The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-12
S. 0. THACHER DEAD.
Passed Away at Lawrence Early
s Sunday Morning.
His Family Present and He Was
Conscious.
MR.. THACHER'S LIFE.
Many Positions of Trust Held
by Him.
Funeral Will be Held Wednesday
at Lawrence.


of Judge Solon o. Thacher took place at
his home in the south part of the city at
$50 o'clock Sunday morning, surrounded
by his family. He was conscious to the
last and had known during 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
for his health. but soon returned
On the way home the train was de-
layed for thirty-six hours by high water,
and during that time it was inn
possible to get anything whatever
to eat. This aggravated his
troubles. and he was confined to his
house for several days after he arrived
at home The following week he was
out again at his Office, though not at all
we'll. A week ago Friday he was taken
much worse. and Brights disease in it's
worst form was added to the other COM
plants He WAS so i'll that his lite was
despaired of at the time, 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 till a week ago, when he rallied and
parent change from then till the time
of his death, his life hanging by thread
all the time.
The news of Judge Thacher's death
spread rapidly through the city, and on
every hand were heard expressions of
regret at the sad news
The funeral services will be held
Wednesday afternoon at A o'clock in the
Plymouth Congreg gational church. of
| s,I-T
The services will be conducted by Rev.
Richard Cordley, pastor of the church.
It is expected there will be many present
from all parts of the state, who have
known Judge Thacher in his long res
idence, and who honored his ability and
integrity.
Judge Solon o. Thacher was born in
Hornellsville, N. Y, August 81, 1880
His early education was in the district
schools of the state, and later he went to
Alfred academy, where he graduated
From there he went to Union college
and completed a course of study, and
then became a student of the Albany law
shool, where he graduated with honors
! in 1856. He soon became active in poll
tics, and was delegate to the first state
convention in New York for ihe organ
ization of the Republican party. After
! the Fremont campaign he moved to Kan
sas, where he at once took leading
part in the coufict then in progress be-
tween the free-state and pro-slavery par
ties for the possession of the state. He
| located at Lawrence and his talents were
at once recognized by the invitation ex-
tended to him to be one of the counselors
| of the free-state movement
! When the Wyandotte constitutional
| convention wss convened in July, 1859,
| Judge Thacher was one of its 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 pre-
sident, but he was finally selected as
chairman of the legislative committee of
the body.
B. F. Simpson in his recollections has
this to say of Judge Thacher's work in
the Wyandotte convention:
''The great speech of that convention
was delivered by Judge Solon o. Thacher
| of Douglas, in opposition to a resolution
| offered by Mr.. McCune of Leavenworth
| county; asking that free negroes" be ex-
cluded from a residence in the state.
From the circumstances attending the
delivery, I do not believe that the effort
. was a premeditated one; for the cruel
proposition was offered in the midst of
the consideration of other questions, and
| without notice.
"After several others had spoken and
notably General John Richie, who had
made a most earnest protest against it,
Judge Thacher took the floor and deliv-
| cred the most scholastic, eloquent and
| unanswerable argument in opposition to
it. That speech settled the question in
favor of the absolute freedom of the
| Kansas soil to all colors and conditions in
life"
The next winter Judge Thacher was
| one of the influential citizens of Law
renee who succeeded in getting the fifth
| territorial legislature of Kansas to ad-
journ from Lecompton to Lawrence, on
guarantee of good accommodations to
that body.
In September, 1854, he was nominated
| by the Republican union state conven-
| ton for governor, in opposition to Sam
uel 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 1884, when he re-
signed In 1857 he was a 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 op-
position to him in the Republican con-
ventlon united on Thacher as the most
available candidate, but did not
nave votes enough to nomi-
nate him. He was appointed in
July, 1884, by President Arthur, as one