By Muriel Bristol | September 29, 2021
Continued from Milton’s N.B. Thayer & Co. Shoe Factory – 1890-09
No indication has come to hand of any activity at the N.B. Thayer factory in Milton after 1909. But the company did persist for twenty years at its East Rochester, NH, and Roxbury, MA, locations under Noah B. Thayer’s son, Frank H. Thayer, and then, after him, for some few years under new management (that included some of N.B. Thayer’s grandchildren).
STATE NEWS. N.B. Thayer Co., of East Rochester, is making preparations for the manufacture of the paper cartons that they use in the sale of their shoes and they have already received the machinery and it is being installed (Farmington News, May 6, 1910).
James B. Edgerly, a bank cashier, aged seventy-six years (b. NH), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his daughter, Annie Thayer, aged thirty-nine years (b. NH), his son-in-law (of four years), Elmer Thayer, a shoe manufacturer, aged forty-eight years (b. MA), his grandson, James E. Thayer, aged three years (b. NH), his servant, Nellie V. Tufton, a private family housekeeper, aged nineteen years (b. NH), and his lodger, Charles L. Osgood, a hotel hostler, aged fifty-four years (b. NH). James B. Edgerly owned their house on North Main Street, free-and-clear. Annie Thayer was the mother of one child, of whom one was still living.
Frank H. Thayer, a shoe factory manager, aged forty-six years (b. MA), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of eight years), Alice W. Thayer, aged thirty-nine years (b. IL), his children, Louise Thayer, aged five years (b. MA), Richard W. Thayer, aged three years (b. MA), and Robert T.B. Thayer, aged one year (b. MA), his brothers-in-law, George A. Waterman, a neurological physician, aged thirty-seven years (b. IL), and William E. Waterman, a cigar manufacturing company president, aged thirty-five years (b. IL), and his servants, Lizzie A. Hennessy, a cook, aged twenty-seven years (b. Ireland (Eng.)), Nora F. Kennelly, a 2nd maid, aged twenty-eight years (b. Ireland (Eng.)), and Sarah M. Keeley, a nursemaid, aged thirty-one years (b. CT). Frank H. Thayer rented their house at 395 Marlborough Street. Alice W. Thayer was the mother of three children, of whom three were still living.
Carrie McBride, own income, aged forty years (b. MA), headed a Weymouth, MA, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. Her household included her children, Marjorie McBride, aged eighteen years (b. MA), and Edwin McBride, aged sixteen years (b. MA). Carrie McBride owned their house at 11 Central Avenue, free-and-clear; she was the mother of two children, of whom two were still living.
Frank E. Fernald appeared again in the Boston directory of 1911, as a superintendent, with his house at 312 Warren street, in Roxbury. By the 1912 directory, he had again “rem. to E. Rochester, NH.”
LOCAL. James Crotty, foreman of the N.B. Thayer Shoe factory, will take a similar position with the H.B. Reed Company of Manchester, and his place is taken by Berthold Demeritt of Milton. Prior to leaving, Mr. Crotty was presented by his employes with a solid gold pen. Another change in the corps of foremen at the factory is the selection of John Fyfe of St Louis, Mo., foreman of the packing room (Farmington News, October 6, 1911).
(Berthold I. Demerritt appeared in the Milton directory of 1909, as a shoe operative in East Rochester, with house at 34 Silver street, corner of Church street. (See also Mrs. DeMerritt’s Arbutus)).
The N.B. Thayer & Co. lasters in East Rochester, NH, went out on strike briefly in December 1911. Quality control procedures and policies seem to have been at issue.
State News. The strike of the lasters at the N.B. Thayer shoe factory in East Rochester has been settled and the employees have returned to work. The company is to have an inspector examine the shoes before they leave the lasting room and any defect noticed can be remedied there before the shoe is entirely made. The company has also removed the edict of the employees buying the shoes that they damage. The wage system remains as it was before the strike (Farmington News, December 15, 1911).
