Jefferson G. Thurber

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 by	Silas G. Harris
Succeeded by	Daniel G. Quackenboss
Member of the Michigan House of Representatives from the Monroe County district
In office February 5, 1851 – January 5, 1853
Preceded by	Norman Barnes
Succeeded by	Alfred G. Bates
Member of the Michigan Senate from the 3rd district
In office January 1, 1844 – March 17, 1847
Succeeded by	N. Dunham
Personal details
Born	(1807-12-30)December 30, 1807 Unity, New Hampshire, U.S.
Died	May 6, 1857(1857-05-06) (aged 49) Monroe, Michigan, U.S.
Resting place	Woodland Cemetery, Monroe, Michigan
Political party	Democratic
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)
Relatives	Samuel H. Thurber (half-brother)
Alma mater	Canandaigua Academy
Profession	Lawyer

Biography

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

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

1. Bulkley, John McClelland, ed. (1913). History of Monroe County, Michigan. Vol. 1. The Lewis Publishing Company. pp. 261–262. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
2. 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 Silas G. Harris	Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives February 5, 1851 – June 28, 1851	Succeeded by Daniel G. Quackenboss