Notizen zu dieser Person
REFN: 2660
The Republican - Jan. 18, 1894 - Death of Mr. Ralph Thayer, the Oldest
Citizen of Oakland -- Mr. Ralph Thayer, the oldest citizen of Oakland
andone of the earliest settlers of Garrett county died at his residence
in
Oakland on Saturday afternoon of a complication of diseases.
The following shortsketch of the life of the deceased is taken from
the Oakland correspondence of the Cumberland News: "At the time of his
death Mr. Thayer had attained theripe age o fnearly eighty-nine years,
and was the oldest citizen of Oakland.He was born on the first of
September, 1805, in Northampton county, Massachusetts.
When the deceased was about twelve years of age his parents came to
Western Maryland, traveling all the way in wagons, for there were
railroads inthose days. In 1818 Stephen Thayer, father of the deceased,
with his family,settled at what is now known as the Spiker farm, about
two miles from Oakland, on the Aurora road. There he reared a family of
eleven children, seven daughters and four sons. Of these only three are
now living, Eliza Dixon, Elk Garden, W. Va.; Helen Ashby, wife of William
Ashby, and Mariah, wife of John L.Browning. The last two live near
Oakland.
Even in his boyhood days the subject of this sketch was ambitious, and
at the ageof 21 years left the farm andwent to Addison, Pennsylvania,
where he secured a position as clerk in the store of Hunt & Darr(?)all.
He remained there until 1839, when he married MaryMigchell and returned
to Maryland and commenced merchandising at Selbysport on his own account.
Immediately after his return to Maryland he was elected amember of the
House of Delegates and served in that body during the memorablesession
of 1840. Mr. Thayer had a most wonderful memory, which was unimpaired to
the day of his death.
After the close of the session of the legislaturein which he served he
kept
trace of the other members and could tell the subsequent history of each.
He remarked only a few weeks ago that he was the last surviving member of
the House of 1840. After his return from Annapolis hecontinued the
business of the (several words not legible) and during the wholeof that
period filled the office of postmaster.
"In 1863, he came to Oakland and continued from that time, to reside
here. He was, during the days of reconstruction following the war,
connected with the office of internal revenue.He was also census
enumerator in 1870. For ten years next preceding President Cleveland's
first term, he served as postmaster at Oakland. Since that timehe has
not been actively engaged in business. Mr. Thayer was always a prominent
figure in his community,and no man in this section was more intimately
connected with the history of this locality than he. As a public official
hewas honest, efficient and faithful to every trust which was committed
to hiscare. In policies he was an uncompromising Republican. For more
than fifty years he was an upright and consistent member of the M. E.
church and died in the faith in which he lived.
"As a neighbor he was always kind and considerateand had a very large
circle of intimate friends. To his immediate family he was most
affectionate and I have rarely, if ever, seen a stronger attachment
between father and children than that which existed between the deceased
and his sons and daughters. He leaves two daughters and four sons
surviving him, who have the sympathy of the entire community in the hour
of this "their greataffliction."
"Full of honors, full of years, surrounded by his family and friends the
old patriarch passed away. Like Enoch of old ‘he walked with God, and
was not, for God took him."'
The funeral of the deceased occurred on Monday from St. Paul's M. E.
church, and notwithstanding the inclement weather the funeral was one
of the largest ever witnessed in Oakland. The services were conducted by
Rev. G. W. Kepler assisted by Drs. Alexa
Goetz
Krueger