Frank E. Fernald married (2nd) in Rochester, NH, April 17, 1912, Lula A. Tuttle, he of Milton and she of Farmington, NH. He was a shoe factory superintendent, aged forty-six years, and she was a houseworker, aged thirty-four years. Rev. Frank H. Libby performed the ceremony. She was born in Farmington, NH, circa 1877, daughter of Charles E. and Justina (Ham) Tuttle.
LOCAL. A marriage solemnized April 24 was made public this week, that of Frank E. Fernald of Milton, superintendent of the N.B. Thayer shoe factory at East Rochester, and Lulu A. Tuttle of Farmington. The ceremony was performed in Rochester by the Rev. Frank H. Libby. The newly wedded couple have taken up their residence at Hotel Glendon, East Rochester (Farmington News, May 3, 1912).
Frank E. Fernald appeared in the Rochester, NH, directories of 1912, and 1917, as superintendent at N.B.T. & Co., boarding at Glendon House, in East Rochester. GLENDON HOUSE, John W. Tebbets, proprietor, was at 58 Main street (“Three Minutes’ Walk from Railway Station”), in East Rochester.
NEWS OF THE BOYS. E. ROCHESTER, N.H. Frank W. Walsh has returned to his old post as foreman of the making room of the N.B. Thayer Co. (Shoe and Leather Facts, May 1917).
NEWS OF THE BOYS. E. ROCHESTER, N.H. The room of the N.B. Thayer Company will be in charge of Frank Walsh (Shoe and Leather Facts, June 1917).
(Frank W. Walsh appeared in the Rochester, NH, directory of 1917, as a shoe operative in Farmington, NH, – i.e., prior to his return to N.B. Thayer’s making room – boarding on the Lebanon, ME, side, in East Rochester. By 1920, he resided in Cambridge, MA).
NEWS OF THE BOYS. E. ROCHESTER, N.H. L.J. Stewart, former stitching room machinist, has been promoted to the position of foreman of this department in the factory of N.B. Thayer & Co., East Rochester, N.H. (Shoe and Leather Facts, November 1917).
(Lloyd J. Stuart appeared in the Rochester, NH, directory of 1917, as a machinist for N.B.T & Co., boarding at 10 Summer street, in East Rochester).
PERSONAL. C.C. Butler has entered the employ of the N.B. Thayer Shoe Co., at East Rochester (Farmington News, November 30, 1917).
(CHARLES C. BUTLER appeared in the Farmington, NH, directory of 1917, as a Goodyear welter for the T.&O. [Thayer & Osborne, i.e., Thayer-Osborne] Co., with his house at 12 Glen street).
Frank H. Thayer’s second son, Robert B. Thayer, died in Boston, MA, October 17, 1918, aged ten years.
N.B. Thayer’s granddaughter, Marjorie M. McBride, married in Weymouth, MA, in November 1919, Stanley Heald, both of Weymouth. He was born in Weymouth, MA, June 8, 1891, daughter of Arthur C. and Charlotte B. (Tower) Heald. (Her brother would marry his sister in the following year).
PERSONALS. Miss Priscilla West has returned to her home on Cottage street after spending a few days in South Weymouth, Mass., where she attended the wedding of Miss Marjorie MacBride and Stanley Heald of South Weymouth (Rutland Daily Herald, November 20, 1919).
Elmer F. Thayer, a shoe factory partner, aged fifty-eight years (b. MA), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Annie E. Thayer, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), his child, James E. Thayer, aged twelve years (b. NH), and his father-in-law, James B. Edgely, aged eighty-five years (b. NH). Elmer F. Thayer owned their home at 55 North Main Street, free-and-clear.
Frank H. Thayer, a shoe manufacturer, aged fifty-six years (b. MA), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Alice U. Thayer, aged forty-nine years (b. IL), and his children, Louise Thayer, aged fifteen years (b. MA), and Richard W. Thayer, aged thirteen years (b. MA). Frank H. Thayer rented their suite at the Charlesgate Hotel, at 535 Beacon Street in Boston, MA.
