THAYER, WILLIAM P., was born March 15, 1815, in Petersburg, Virginia. His father, Martin Thayer, was a native of Amherst Massachusetts, and when a young man went to Petersburg, Virginia, where he engaged in business, and was there married to Mrs. Mary C. Mason, whose maiden name was Russell. When the subject of this sketch was about seven years old, his mother died, and his father closed his business and returned to Amherst, Massachusetts, where William P. remained until he was fifteen years old, when he went to New York city as clerk in a dry goods house. About a year later his father engaged in the dry goods business in Philadelphia, and William P. joined him there as clerk. In 1835 the latter went to Newville, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and began merchandising on his own account. He was there married, Jan. 4, 1837, to Mary Huston, who was born in Newville, Jan. 21, 1817. Mr. Thayer closed his business there, and started Jan. 31, 1838, for the west, accompanied by his wife, babe and servant girl. They traveled in a two-horse wagon, fitted up with a stove, and windows on the sides, so that the family might be comfortable, and also see the country as they passed along. After six months travel and many hair-breadth escapes from icy roads and high water, they arrived in Springfield, Illinois, March 13, 1838, and came very near stalling, with his wagon to the axles in the mud, near the southeast corner of the State House Square. They had seven children in Sangamon county. Of all their children -

James H., born Sept. 19, 1837, in Pennsylvania, died July 25, 1861, in Sangamon county, Illinois.

Sarah F., born Sept. 2, 1839, in Sangamon county, was married Oct. 14, 1857, to Thomas P. Boone, who was born June 27, 1833, in Elton, Todd county, Ky. He is a distant relative of Daniel Boone, the famous hunter and Indian fighter. Mr. and Mrs. Boone had seven children. Willie I. died in his seventh year, Mary E. died in infancy, Martin R., Charles H., Frankie P., and Harry F., live with their parents. The youngest died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Boone reside in Springfield, Illinois.

Martin R., born Feb. 27, 1842, was married Sept. 19, 1867, to Harriet Melvin, a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. They have three children, Maude, Lillian and Russell, and live in Chatham, Sangamon county, Illinois.

William P., Jun., born Jan. 10, 1846, was married at Paris, Ill., June 26, 1873, to Mollie E. Patton, who was born August 21, 1854. They reside in Springfield, Ill.

Archie F., Edward R., and Bertie reside with their father.

Dollie, next to the youngest child, was married in Chatham in September, 1873, to Joseph Hudson, an agent of the Chicago and Alton Railroad, and resides at Chenoa, Illinois.

Mrs. Mary H. Thayer died June 10, 1872, in Chatham, Ill., and William P. Thayer, Sen., was married Dec. 31, 1873, in Springfield, to Elizabeth Dresser. See sketch of Rev. Chas. Dresser and family. Wm. P. Thayer, Sen., is, in connection with his son, Martin R., proprietor of the Chatham flouring mill, and resides in Springfield, Ill.