The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-08-13
THATCHER is GONE
PROMINENT KANSAN PASSES AWAY
AT LAWRENCE SUNDAY.

Delayed by Heavy Rains and Cut Or
from Food for Ssme Hours and this In
creased the Ravages Of the Disease-Hs
Goes Ouietly-Histery Of His Work and
Life In Kansas and His Part in the Poll
tics of the State.
Lawrence, Kan, Aug. 12.-The death
Of Judge Scion o. Thacher took place
at his home in the south part of the
city at $50 O'Clock yesterday morning
surrounded by his family. He was con-
scious to the last and had known dur
ing the past week all that had been
going on in his waking hours. He
slept much of the time, and thus the
report got out that he was unconscious.
Judge Thacher was sick little over
two weeks He had gone to Colorado
for his health but soon returned.
On the way home the train was de-
iayed for thirty-six hours by high water
and during that time it was impossible
to get anything to eat. This aggravat-
ed his troubles and he was confined TO
his house for several days after he ar
rived at home The following week he
was out again at his office, though not
at all well. A week ago Friday he was
taken much worse, and Brikht's disease
in ITS worst form was added to the other
complaints. He was so i'll that his life
was despaired of at the tome, and it
was not thought he could live until
Mrs Thacher could be sent for, she
being in New York visiting relatives.
He continued very low until week ago,
when he rallied and seemed much bet
ter. There was no apparent change
from then till the time of his death, life
hanging by thread all the time.
The news of Judge TEACHERS death
spreal rapidly throughout the city, and
on every hand were heard expressions
of regret at the sad news.
The funeral services will be held
Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock in
TIE Plymouth Congregational church,
Of which Judge Thacher was member.
The services viii be conducted by Rev.
Richard Cordley, pastor of the church.
1t is expected there will be many pres
ent from all parts of the state, who
have known Judge Thacher in his long
residence. and who honored his ability
and integrity.
SKETCH OF JUDGE THACHER'S
LIFE
Judge Scion O. Thatcher was born in
Hornellsville, n. Y, August 81. 1880.
His early educati ton was in the district
schools of the state, and later he went
to Alfred academy, where he gradual
ed. From there he went to Union col
aege and completed a course of study,
and then became student of the Al
bany law school. where he graduated
with honors in 1856 He soon became
active in politics, and was a delegate
to the first state convention in New
York for the organization of the Repub-
lican party. After the Fremont cam
paign he moved to Kansas where he at
once took a leading part in the conflict
then in progress between the free-state
ard pro-slavery parties for the possess
sion of the state. He located at Law
renee and his talents were at once rec
ognized by the invitation extended to
him TO be one of the counselors of the
free-state movement.
When the Wyandotte constitutional
convention was convened in July, 1859,
Judge Thacher was one of it's members
He was unanimously chosen temporary
presiding officer and there was a strong
effort on the part of many of the dele
gates to have him made permanent
president, but he was finally selected
as chairman of the legislative commit
tee of the body, and besides doing very
efficient work there, the convention
profited by his advice and counsel.
The next winter Judge Thacher was
one of the influential citizens of Law
renee VINO succeeded in getting the fifth
territorial legislature of Kansas to adj
journ from Lecompton to Lawrence. on
guarantee of free accommodations to
that body.
In September 1864. he was nominat-
ed by the Republican union state con-
vention for governor, in opposition to
Samuel J. Crawford, who was elected.
Previous to this, on the organization Of
the judicial districts of the state under
the Wyandotte constitution, he was
elected judge, of the Fourth district.
which includes Douglas county. and
served from December 6. 1859, the date
of the election, till 1864, when he re-
signed. In 1867 he was candidate for
United States senator, and received the
second highest number of votes for the
short term When st. John was up for
the third term nomination for governor.
the opposition to him in the Republican
convention united on Thatcher as the
most available candidate. but did not
have votes to nominate him. He was
appointed in July, 1884. by President
Arthur, as one of three commissioners
from the United Settles to visit South
America TO negotiate treaties and do
other diplomatic work in the South and
Central American countries. His aSso-
ciateS on that commission were George
II. Sharpe. Of New York, and Thomas
c. Reynolds. of st. Louis. His work
with this commission was Of the high
est order. few years later. on the
ASSEMBLING of the Pan-American con-
gress at Washington, he made report
of the work accomplished. and his part
in the proceedings Of that congress was
considered as among its most import
ant Judge Thacher was several times
n member of the Kansas legislature
and at his death was state senator from
the district comprising Jefferson and
Douglas counties.
In the United States senatorial fight
last winter he was one of the leading
candidates. and on account of his abil-
1ty and fitness for the position was
considered at all times a fornida BILE
candidate. and was third in the race
till the final selection was made by the
caucds. His name was also mentioned
in connection with the chief justiceship
on the state supreme bench. on the
occurrence Of the recent vacancy. and
ne has many times been suggested as
the man for positions Of honor, though
never seeking them and always loath
10 make any effort 10 that end. even
when friends urged him TO take such
steps.
Judge Thacher's family was the only
Puritan Thacher family that settled in
'tS.>S>>'SAuSt the nfSN preacher ~ the
Old South church in Boston, Rev. Thorn
as Thacher. being an ancestor Of his.
Members of the family have been prom
inent ever since they came 10 this cOun-
Try His brother. L. X. Thatcher. Of
Kansas City. whose death occurred bur
last year. was a well known resident
of that city, and one Of its most infiuen-
nal and prominent CITIZENS. and Others
81 the family are equally well known.
in 1886 he was married 10 Miss Sarah
~ Gilmore, and she and one daughter.
Mrs. Peter +. Emery. are all the mem
ners OF ms immediate family who are