Carrie T. Mcbride, a widow, aged fifty years (b. MA), headed a Weymouth, MA, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. Her household included her son-in-law, Stanley Heal [Heald], a shoe shop assistant superintendent, aged twenty-six years (b. MA), and her daughter, Marjorie Heal [Heald], aged twenty-four years (b. MA). Carrie T. McBride owned their house at 40 Fogg Road, fee-and-clear.
Edith M. Varney, a widow, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Fourteenth (1920) Federal Census. Her household included her son, Edgar G. Varney, shoe factory supply man, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), and her boarders, Ellen Bean, a widow, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH), and Edwin T. Mcbride, shoe factory [supply man?], aged twenty-six years (b. MA). Edith M. Varney owned their house, free-and-clear.
The NH Bureau of Labor reported in 1920 that N.B. Thayer & Co. of East Rochester, NH, had 255 employees, 155 of them male and 100 of them female. They manufactured men and boys’ shoes (NH Bureau of Labor, 1920).
N.B. Thayer’s grandson, Edwin T. McBride, married in Weymouth, MA, June 12, 1920, Dorothea Heald, both of Weymouth, MA. Rev J. Weston Atwood performed the ceremony. She was born in Weymouth, MA, February 10, 1898, daughter of Arthur C. and Charlotte B. (Tower) Heald. (His sister had married her brother in the preceding year).
MISS HEALD, WEYMOUTH, BRIDE OF E.T. MACBRIDE. WEYMOUTH, June 13 – In the presence of guests from Orange, N.J.; Nyack-on-Hudson, N.Y.: Boston, Farmington, N.H.; Cohasset, Abington, Hingham, Newton, Rochester, N.H.; Greenville, Me.; the Weymouths and nearby towns, Miss Dorothea Heald, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur C. Heald of Main st., South Weymouth, and Edwin Thayer MacBride, son of Mrs. Edwin P. MacBride of Rochester, N.H., were married last night at the home of the bride’s parents. The ceremony was performed at 7 o’clock by Rev J. Weston Atwood of Abington, the double ring service being used. The bride was given in marriage by her father. Mrs. Albert Vinal of South Weymouth, a sister of the bride, was matron of honor. Miss Louise Sanders of Greenville, Me., the maid of honor and Charlotte T. Heald, a niece of the bride, the flower girl. The ushers were Richard H. Gould of White Plains, N.Y., Charles T. Heald, Stanley Heald and Albert Vinal of South Weymouth. The wedding marches were played by Donald T. Gammons and Burgess C. Tower of Cohasset, cousins of the bride, while an orchestra provided music during the reception. The bride was gowned in white tulle over silver cloth, wore a veil and carried lilies of the valley. The matron of honor wore blue satin, the maid of honor pink satin and they carried pink sweet peas. The flower girl was dressed in pink tulle over pink silk. A reception followed the ceremony from 7:30 to 9 o’clock, with the parents of the bride and mother of the groom assisting. A wedding lunch was served (Boston Globe, June 14, 1920).
Shoe Factory Buyers of the United States. Complete List of Buyers of Upper Leather, Sole Leather, Supplies and Other Materials, in the Shoe Industry, Arranged Alphabetically by States, Cities and Towns. NEW HAMPSHIRE. N.B. Thayer & Co., Inc., East Rochester. S.B. Stearns, supt.; E. Thayer McBride supplies; F.H. Thayer, leather. … Thayer-Osborne Shoe Co., Farmington. D.V. Osborne, pres’t; E.F. Thayer leather; Geo N. Osgood, Fremont. Geo N. Osgood, supt. and buyer (Shoe and Leather Reporter, May 18, 1922).
The NH Bureau of Labor reported in 1924 that N.B. Thayer & Co. of East Rochester, NH, had 236 employees, 168 of them male and 68 of them female. They manufactured men and boys’ shoes (NH Bureau of Labor, 1924).
