Surnames: Thayer, Austin

----Source: NEILLSVILLE TIMES (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 03/10/1904

Thayer, John H. #2 (1846? - 5 MAR 1904)

John H. Thayer died Saturday at Sparta of apoplexy. He had been ill for two or three weeks, but had so far recovered as to be able to go out, and was feeling quite well, when the stroke of apoplexy ended his life. He was about 57 years of age.

He was for many years a resident here (Neillsville, Clark Co., Wis.), coming here in the early ‘70’s, doing a little logging, clerking for Chauncey Blakeslee, and later running the leading dry goods store in town, which the Marsh Bros bought of him. He moved to Sparta and since then had been traveling salesman, selling groceries, and a most successful man in that line. He attained a marked popularity at Sparta, was an alderman many years, president of the council, a trustee of the grand lodge of Workmen, a prominent Mason, and very successful as superintendent of the M. E. Sunday school, which under his leadership grew and prospered as never before. He was a good and true son, man, husband, father and citizen. His death is a great loss to his city and the state. We never knew a better man, and deeply grieve over his death.

He leaves the wife, who is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. A. Austin of this city, and four daughters and one son.

A delegation of Masons were intending to attend the funeral from here, but understood it was to be held Tuesday and could not reach Sparta in time.