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Jo Daviess County Illinois Biographies
In noting the pioneer history of Jo Daviess County the
name of this old citizen of Guilford Township could by no means be left out of the
catalogue. He was born in Barnstable County,
Mass.. Oct. 22, 1813, where he was reared to man's
estate. He is the son of Peleg Thacher, a native
of the same place, who, upon reaching manhood,
was married, in 1812, to Miss Bettie Hallette, who
was also born there. They became the parents of
two children: Alfred, our subject; and a daughter,
Eleanor. The elder Thacher was commander of a
vessel; and in 1816 the ship, with captain, crew
and cargo was lost at sea.
The mother of our subject being left in somewhat destitute circumstances, as all Mr. Thacher
owned was in the ship, took her two little children
and moved on to Nantucket Island, where she engaged in dressmaking and fine needle work about
one year. Hoping to better her circumstances, and
at the same time meet with an opportunity to educate her son, she, in company with her brother.
Moses Hallette, moved to Missouri. There she
made the acquaintance of Charles Newcomb, and
in due time they were married. Mr. Newcomb,
being opposed to slavery, left Missouri, and removed to Sangamon County, 111., where he sojourned with his family a year, then changed his
residence to Fulton County, where he engaged in
farming up to the time of his death, in 1863. The
mother of our subject lived to the ripe age of
eighty-six ^years, and spent her last days in Galesburg. 111.
Our subject lived with his step-father until 1831,
then came to this county. In the meantime he had
served in the Black Hawk War under Capt. Stone;
but later was transferred to Capt. Gear. In 1835
he returned to Fulton County, and engaged in
farming. In 1837 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Leverton, of that county. In 1847 he returned to this county, and engaged in farming and
mining. To him and his estimable wife were born
nine children, namely: Sarah 'I'.. Eleanor II., Esther H., Arminda J., Harriet C, Lucy A.. Emily
E., Saphronia L., and Alonzo C. At the present
time (March, 18
During the first years of his residence in this
count}- Mr. Thacher saw a great deal of the different tribes of Indians, and to this day frequently
entertains the young people of his neighborhood by
talking in the Kickapoo and Pottawattoraie tongues,
lie often went hunting with young Indians of
about his own age, during the pioneer days. He
voted for William Henry Harrison in 1840, and
with equal enthusiasm for his grandson, Benjamin,
at the Presidential election in the fall of 1838. He
is a pronounced Republican, and a fearless defender
of his principles.
Mrs. Elizabeth (Leverton) Thacher was born in
Highland County, Ohio, May 5, 1819. Her father,
John Leverton, was a native of the same county,
and upon reaching man's estate married, in 1813,
Miss Mary Thurman, among whose descendants is
the late candidate for Vice President. Allen G.
Thurman, of the Buckeye State. Mr. Leverton
served in the War of 1812; marched under Gov.
Hull from Ohio to Detroit, and was one of the
large number of soldiers basely surrendered to the
British by Gov. Hull. He was the father of a
family of ten children, five sons and five daughters,
of whom Elizabeth was the third in order of birth.
The mother of Mrs. Thacher was the daughter of
Henry and Sarah Thurman, of Virginia, The
Leverton family removed from Ohio to Fulton
County, IL., in 1829, where the parents spent the
remainder of their lives.
Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois
(1889)
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