N.B. Thayer’s second daughter (and youngest child), Carrie M. (Thayer) McBride, died in Weymouth, MA, April 16, 1924, aged fifty-four years.
ROBIN IS SEEN IN EAST ROCHESTER. EAST ROCHESTER, N.H., Dec. 21 – Local weather sharps were somewhat perplexed today by the unusual appearance of a robin at the shoe factory or the N.B. Thayer Company, here, shortly before 3 o’clock. Employees of the packing room were surprised on looking out the window to see the bird standing on the snow on the roof of the office. Shortly after the robin made its appearance a telephone call was received from Concord endeavoring to learn the bird’s whereabouts (Boston Globe, December 22, 1925).
N.B. Thayer’s third son, Elmer F. Thayer, who was a partner in the Thayer-Osborne Co. of Farmington, NH, died in Boston, MA, May 14, 1926, aged sixty-four years, eight months, and thirteen days.
DEATHS. THAYER – In Boston, May 14th, Elmer Francis Thayer, aged 64 years, 8 months, 13 days. Funeral services at his late residence, Main street, Farmington, New Hampshire, on Sunday, May 16th, at 1:30 p.m., Standard time. Relatives and friends invited (Boston Globe, May 14, 1926).
In August 1929, The Boston Globe published what appears to have been N.B. Thayer & Co.’s last advertisement seeking shoe workers for its East Rochester, NH, factory.
MALE HELP WANTED. VAMPERS on men’s and boys’ high-grade shoes – no labor trouble. Apply N.B. THAYER & CO., East Rochester, N.H., dSu3t au2 (Boston Globe, August 3, 1929).
Just over a month later, Frank H. Thayer, retired – he was not a well man – and new management took over.
BOSTON MAN TO QUIT E. ROCHESTER SHOE PLANT. ROCHESTER, N.H., Sept. 25 – A new organization is being formed to take over the firm of N.B. Thayer & Co., shoe manufacturers at East Rochester. The firm name will be continued, but announcement has been made that the new concern will take over the business on Nov 1. Frank H. Thayer of Beacon st., Boston, whose father originally started the company and who has been the active head of the company, will retire, and his place will be taken over by Herbert Posner of the large firm of Dr. A. Posner & Co., of New York and Brooklyn, whose shoes tor several years have been manufactured at East Rochester. Stock to the amount of $150,000 is being issued and will be taken by Roy M. McQuillen of East Rochester, the president of the company, Mr. Posner and the salesforce and employes of the company in equal amounts. No change is to be made in the executive personnel of the company. The capacity of the East Rochester factory will be greatly increased, following the reorganization after Nov 1 (Boston Globe, September 26, 1929).
ROCHESTER SHOE EMPLOYES GIVEN SHARES IN FIRM. Under a cooperative plan of manufacture and distribution of Thayer shoes, announced Tuesday at the offices of the N.B. Thayer Shoe Co., men who have been associated with the firm 30 years are taken into the company. Under the plan Frank Fernald, factory superintendent for many years, becomes vice president (Farmington News, October 4, 1929).
WEYMOUTH. Mrs. E. Thayer McBride of Main st., South Weymouth, entertained friends at whist yesterday afternoon (Boston Globe, November 2, 1929).
N.B. Thayer’s fourth (and youngest) son, the recently retired Frank H. Thayer, died in Boston, MA, December 7, 1929, aged sixty-five years.
FRANK H. THAYER. Frank H. Thayer, treasurer and general manager of N.B. Thayer & Co., Inc., shoe manufacturers of East Rochester, N.H., died at his home, 282 Beacon st, Saturday afternoon, after an illness of five weeks. He was born at South Weymouth, Mass., Jan. 4, 1864, the son of Noah Blanchard and Lucy (Newcomb) Thayer. His father was one of the pioneer shoe manufacturers of this country and he himself was very widely known in the shoe and leather trade. Surviving him are his wife, Alice (Waterman) Thayer; a son, Richard W. Thayer, and a daughter, Mrs. Francis Tilden Nichols (Boston Globe, [Monday,] December 9, 1929).
