# Eli Thayer

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American politician

Eli Thayer Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 9th district In office March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861 Preceded by Alexander De Witt Succeeded by Goldsmith Bailey Personal details Born (1819-06-11)June 11, 1819 Mendon, Massachusetts Died April 15, 1899(1899-04-15) (aged 79) Worcester, Massachusetts Resting place Hope Cemetery Party Whig[1] Republican Party Children John A. Thayer, Clara Thayer (Mrs. Charles H. Perry M.D.), Ida M. Thayer.[2] Alma mater Worcester Academy, 1840; Brown University, 1845 Signature

**Eli Thayer** (June 11, 1819 – April 15, 1899) was a Republican member of the [United States House of Representatives](/source/United_States_House_of_Representatives) from 1857 to 1861. He was born in [Mendon, Massachusetts](/source/Mendon%2C_Massachusetts). He graduated from [Worcester Academy](/source/Worcester_Academy) in 1840, from [Brown University](/source/Brown_University) in 1845, and in 1848 founded [Oread Institute](/source/Oread_Institute), a school for young women in [Worcester](/source/Worcester%2C_Massachusetts), Massachusetts. He is buried at [Hope Cemetery, Worcester](/source/Hope_Cemetery_(Worcester%2C_Massachusetts)).

He is chiefly remembered for his crusade to ensure that the [Kansas Territory](/source/Kansas_Territory) would enter into the United States as a free state. With this aim in view, early in 1854 Thayer organized the [Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company](/source/Massachusetts_Emigrant_Aid_Company) to send anti-slavery settlers to the [Kansas Territory](/source/Kansas_Territory). In 1855, this organization joined with the New York Emigrant Aid Company and the name was changed to the [New England Emigrant Aid Company](/source/New_England_Emigrant_Aid_Company).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The motives of Thayer in establishing the New England Emigrant Aid Company were questioned by historian [David S. Reynolds](/source/David_S._Reynolds), who wrote that Thayer "opposed slavery not on moral grounds but because [he] wanted to foster [laissez-faire](/source/Laissez-faire) capitalism in the Territory."[3]

Local leagues were established whose members moved to Kansas and established towns. The Company provided hotels for temporary accommodation (such as the [Free State Hotel](/source/Eldridge_Hotel) in Lawrence) and provided sawmills and other improvements. Settlements were established at [Manhattan](/source/Manhattan%2C_Kansas), [Lawrence](/source/Lawrence%2C_Kansas), [Topeka](/source/Topeka%2C_Kansas), and [Osawatomie](/source/Osawatomie%2C_Kansas). The clash of these settlers and other "[Free-Stater](/source/Free-Stater_(Kansas))" Northerners with pro-slavery settlers spawned the violence of [Bleeding Kansas](/source/Bleeding_Kansas).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Thayer wanted to establish an antislavery colony in Virginia, but land was too expensive. He then looked to western Virginia. Thayer chose to build his colony at the mouth of [Twelvepole Creek](/source/Twelvepole_Creek) in Wayne County, Virginia (now West Virginia). He named his town [Ceredo](/source/Ceredo%2C_West_Virginia) after the goddess [Ceres](/source/Ceres_(mythology)). The town was founded in 1857.[4]

He enlisted fellow abolitionist [Zopher D. Ramsdell](/source/Z._D._Ramsdell_House) to settle there and establish a boot and shoe factory.[5] Ramsdell's house is open (2022) as a [historic house museum](/source/Historic_house_museum).

Eli Thayer died at his home in Worcester on April 15, 1899.[6]

Thayer in his later years

## Books by Thayer

- Thayer, Eli (1860). [*Six speeches, with a sketch of the life of Hon. Eli Thayer*](https://archive.org/details/sixspeecheswiths00thayiala/page/6/mode/2up). Boston: Brown and Taggard.

- Thayer, Eli (1887). [*The New England Emigrant Aid Company, and its influence, through the Kansas contest, upon national history*](https://archive.org/details/newenglandemigra00thay). [Worcester, Massachusetts](/source/Worcester%2C_Massachusetts): F. P. Rice.

