Jefferson Gage Thurber (December 30, 1807 – May 6, 1857) was an American lawyer, Democratic Party politician, and Michigan pioneer. He was a member of the Michigan Senate and House of Representatives, and served as the 16th speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives in 1851.

Jefferson G. Thurber
16th Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives
In office
February 5, 1851 – June 28, 1851
Preceded bySilas G. Harris
Succeeded byDaniel G. Quackenboss
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives
from the Monroe County district
In office
February 5, 1851 – January 5, 1853
Preceded byNorman Barnes
Succeeded byAlfred G. Bates
Member of the Michigan Senate
from the 3rd district
In office
January 1, 1844 – March 17, 1847
Succeeded byN. Dunham
Personal details
Born(1807-12-30)December 30, 1807
Unity, New Hampshire, U.S.
DiedMay 6, 1857(1857-05-06) (aged 49)
Monroe, Michigan, U.S.
Resting placeWoodland Cemetery, Monroe, Michigan
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Mary Bartlett Gerrish
(m. 1834⁠–⁠1857)
Children
  • Henry Thurber
  • (b. 1834; died 1835)
  • Edward Gerrish Thurber
  • (b. 1836; died 1913)
  • Elizabeth J. (Wing)
  • (b. 1842; died 1920)
  • Jefferson Mann Thurber
  • (b. 1843; died 1930)
  • Thomas Thurber
  • (b. 1849; died 1849)
  • Julia Thurber
  • (b. 1851; died 1945)
Parents
  • Samuel Hallet Thurber (father)
  • Sarah (Gage) Thurber (mother)
RelativesSamuel H. Thurber (half-brother)
Alma materCanandaigua Academy
ProfessionLawyer

Biography

edit

Jefferson G. Thurber was born in Unity, New Hampshire, and while a child moved to Canandaigua, New York, with his parents. He received his education at the Canandaigua Academy, then taught Latin and mathematics while studying law.[1][2]

In 1833, he went west to the Michigan Territory and started a legal practice in Monroe, where he resided for most of the rest of his life. He quickly became involved in politics, and was elected prosecuting attorney and then probate judge. In 1843, he was elected to the Michigan Senate and served three years as one of the representatives in the 3rd Senate district (in this era Michigan's senators were elected in multi-member districts). He was subsequently elected to a single term in the Michigan House of Representatives, representing Monroe County in the 1851 session, and he was chosen as speaker of the House for that session.[1] He was also a delegate to the 1856 Democratic National Convention which nominated James Buchanan over the incumbent, President Franklin Pierce.[3]

He died at his home in Monroe on May 6, 1857.[4]

Personal life and family

edit

Jefferson G. Thurber was the second child and eldest son of Samuel Hallet Thurber and his first wife, Sara (née Gage) Thurber.[2] Several of Thurber's siblings also moved to Michigan and prospered.

Jefferson Thurber married Mary Bartlett Gerrish in 1834, they had at least eight children, though two died in infancy.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Bulkley, John McClelland, ed. (1913). History of Monroe County, Michigan. Vol. 1. The Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 261–262. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Wing, Talcott Enoch, ed. (1890). History of Monroe County, Michigan. Munsell & Company. pp. 249–250. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  3. ^ "Thurber, Jefferson G.", The Political Graveyard
  4. ^ "Death of the Hon. Jefferson G. Thurber". Buffalo Morning Express. May 12, 1857. p. 2. Retrieved May 15, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
Michigan House of Representatives
Preceded by
Norman Barnes
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the Monroe County district
February 5, 1851 – January 5, 1853
Succeeded by
Alfred G. Bates
Preceded by Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives
February 5, 1851 – June 28, 1851
Succeeded by