FRANK H. THAYER. Private services for Frank H. Thayer, treasurer and general manager of N.B. Thayer & Co., Inc., shoe manufacturers of East Rochester, N.H., were held yesterday. Burial was in Mt. Auburn cemetery. Mr. Thayer died at his home, 282 Beacon st., Boston, after an illness of five weeks. He was born in South Weymouth, January 4, 1864, the son of Noah Blanchard and Lucy (Newcomb) Thayer. His father was one of the pioneer shoe manufacturers of this country. Surviving Mr. Thayer are his wife, Alice (Waterman) Thayer; a son, Richard W. Thayer, and a daughter, Mrs. Francis Tilden Nichols (Boston Globe, December 10, 1929).
IN MEMOBIAM. Frank Thayer. Frank Thayer, widely known shoe manufacturer, formerly of Milton, whose large industry in more recent years has been prominently identified with East Rochester, died suddenly at his home in Boston last Saturday, December 7. He was 65 years of age and had been in failing health for some time. Complications of the heart hastened the end. He was recognized as one of New England’s foremost manufacturers and had followed the shoe Industry all his life, and with the associations of his father and brother, had wrested success from the many vicissitudes of the business. He is survived by his wife and two children, a daughter, Mrs. Francis Nichols of Great Neck, L.I., and a son, Richard Thayer, a student at the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. Funeral was held from the chapel in Mt. Auburn cemetery Monday at noon and was private to the family. Mrs. B.F. [E.F.] Thayer of this town and her son, James E Thayer, attended (Farmington News, December 13, 1929).
N.B. Thayer & Co., Inc., of East Rochester, NH, registered (No. 298,915) their Thayer Shoe Combo-Arch trademark with the U.S. Patent Office, April 15, 1930 (U.S. Patent Office, 1930).
Annie E. Thayer, a widow, aged sixty years (b. NH), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. Her household included her son, James E. Thayer, aged twenty-three years (b. NH). Annie E. Thayer owned their house at 65 North Main Street, which was valued at $80,000. They did not have a radio set.
Alice Thayer, a widow, aged fifty-nine years (b. IL), headed a Boston, MA, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. Her household included her son, Richard W. Thayer, aged twenty-three years (b. MA), and her servants, Mary A. Gallagher, a private family waitress, aged twenty-eight years (b. Irish Free State), Annie Murray, a private family cook, aged forty-five years (b. Irish Free State), and Belle Donegan, a private family maid, aged forty-three years (b. Irish Free State). Alice Thayer owned their home at 282 Beacon Street, which was valued at $30,000. They had a radio set.
Edwin T. Macbride, a shoe factory sales manager, aged thirty-six years (b. MA), headed a Weymouth, MA, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of nine years), Darthea H. Macbride, aged thirty-two years (b. MA), his children, Thais Macbride, aged eight years (b. NH), Edwin T. Macbride, aged five years (b. NH), and Jean Macbride, aged two years (b. MA), and his servants, Katherine Flavin, a private family maid, aged twenty-six years (b. Ireland), and Elva Derusha, a private family maid, aged eighteen years (b. MA). Edwin T. McBride rented their house at 816 Main Street, for $125 per month. They had a radio set.
N.B. Thayer’s grandson, Richard W. Thayer, died from a nine-story fall in Albany, NY, November 2, 1932, aged twenty-six years.
