Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-09-24
|WATERv|LLE LOSES I
RESPECTED CITIZEN
IN DEATH THAYER

most respected citizens yesterdav
When DR.. Frederick Charles Thaver
passed away at his home at 1P. M
although the doctor had been In III
Meath Tor quite long time, his con-
olucn Gid not become serious until a
few days ago. @
he was born in Waterville, Sent
so, 1874, the only child of Charles IT
ana Susan E. (Tobey) Thayer. He
attended the common schools, Water
vile Academy and Franklin Family
school for boys at Topsham, Me. En-
tered Waterviife college in 1851
Union College in 1868. Studied medi.
cine with DR.. James e. Pomfret of
Albany, n. Y. He was graduated
from the Maine Medical school in
1861 December 2. 1871 he married
Leonora 1. Smell, daughter of Judge
William B. Smell OF Washington. D.
{. He was president of Kennebec
county Medical Association In 1879
was president of the Alumni Associa
ton of the medical department of
which he was instrumental In found-
ing, In 1856. In 1884 the degree of
A. NJ, was conferred upon him by Col
by University. In 1856 he was a
member Of the Legislature. He was
president of Maine Medical Associa-
ton in ISIS, and was an alderman
in this city in 1889.
He had been master Of Watervile
lodSe. +. and A. NJ, commander of st.
Omer Commandery, K. T., and grand
commander OF the Grand Command
cry OF Maine. He had served in the
State militia as surgeon Of the End
regiment, medical director of the LIST
Brigade and surgeon general on the
staff of overnor Henry B. Cleaves. He
was the first president Of the Water
Vile Trlst Company. He was presi-
dent of the Sawyer Publishing Com
pany which did business in this city
for many years, and Of what was
then known as the Riverview Wors-
ted Mills, and a director of the w. w.
and F. r. r. Co. He was at one time
president of the Board OF U. S. Pen
sion Examining Surgeons at Augusta,
consulting surgeon to the Maine Cen
tral General Hospital in Lewiston.
and to the City Hospita! in Augusta
DR.. Thayer, by his skill in capital
surgical cases won to an enviable
position in his profession. Notwith-
standing the cares involved in his
large business interests, he had al
ways been active in movements which
meant development and progress to
the city which gave him birth. He
was president of the centennial COM
mittee of a hundred, end of the ex
ecutive committee, and it was largely
through his efforts as mover and
leader that the celebration Of 1902
was so successful.
DR.. Thayer's connection with Free
Masonry brought his nationwide
acquaintanceship. He was made
Master Mason Jan. 81, 1867. He re-
ceived Royal Arch degree in Drum
mond chapter, Oakland, in 1871;
Knight Templar of De Molay Com
mandery, Skowhegan. 1873; charter
member of st. Omer Commandery,
Waterville. 1874; Royal and Select
, Master. Mt. Lebanon Council, Oak
land, 1901; Scottish Rite degrees up
to and including the 32nd conferred
from 1899 to 1900; honorary mem
Der of Supreme Jurisdiction of Scot
fish Rite Masons, 1908, and crowned
an active member of that body in
the 33rd degree at Chicago. 1914:
commander of st. Omer Commandery
during the years 1S79-S0. 1SS2-S3.
1892 SO; grand commander of
knights Templar Of Maine, 1904;
grand warder of Grand Encampment
of United States in 1907; gradd
sword bearer in 1910: and grand
standard bearer in 1913.
Masonic Temple in this city was
once the property of DR.. Thayer. but
through his generosity it is now held
in trust for the Masonic bodies by
corporation in which each body is
represented.
With all his vast business inter
found time to act as vice president
of the board of trustees Of Coburn
Classical Institute. being ever active
in matters educational.
Colby College conferred upon him
the honorary degree of Doctor Of
Science after having previously
granted him an honorary NJ. A. He
was one of the founders of the Wat
erville Historical Society, and presi-
dent emeritus at the time of his
death.
In 1890 he was member of the
International medical congress which
assembled at Berlin, Germany. He
founded and was for many years
president of the Waterville Clinical
Society. In 1920 he was elected a
fellow of the American College of
Surgeons, and this he considered one
of his greatest honors. He was also
a frequent contributor to medical
literature.
Dr. Thayer will be missed and
nourned by every one with whom he
had come in contact during the many
years of his very busy life, and Wat
erville will grieve for the loss of an
old and hopored son.