The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-16
A NOTABLE LIFE.
Eli Thayer, Worces-
ter's Distinguished
Citizen, Dies.
KNOWN WORLD OVER
AS Organizer of the Kansas
Crusade, He Changed
Nations Destinies.

Hon. Eli Thayer, aged 50 years, died
yesterday morning at eleven minutes
past six o'clock at the residence of his
son, John Alden Thayer, 500 Main
street.
About two weeks ago Mr. Thayer
caught cold, but had almost recovered
whe went out of doors only to
cat har cold. Then followed a
conn ION of kidney diseases, which
resulted in his death. The ultimate re-
covery of Mr.. Thayer had been given
up some days ago.
The funeral of Mr.. Thayer will be
held in the association hall of the
Dread which has been offered by Mr..
Perkey for the purpose, Tuesday af-
ternoon at 230 o'clock. The services
will by conducted by Rev. Henry
Washburn, D. D.. of st. Marks Epis-
copal church and the bearers will be
as follows: Henry L. Parker, Joseph
Jackson, Samuel Putnam, Franklin H.
Rice, Mayor Dodge, and probably
three others. One who has been asked
has not yet signified his intentions.
There will be signing by portion of
the choir from St. Marks and all the
relatives and friends, as well as the
general public are asked to attend. The
burial will be at Hope cemetery, at
which only the relatives will be pres
emit
Mr.. Thayer was the last surviving
member of the Emigrant Aid Society.
He was at one time a director of the
Mutual Redemption Bank though he
took no active part in it's business. He
was also a member of the Worcester
Society of Antiquity Mr. Thayer was
essentially a home man, and never
TONED any club or organization of the
kind. kilograms of sympathy have
been received during the day from all
over the country.
Hon. Ell Thayer Familiarity known
throughout the country as The rather
of Kansas" was born in the town OF
Mendon, Mass, on June II, 1873 He
was a descendant in the seventh gen
Grafton from Thomas Thayer and sew
1 enth in descent from John Alden, who
came in the Mayflower, through Ruth,
daughter of Rev. Noah Alden, of Bell
ingham, who married his grandfather,
Benjamin Thayer.
He received his early education in the
district schools of MendOn, and at the
Bellingham high school, Later he at
tended the academy at Amherst and
the manual training school at Wor-
cester. now the Worcester academy.
He was the eldest of eight children,
three of whom are still living. He al
WAYS ranked high in his scholarship,
and in 1S35-36 taught school IN Doug
las, and for the four succeeding years
assisted his father in a country store
at Millville.
In Nav. 1910, he re-entered the man.
nal labor school, in order to fit for
Brown university. Two years later ne
taught school at Hopkinton, Rhode ISL
and. and while there was elected a
member of the Phi Beta Kappa ira
ternity, an honor seldom conferred pc
fore the senior year.
In September 1914, the superintend-
ent of schools in Providence, Nathan
Bishop. induced him to take charge of
the boys high school for the
remainder of the year for 5000
large salary for that pc
Rod. This school had proven for some
| time unmanageable in the hands of
several masters, but he reduced it to
order and subsection. BY accepting
this position. he lost year at Brown
university, but was able to graduate
in 1S45. the second in his class. After
his graduation, he Immediately came
to this city and became a teacher al
the academy, and was later its princi-
pal.
In 1S45 he purchased of John Jacques
four acres and ninety rods of land on
what was then called Goat hill. In
1913 he began the erection of the build
ing called the Dread, which was COM
pleted in 1852. 1t is built of the stone
underlying the hill. At first only the
north tower was completed, and it was
in this portion Of the building that he
established the famOusschoOl for young
women. which he conducted with great
success until he entered upon his later
political work.
At the time that the school was
opened, It was the only institute in the
country that promised a full college
course for women. 1t was the fore
runner of Vassar. Smith and Welles-
lev. The name Dread means The
abode of the mountain nymphs.' The
south tower was completed in 1850, and
the connecting portion Of the building
year or two later.
The towers are 40 feet in diameter
and four stories high, while the entire
length of the building is $50 feet. II
vas constructed after designs entire
" Mr.. Thayer's own, without the ald
n an architect. and the beauty of the
building and the charming location
nave been remarked by strangers from
ali over the country.
He entered political life in 1852, WneH