BOSTON MAN JUMPS TO DEATH IN ALBANY. R.W. Thayer Prominent at Harvard. ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 2 (AP) – Richard Waterman Thayer, 26, Harvard graduate and member of a prominent Boston family, jumped to his death from a ninth-floor room of the DeWitt Clinton Hotel today. His leap was witnessed by a man who lives on the opposite side of Eagle st. from the hotel. This witness, Harry Smith, said he saw Thayer climb out of his room and cling to the window casing for a few seconds, looking down. Two men were walking below. After they had passed, Thayer leaped. He died a few minutes later in Memorial Hospital. Shortly before plunging to his death, Thayer telephoned to the manager of the hotel, John J. Hyland, and asked that the house physician be sent to his room. He complained of sickness and dizziness. Thayer was the son of Mrs. Frank H. Thayer of 1282 Beacon st., Boston. His father was a shoe manufacturer. The son was graduated in 1929 from Harvard, where he had attained prominence in athletics. Last June he was graduated from the Harvard School of of Business Administration. He left Boston for Albany a few day ago. In his baggage was found a bill for accommodations at the Capitol Hotel. Albany, dated Oct 31. He left no written message in his room. Bank books and about $80 in cash were found in his effects (Boston Globe, November 2, 1932).
ROCHESTER, N.H., Nov. 2 – Richard W. Thayer was a director of the N.B. Thayer Shoe Company of this city. He was the son of Frank H. Thayer, who for years was owner of the factory here. Young Thayer visited the local factory here about one week ago (Boston Globe, November 3, 1932).
The coroner, after a discussion with the mother, Alice A. (Waterman) Thayer, brought in a verdict of accidental death (Glen Falls Post-Star, November 3, 1932).
FUNERAL SERVICES HELD FOR RICHARD W. THAYER. Funeral services were held in Mt. Auburn Cemetery chapel this noon for Richard Waterman Thayer, Harvard graduate and member of a prominent Boston family, who was killed in Albany, N.Y., after falling from the ninth floor of a hotel. Rev. Robert L. Bull, Jr., assistant rector of Trinity Church, Boston, officiated at the services. Thayer, the son of the late Frank H. Thayer of 282 Beacon st, Boston, was a graduate of Harvard in the class of 1929 (Boston Globe, November 4, 1932).
PERSONALS. Mrs. Elmer F. Thayer and son, James E. Thayer, were called to Boston last week by the funeral of Richard Waterman Thayer, whose tragic death occurred in Albany on November 2. Richard Thayer was the son of the late Frank H. Thayer, who for years was owner of the N.B. Thayer Shoe Company in Rochester, and the young man was a director of the concern (Farmington News, November 11, 1932).
Adopts Shorter Week. East Rochester, Aug. 4–Ten per cent increases in piece work prices, and the same pay for day help for 40 hours as for 48 hours a week previously, were announced last night by the N.B. Thayer Shoe Company, first industry in the city to display the blue eagle of the National Recovery Act (Portsmouth Herald, August 4, 1933).
ROCHESTER SHOE FACTORY HEAD DENIES REPORTS. East Rochester, Aug. 17 – Despite many rumors, announcement has been made by Ross Harrison of the N.B. Thayer shoe factory at East Rochester, that it is not about to shut down. He made the following statement: “The Thayer Shoe Company is busier now than it has been for some time. We are producing more shoes than ever. Because we are producing a cheaper grade of shoes than we have heretofore, the sales force has been found to be unnecessary. We are, though, employing more people than at any time since before 1930. We are here to stay.” The announcement was highly pleasing to local shoemakers, who for many years have held excellent positions at this factory (Portsmouth Herald, August 17, 1934).
N.B. Thayer & Co. closed its doors in East Rochester, NH, and went out of business in September 1934.
SEVERAL SEEK SHOE FACTORY. Rochester, Sept. 21. – Representatives of several shoe firms from Massachusetts and New Hampshire have inspected the shoe factory of the former N.B. Thayer company at East Rochester with the idea in view of moving to East Rochester, and to manufacture shoes. It is understood that the factory will go to the highest bidder when it is disposed of by the court. One of the companies yesterday made an announcement that they wished to interview the Thayer employes at the factory Saturday morning, September 22, at 11 o’clock Eastern Standard Time (Portsmouth Herald, September 21, 1934).
SEE WHAT’S FLYING IN ROCHESTER. East Rochester, Dec. 19. – With winter but four days away, according to the calendar, a butterfly was found yesterday morning near the boiler house of the N.B. Thayer Shoe Co., by workmen (Portsmouth Herald, December 20, 1934).
