JOHN M. THAYER. This distinguished gentleman, whom Nebraska delighted to honor by the gift of the highest office in its power to bestow, was elected thereto by an overwhelming majority in the autumn of 1886, and by his wise administration of affairs, his excellent executive ability, has since fully justified this enthusiastic choice. The place of the nativity of our subject is Bellingham, Norfolk Co., Mass.; he is the son of Elias and Ruth (Staples) Thayer. The chosen occupation of the father was farming, and in the physical and moral healthful environment of pastoral life our subject was brought up.
   The smallest part of man is the physical, that can be weighed avoirdupois and measured with a tape line; a far greater and nobler is that of stamp divine--the mind, which is the true "standard of the man." Having in mind the importance of proper instruction, in order to the proper use of this most wonderful instrument, our subject, after the usual preparatory instruction, attended the classes at Brown University, from which institution he was graduated in 1847. The law was the chosen profession of our subject, and at it he worked assiduously until the year 1854, still continuing a resident of his native State, and at that time he removed to the State of Nebraska.
   Omaha, then a rising young town, with a newly opened and undeveloped terrritory (sic) all around it, afforded a good field for a young man of education, enterprise, enthusiasm and energy, to "rise up with the country." In the year 1855 the political arena was entered. Mr. Thayer became one of four candidates for Congressional honors; a splendid run for the office, however, resulted only in defeat, the successful candidate being Fenner Ferguson. The following year was remarkable as that in which the now "grand old party" was organized. The convention. was held at Bellevue, and our subject was a candidate for the party nomination, but was defeated by Mr. Daily. This experience was repeated in every particular in June of 1860. He was successful in receiving the nomination to the Territorial Legislature, and served the session of 1860-61.
   Our subject entered the service of the United States at the beginning of the Civil War, and received the commission of Colonel of the 1st Nebraska Infantry. In the year 1855 he had been elected by the Territorial Legislature Brigadier General of the Territorial Militia, and afterward promoted to that of Major General of the militia. While in these positions he was frequently led into engagements more or less serious on the frontier, the enemies being the aborigines of that section, who at that time had not entirely ceased their old habits of depredation. The intimate knowledge of our subject concerning the Indians, their surroundings, their attitude, their feelings, and their chiefs, were all of immense value to him. As a case in

132JOHN M. THAYER.

point, which we might mention, our subject was appointed by Gov. Izard to act in conjunction with Gov. O. D. Richardson, to inquire into certain outrages by Pawnees, to meet them in council and effect a treaty with them; in this they were fairly successful. But later events proved the lesson was but poorly learned by the Indians. In 1858, with a command of 194 volunteers, our subject went out after the same tribe, certain of their number having murdered, maltreated and robbed the settlers. He captured the entire tribe after a stubbornly contested battle, which was fought on the grounds occupied by the town of Battle Creek, which derives its name from that event.
   As Colonel of the 1st Nebraska Infantry, our subject did good work in behalf of the Union, and it was not long before his superior military powers attracted attention, and he was promoted to be Brigadier General and breveted Major General. At Ft. Donelson and Shiloh he commanded a brigade in such excellent manner as led to the above honor. Through the siege of Vicksburg and the capture of Jackson, Miss., he also commanded a brigade, and for a time a division. The confidence of the commanders in him was such that at the assault at Chickasaw Bayou, one of the storming columns was confided to his care. In this fight he had his horse shot under him, and again while leading a charge at Arkansas Post. All the essential features, characteristics and traits of the successful soldier were possessed by him, and this being recognized resulted in the Army of the Frontier being given him to command. Throughout his service in military life he was a true soldier, a favorite with his men, who were confident that he would lead them to success and victory; respected by his officers, who well knew his sagacity and military genius, largely the result of his long experience on the frontier.
   In political matters our subject was a Democrat until the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. He sympathized with the Free-Soil movement, but being in the Territory he could not vote. In the year 1856 he supported Fremont, and since that time has continued a stanch Republican. Upon the admission of Nebraska as a State, Mr. Thayer was elected United States Senator in the election of 1866, and served faithfully until the close of his term. At the expiration thereof he was appointed by Gen. Grant the Governor of Wyoming Territory. In this office the qualities that had made him successful in civil life, that had made him a military leader and commander, the ability that had been developed for the handling of large bodies of men, the harmonizing of heterogeneous elements, combined to make his Governorship one worthy of note, and, doubtless was the cause of the confidence expressed by the people of Nebraska in after days.
   The home of our subject is one that bears in its every-day life and happiness a brightness and completeness that is more to be desired than the amassing of riches, the accumulation of power, or the right to sway the scepter of authority. He was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Mary T. Allen, a lady possessing a disposition, character and intelligence, most beautiful, admirable and clear, one who has been trained to follow closely the Great Exemplar of the true life. She is the daughter of the Rev. John Allen, a clergyman of the Baptist Church, a native of Massachusetts.
   Gov. Thayer, though not a member of any special denomination, is a firm believer in the Christian religion, and always has been. His family adhere to the faith of the Baptist Church, of which also his parents were members. In that communion, also, he was trained and brought up, and he has always retained a great desire to help forward every movement of religious nature; whenever it has been possible to elevate the moral standard of the people, his active sympathies were engaged. One feature of his Governorship has been his evident anxiety that a more general and hearty acquiescence to a higher moral and reliious standard should obtain, and whatever enterprises, projects, societies or associations, looked to this as their aim and object, were at all times sure of his hearty sympathy and support. As noted above, our subject stood before the people of Nebraska in the year 1886 as candidate for Governor. He was warmly received, actively and heartily supported, and enthusiastically elected by a majority of 25,000, in which he ran about 2,000 ahead of his ticket. His administration has revealed the wisdom of this choice, and it is not too much to say that the citizens of Nebraska have at no time had occasion to repent of their choice.