanawha salt works. The nearest
doctor was at Cumberland, so miles
away. The only store stood near
the present site of the historic Red
House and was kept by a man named
CASTOR. Dry goods were hauled
from Baltimore and Alexandria and
calico was so cents per yard.
The site of Oakland was first
called "Slab Town" from ope of
Mr.. Thayer's uncles having built a
grlst mill there of slabs about 1924
Mr.. Thayer's mother died IN 1865
leaving 1876 descendants. She often
told of having seen the British cred
, coats march through Boston. She
carried scar to her grave which
: she received during the Revolution
ary war. She had seven daughters
who were said to have been the pret-
tiest girls, the most graceful dancers
and the best cooks in Western
Maryland long years ago.
In those DAYS a wedding was a
great event and people came for &c
miles around and made merry fol
three or four days.
Six of the daughters married and
reared numerous families, many OF
whom are among Garrett county's
, most substantial citizens.
In early life Mr.. Thayer kept
, store in Garrett. His goods were
purchased from Hamilton Easter
and hauled by wagons distance Of
nearly $50 miles. In 1910 he rep
) resented Allegany in the legislature
He was postmaster at Oakland fol