NEARLY READY TO OPEN FACTORY AT ROCHESTER. East Rochester, Jan. 9 – Manufacture of men’s shoes will commence soon at the factory of the former N.B. Thayer Company here, which has been closed since last September, when the Thayer Company went out of business. The factory was purchased last November by Samuel J. Katz of Rochester, owner of the Hubbard Shoe Company. William S. Fraser of Dover, for many years connected with the Farmington Shoe Company there, has been engaged as superintendent and is now preparing the factory for the resumption of activities by Feb. 1 and possibly sooner (Portsmouth Herald, January 9, 1935).
Former N.B. Thayer & Co. Milton boss laster, Roxbury foreman, and East Rochester superintendent Frank Fernald died of an apparent heart attack in Milton, December 14, 1944, aged seventy-eight years. M.A.H. Hart, M.D., signed the death certificate.
IN MEMORIAM. Frank Fernald. Frank Fernald, aged 78, well known resident of Milton, died suddenly last Thursday morning at his home in that town. Mr. Fernald was born in Melrose, Mass., January 3, 1866, the son of Eli and Eliza A (Felch) Fernald. During his active life he was identified with shoe making. For several years he was employed by the N.B. Thayer Shoe company in Roxbury and for a good many years afterward was employed as superintendent with this company at its East Rochester plant. While thus employed he lived in East Rochester. Following his retirement from this work, he removed to Milton, where he had lived since. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Lucy Fernald. Funeral services were held at the Norman L. Otis funeral parlor last Sunday afternoon, with Rev. Ralph Townsend, pastor of the Milton Community church, officiating, and the remains were taken to Farmington cemetery (Farmington News, December 22, 1944).
Annie M. (Edgerly) Thayer died in Farmington, NH, May 16, 1957, aged eighty-six years.
DEATHS. THAYER – Mrs. Annie Edgerly, widow of Elmer Francis Thayer, died in Farmington, N.H., May 16; mother of James E. Thayer, grandmother of Miss Sylvia Thayer of Wellesley College and James E. Thayer, Jr., of Yale College and Richard Perkins Thayer. Funeral will be Sunday, May 19, at 2 o’clock in the First Congregational Church, Farmington (Boston Globe, May 18, 1957).
Mrs. Annie Thayer Dies in 87th Year. A brief, simple service, marked by the poetry of Robert Brown, which she loved, was conducted by Rev. Linwood Potter for the funeral of Mrs. Annie Edgerly Thayer Sunday in the Congregational Church. Organist Elton Young played musical selections she had liked. The church seemed one mass of flowers, remembrances of hundreds. Burial, arranged by the Otis funeral home, was in the local Pine Grove cemetery. Mrs. Thayer, 86, succumbed last Thursday night at her home on No. Main street. She had suffered a stroke the previous Sunday, but had been in ill health the past two years. Interested in a variety of present-day and historical activities, Mrs. Thayer remained active, and attended out-of-town events only a few days before her death. Her husband, Elmer Francis Thayer, died in 1926. She leaves her son, James Edgerly Thayer, president of the Farmington National Bank, a granddaughter, Sylvia, now a junior at Wellesley college, Wellesley, Mass., and two grandsons, James E. Edgerly, Jr., a freshman at Yale university, New Haven, Conn., and Richard Perkins Thayer, Jr., a pupil in local schools. Mrs. Thayer was born in Farmington, Nov. 14, 1870, the daughter of James Bartlett and Maria (Fernald) Edgerly. She graduated from local schools in 1889. She became associated with the local bank, and has continued as a stockholder. She was in the middle of a 5-generation group connected with the bank. She was wed to Mr. Thayer in 1905. Mrs. Thayer was noted for her many and varied philanthropies, many of which were given in the guise of anonymous donors. During the years she helped organize such groups as the Eastern Star, Woman’s clubs and Garden clubs, and retained active interest to serve repeatedly as an officer. Her far-flung associations and friendships were cemented further during a world cruise some years ago. Her memberships included: Farmington, Alton and Rochester Woman’s clubs; Haven Hill and Farmington Garden clubs; Farmington-New Durham, Wakefield-Brookfield, and New Hampshire Historical societies; Mary Torr Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution; Farmington and Boston Browning societies; Pewter Collectors club of America; Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America; Daughters of Colonial Wars in America; Fraternal Chapter, O.E.S.; Piscataqua Pioneers; the board of Children’s Aid society; First Congregational church and Ladies aid; trustee of the Goodwin Public library; Frisbie Hospital aid association; Society for Preservation of New England Antiquities; the Rushlight club of Boston; Colonial Dames of America in New Hampshire; local and state Republican clubs. Bearers were Carl Thomas, Norman Fall, Everett Emerson, Dr. George Quinn, Eugene Nute, and Norman Hartfield (Farmington News, May 23, 1957).
