Kings County Biographies

Transcribed by Craig A Hahn


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



THAYER, WILLIAM HENRY
 
     That old and reliable dairyman, William Henry Thayer, of Corcoran, Kings 
county, Cal., is a native of Dunkirk, Chautauqua county, N. Y., and was born 
November 15, 1834. He was brought up to farming and to country work of various 
kinds and educated in such public schools as were available to him in his 
childhood and boyhood. He came to California in 1863, and engaged in farming and 
the breeding of horses, cattle and hogs, a business which he has since made his 
life work. From time to time as his means has permitted he has bought tracts of 
land, his first venture in the acquirement of land in Kings county being in 
1881, when he took up three hundred and twenty acres in the Dallas district, as 
swamp and overflow lands, and this he has successfully reclaimed. In the dyking 
of this land Mr. Thayer found the skeletons of several human beings, evidently 
the remains of deceased warriors who had engaged the Mexicans. On Mill creek, in 
Tulare county, he also acquired a hundred and sixty acres, which he has deeded 
to his children, and later in 1900 he bought the one hundred and sixty acre 
tract on which he now lives, situated one mile east of Corcoran. He operates 
three hundred and twenty acres which is included in his dairy plant. His 
homestead is a fine large property, with good buildings of all kinds, including 
a residence which has many modern improvements. His cattle are of good breeds, 
as fine specimens can be produced, and he has become known in his market for the 
excellence and purity of his products, which find ready sale wherever they have 
been introduced.
 
     By his marriage, which was celebrated April 18, 1877, Mr. Thayer identified 
his fortunes with those of Miss Sarah M. Austin, who was born at Sacramento, 
Cal., March 27, 1863. Mrs. Thayer has borne her husband the following children, 
who will be found here in the order of their nativity: Arthur Y., Enos E., 
Lillie, Henry, Jennie, Cora, Clarence, Mabel and Lester. 
 
     Of progressive ideas and patriotic impulses, Mr. Thayer is a model citizen, 
who performs his whole duty as such in society and at the polls. While he is not 
an active politician in the ordinary sense of the phrase, he takes a lively and 
helpful interest in all questions of public policy and has never been known to 
withhold his encouragement from any measure which in his opinion has promised to 
bring better things to the lives of any considerable number of his fellow 
citizens. 
 
SOURCE:  History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical 
Sketches - Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913  Pp 383, 384