- Thayer, Eli (1889). [*A history of the Kansas crusade, its friends and its foes*](https://archive.org/details/historyofkansasc00thayiala/page/n7/mode/2up). Introduction by Rev. [Edward Everett Hale](/source/Edward_Everett_Hale). New York: [Harper & Brothers](/source/Harper_%26_Brothers).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Butler, Randall (August 1973). ["The New England Emigrant Aid Company and the response in Massachusetts to its goals and efforts to create a free Kansas, 1854-1856"](https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/876/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Sisters Run Down by Auto. Mrs. Clara Thayer Perry Dead, Miss Ida M. Thayer Dying"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102748638/sisters-run-down-by-auto/). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Worcester, Massachusetts. September 18, 1914. p. 5. Retrieved May 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Reynolds, David S.](/source/David_S._Reynolds) (2005). *John Brown, abolitionist : the man who killed slavery, sparked the Civil War, and seeded civil rights*. New York: [Alfred A. Knopf](/source/Alfred_A._Knopf). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0375726152](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0375726152).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Napier, Mose A. (1989). *Ceredo : it's [sic] founders and families*. [Ceredo, West Virginia](/source/Ceredo%2C_West_Virginia): Phoenix Systems. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [23890889](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/23890889).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-dhr_5-0)** ["National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Z. D. Ramsdell House"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002518/http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/nr/pdf/wayne/83003254.pdf) (PDF). State of West Virginia, West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Historic Preservation. Archived from [the original](http://www.wvculture.org/shpo/nr/pdf/wayne/83003254.pdf) (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Eli Thayer Dead"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102748555/eli-thayer-dead/). *[Brooklyn Eagle](/source/Brooklyn_Eagle)*. Worcester, Massachusetts. April 16, 1899. p. 72. Retrieved May 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

## External links

- ["Ramsdell House Civil War Home & Museum"](https://ceredowv.gov/around-town/ramsdell-house/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210525165724/https://ceredowv.gov/around-town/ramsdell-house/) from the original on May 25, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2022.

- United States Congress. ["Eli Thayer (id: T000145)"](http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=T000145). *[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress](/source/Biographical_Directory_of_the_United_States_Congress)*.

U.S. House of Representatives Preceded by Alexander De Witt Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 9th congressional district 1857–1861 Succeeded by Goldsmith Bailey

v t e Chairs of the United States House Committee on Natural Resources Gregg Boyle Gregg Boyle Morrow McKee Robertson Poindexter Anderson Rankin Scott Isacks Wickliffe Clay Boon Casey Corwin Mason Morrow Johnson Morrow Chapman Morrow Davis McClernand Collamer Bowlin Hall Disney Bennett W. Cobb Thayer Potter Julian Ketcham Townsend Sayler Morrison Converse Pound T. Cobb Holman Payson McRae Lacey Mondell J. T. Robinson Ferris Sinnott Colton Evans De Rouen J. W. Robinson Peterson Welch Somers Peterson Murdock A. Miller Engle Aspinall Haley Udall G. Miller Young Hansen Pombo Rahall Hastings Bishop Grijalva Westerman