Alice A. (Waterman) Thayer died in Boston, MA, May 16, 1965, aged ninety-four years.
DEATHS. THAYER – In Boston, May 16, in her 95th year, Alice Waterman Thayer, resident of Brooklin, Me., widow of Frank Herbert Thayer. Survived by her daughter Mrs. Francis T. Nichols. Funeral service at Bigelow Chapel, Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, on Wednesday. May 19 at 11 a.m. (Boston Globe, May 17, 1965).
N.B. Thayer’s grandson, Edward T. McBride, died in Hingham, MA, August 17, 1965, aged seventy-two years.
E. Thayer MacBride, 72, Shoe Industry Leader, Dies. E. Thayer MacBride. 72, shoe industry leader, died today at his home, 13 Clark rd., Hingham. Born in South Weymouth, he attended schools there, the Chauncy School, Boston, and graduated from M.I.T. in 1915. He served as a pilot in World War I. He was former president of the N.B. Thayer Shoe Co., Rochester, N.H., first President of the Kiwanis in Rochester, member of the Masonic Temple in Rochester, and the recently retired president of the Stetson Shoe Co., South Weymouth. He is survived by his wife Darthea (Heald) MacBride, two daughters, Thais, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Mrs. Robert O. Hoss, of Hingham, a son Edwin T., Jr., of Braintree, a sister, Mrs. Marjory Heald of Hingham, and 11 grandchildren (Boston Globe, August 17, 1965).
References:
Find a Grave. (2016, May 8). Carrie M. Thayer McBride. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/162351856/carrie-m-macbride
Find a Grave. (2015, August 7). Frank Herbert Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/150294761/frank-herbert-thayer
Find a Grave. (2008, October 5). Frederick Nicholas Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/30325265/frederick-nicholas-thayer
Find a Grave. (2008, October 5). Noah Blanchard Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/30324570/noah-blanchard-thayer
Find a Grave. (2015, August 7). Richard Waterman Thayer. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/150294778/richard-waterman-thayer
McDuffee, Franklin. (1892). History of the Town of Rochester, New Hampshire, from 1722 to 1890. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=rL0yAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA500
MA District Police. (1901). Report of the Chief of the Massachusetts District Police. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=ACcrAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA101
NH Bureau of Labor. (1920). Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=J8JMAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA161
NH Bureau of Labor. (1924). Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=B8cFoLudq0IC&pg=PA54
NH Supreme Court. (1911). The New Hampshire Reports, June 1908-December 1910. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=TtRIAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA592
Scales, John. (1914). History of Strafford County, New Hampshire and Representative Citizens. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=nGsjAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA734
U.S. Patent Office. (1911). Annual Report of the Commissioner of Patents. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=x4enZnlxHJ0C&pg=PA687
U.S. Patent Office. (1930). Official Gazette of the United States Patent Office. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=DdVF8AmFQOIC&pg=PA739
Wikipedia. (2021, September 24). Kidskin. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidskin
Wikipedia. (2021, May 4). National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Industrial_Recovery_Act_of_1933
Wikipedia. (2021, August 2). Panic of 1893. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_of_1893
Milton Observer 