The Family of Grace Butler and Milton Thayer

Grace Eleanor Butler, daughter of Samuel, was born on September 17, 1878 at Bottisham, England. She died as a result of appendicitis at the age of thirty-eight years, three months and fourteen days on January 1, 1917 at Deckerville, Michigan. She is buried in the Downing Cemetery at Deckerville, Michigan. Grace came to American with her mother, Sarah, arriving in American on July 12, 1880 aboard the steamship Spain, which sailed from Liverpool.

Grace married on November 19, 1902 at Downington, Sanilac, Michigan to Francis L(afayette) Thayer, son of David Halsey Thayer and Catherine Hunt.

Francis, also known as Frank, was born on March 5, 1877 at Cedardale, Michigan. The 1910 United States census return reported that Frank had been born in March of 1876 in the State of Michigan. This is supported by a transcription of the Thayer Headstones Project. This report indicates that Frank was born on March 5, 1876. He died on June 5, 1936. He is buried in the Downing Cemetery at Deckerville, Michigan. The tombstone states that he was the husband of Bessie Thayer and Grace E.

After Grace’s death, Frank married a second time on October 24, 1917 at Deckerville, Michigan to Bessie Liddie Turnbull, daughter of Jacob Turnbull and Jane Riddell. Bessie was born on April 30, 1882 Saruia, Lambton, Ontario. She died on May 31, 1974 and is buried in Downing Cemetery at Deckerville, Michigan. Frank and Bessie had two sons: John and David. Bessie was a nurse by profession.

Frank’s World War I draft registration card, dated September 12, 1918, indicated he was born on March 5, 1876. His wife is listed as Bessie Thayer. He was living in Palma, Michigan. He was a self-employed farmer. Frank is described as being short of height and stout in build with blue eyes and light hair. His age is given as forty-one years.

According to the various United States census returns for Delaware Township, Sanilac County, Frank was a farmer by profession.

Grace and Francis had three children.

1. Stillborn Infant who was delivered on July 11, 1904 in Delaware Township, Michigan. The cause of this infant’s death was reported as “placenta previa.”
2. Thelma Butler Thayer was born in 1907 in Delaware Township, Michigan. She died on August 19, 1974 at Ann Arbor, Michigan. According to the Social Security Death Index, Thelma was born on October 25, 1906 and died in August of 1974 at Detroit, Michigan. The Michigan Death Index for the period 1971 through 1996 reports that Thelma was born on October 25, 1906 and died on August 19, 1974 at Detroit, Michigan.

   In the 1910 United States census return, Thelma’s age is report as being three. In the 1920 United States census return, her age is reported as being thirteen. In the 1930 United States census, Thelma’s occupation is given as a home nurse and her age is given as twenty-three. Thelma belonged to the Michigan State Nursing Association and worked for Kanna School of Nursing in Michigan.

   Thelma married Gail Brewington, who may have been born at Oxford, Michigan. The Social Security Death Index indicated that Gail was born on December 6, 1900 and died in January of 1958.

   It is reported that Thelma and Gail had no children.

3. Milton Butler Thayer was born on June 28, 1909 in Delaware Township, Sanilac, Michigan. According to the Social Security Death Index, Milton was born on June 28, 1909 and died on February 17, 1990 at Bradenton, Florida. According to the 1930 United States census return, Milton was a farm laborer.

   He married Frances Marguerita Prichard, daughter of Frank Prichard and Effa Murley. Marguerite was born on March 27, 1910 in Wheatland Township, Sanilac County, Michigan. She died on October 19, 1984 in Deckerville Township, Sanilac County, Michigan. They had three sons, Dale, James and Jeryl.

Sources:

1. Letters written by Harry Butler to his niece Jesse Schaeder, nee Butler, dated July 5, 1951, July 10, 1951, and July 14, 1951.
2. Letter from Sharon White dated June 17, 1985.
3. Letter from Lillian Darlington dated June 20, 1983.
4. Social Security Death Index.
5. Michigan Death Index for the period 1971 to 1996 as found at http://www.ancetry.com.
6. Certificate of Death as found at http://seekingmichigan.org for:
   • Stillborn infant Thayer.
   • Grace E. Butler Thayer.
7. Transcription of the Thayer Headstones Project found at http://www.thayerfamily.info/headstone.htm#MI.
8. Returns of Marriages for Sanilac County, Michigan for:
   • Grace Butler and Francis Thayer.
   • Frank Thayer and Bessie Turnbull.
9. Information posted by Claudia Ivey in the family tree section at http://www.ancestry.com.
10. The following United States federal census:
    • 1880 for Delaware Township, Sanilac, Michigan, SD 3, ED 329, Sheet 25A, Dwelling 193, Family 195.
    • 1900 for West Precinct of Delaware Township, Sanilac, Michigan, SD 7, ED 119, Sheet 10A, Dwelling 169, Family 180.
    • 1900 for Marion Township, Sanilac, Michigan, Sheet 1A, SD 122, ED 137, Dwelling 10, Family 11.
    • 1910 for West Precinct of Delaware Township, Sanilac, Michigan, SD 7, ED 135, Sheet 4A, Dwelling 65, Family 65.
    • 1910 for Marion Township, Sanilac, Michigan, Sheet 1B, SD 7, ED 148, Dwelling 13, Family 13.
    • 1920 for Delaware Township, Sanilac, Michigan, SD 7, ED 144, Sheet 2A, Dwelling 36, Family 36.
    • 1920 for Wheatland Township, Sanilac, Michigan, Sheet 1A, ED 7, ED 167, Dwelling 4, Family 4.
    • 1930 for Delaware Township, Sanilac, Michigan, Sheet 4B, Dwelling 89, Family 94.
    • 1930 for Wheatland Township, Sanilac, Michigan, Sheet 1B, SD 11, ED 76-39, Dwelling 12, Family 13.
11. World War I draft registration card for Frank Thayer as found at http://www.ancestry.com.
12. Ontario, Canada Births, 1869 - 1909 for Lambton as found at http://www.ancestry.com.

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