v t e United States representatives from Massachusetts 1st district F. Ames Dexter Goodhue Holten Sedgwick Skinner Sedgwick J. Bacon Eustis Quincy Ward Jr. Mason Gorham Webster Gorham N. Appleton Gorham A. Lawrence Fletcher A. Lawrence Winthrop N. Appleton Winthrop S. Eliot W. Appleton Scudder T. D. Eliot Hall T. D. Eliot Buffington Crapo R. Davis Randall Wright G. Lawrence Treadway Heselton Conte Olver Neal 2nd district Goodhue Foster W. Lyman Sedgwick Ward Sr. W. Lyman Shepard J. Crowninshield Story Pickman W. Reed Pickering Silsbee Barstow B. Crowninshield Choate Phillips Saltonstall D. King Rantoul Fay Crocker Buffington O. Ames Harris Long E. Morse Gillett Churchill Bowles Kaynor Granfield Clason Furcolo Boland Neal McGovern 3rd district Gerry Bourne Coffin S. Lyman Mattoon Cutler Nelson Livermore White Pickering Nelson Varnum Nelson Osgood Cushing A. Abbott Duncan Edmands Damrell C. Adams Thomas A. Rice Twichell Whiting I Pierce Field B. Dean Field Ranney L. Morse J. Andrew Walker J. R. Thayer R. Hoar C. Washburn J. A. Thayer Wilder Paige F. Foss Casey Philbin Drinan Donohue Early Blute McGovern N. Tsongas Trahan 4th district Sedgwick Dearborn G. Thatcher Wadsworth Foster L. Lincoln Sr. Hastings Varnum W. Richardson Dana Stearns Fuller E. Everett Sa. Hoar Parmenter Thompson Palfrey Thompson Sabine Walley Comins A. Rice Hooper Frost J. Abbott L. Morse Collins O'Neil Apsley Weymouth Tirrell Mitchell Wilder Winslow Stobbs P. Holmes Donohue Drinan Frank Kennedy III Auchincloss 5th district Partridge Bourne Freeman L. Williams T. Dwight Ely Mills Lathrop Sibley J. Davis L. Lincoln Jr. Hudson C. Allen W. Appleton Burlingame W. Appleton Hooper Alley Butler Gooch Banks Bowman L. Morse Hayden Banks Sh. Hoar Stevens Knox B. Ames J. Rogers E. Rogers B. Morse Cronin P. Tsongas Shannon Atkins Meehan N. Tsongas Markey Clark 6th district G. Thatcher Leonard J. Reed Sr. J. Smith Taggart S. Allen Locke Kendall Grennell Alvord Baker Ashmun G. Davis Upham T. Davis Alley Gooch Banks Butler Thompson Loring Stone Lovering Lodge Cogswell Moody Gardner Lufkin A.P. Andrew G. Bates W. Bates Harrington Mavroules Torkildsen Tierney Moulton 7th district Leonard Ward Sr. Leonard Bullock Bishop Mitchell Barker Baylies Turner Baylies Hulbert Shaw H. Dwight S. Allen Grennell Briggs J. Rockwell Goodrich Banks Gooch Boutwell Brooks Esty E. Hoar Tarbox Butler W. Russell Stone Cogswell W. Everett Barrett Roberts Phelan Maloney W. Connery L. Connery Lane Macdonald Markey Capuano Pressley 8th district Grout G. Thatcher F. Ames Otis Eustis L. Williams Green Gardner Green J. Reed Jr. Baylies Sampson Hobart Lathrop Bates Calhoun J. Adams Mann Wentworth Knapp Train Baldwin G. Hoar J. M. S. Williams Warren Claflin Candler W Russell C. H. Allen Greenhalge Stevens McCall Deitrick Dallinger H. Thayer Dallinger Healey Goodwin Macdonald O'Neill Kennedy II Capuano Lynch 9th district Varnum Bishop J. Dean Wheaton J. Reed Jr. Folger J. Reed Jr. H. Dwight Briggs Jackson Hastings H. Williams Hale Fowler Little De Witt E. Thayer Bailey A. Walker W. Washburn Crocker G. Hoar W. Rice T. Lyman Ely Burnett Candler G. Williams O'Neil Fitzgerald Conry Keliher Murray Roberts Fuller Underhill Luce R. Russell Luce T. H. Eliot Gifford Nicholson Keith McCormack Hicks Moakley Lynch Keating 10th district Goodhue Sewall Read Hastings Upham J. Allen Brigham Wheaton Morton F Baylies Bailey H. A. S. Dearborn W. Baylies Borden H. Williams Borden Burnell Grinnell Scudder Dickinson Chaffee Delano Dawes Crocker Stevens Seelye Norcross W. Rice J. E. Russell J. Walker McEttrick Atwood Barrows Naphen McNary O'Connell Curley Murray Tague Fitzgerald Tague Douglass Tinkham Herter Curtis Martin Heckler Studds Delahunt Keating 11th district Bradbury Bartlett Cutler Stedman A. Bigelow Brigham B. Adams J. Russell Hobart J. Richardson J. Adams J. Reed Jr. Burnell Goodrich Trafton Dawes Chapin Robinson Whiting II Wallace Coolidge Draper Sprague Powers Sullivan Peters Tinkham Douglass Higgins Flaherty Curley Kennedy O'Neill Burke Donnelly 12th district H. Dearborn I. Parker Lee S. Thatcher Skinner Larned Bidwell Bacon Dewey Hulbert Strong Kendall L. Bigelow Baylies Hodges J. Adams Robinson F. Rockwell Crosby E. Morse Lovering Powers Weeks Curley Gallivan McCormack Keith Studds 13th district Wadsworth Seaver Ruggles Dowse Eustis J. Reed Jr. Randall Simpkins Greene Weeks Mitchell Carter Luce Wigglesworth Burke 14th district G. Thatcher Cutts C. King J. Holmes Lovering E. Foss Harris Gilmore Olney Frothingham Wigglesworth Martin 15th district Wadsworth Ilsley Whitman Widgery Bradbury Whitman Greene Leach Martin Gifford 16th district S. Thatcher Cook Tallman S. Davis Brown Orr Hill Thacher Walsh Gifford 17th district Bruce Chandler Gannett F. Carr Wood J. Carr Wilson Kinsley 18th district Wilson T. Rice J. Parker 19th district J. Parker Conner Gage Cushman 20th district Hubbard Parris E. Lincoln At-large Cobb

Authority control databases International VIAF FAST WorldCat National United States People US Congress Other Open Library SNAC Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Eli Thayer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Thayer) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eli_Thayer?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.