The Legacy of Helen Thayne Lefler
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Helen Thayne’s life began in Renfrew, Scotland, on 5 May 1816. As the first child of Janet Lochead and Ebenezer Thane, she was christened a week later in Abby Paisley. Her father, Ebenezer, harbored dreams of a life in America. Following these aspirations, he relocated his family to the New World shortly after the birth of Fanny, their youngest. However, tragedy struck soon after their arrival, with Ebenezer passing away and leaving Janet to care for their children, with twelve-year-old Helen being the eldest.
On Christmas Day in 1833, Helen’s life took a romantic turn. She married David Lefler, the son of John Lefler and Elizabeth Mackey. The couple made Canada their home for the next two decades, during which Helen gave birth to ten of her twelve children. In 1854, they decided to move again, this time to Geneseo, Tama, Iowa, where their last two children were born. David’s life was cut short in 1865, and he was laid to rest in Tama.
The Civil War years saw Helen remaining in Iowa. Her son James took an active role in the conflict, serving as a Private in the 14th division of the Iowa Infantry. By 1870, census records showed Helen as a widow who owned property. She was literate, though she couldn’t write. Living with her were a son and two unmarried daughters.
Around 1872, a significant change occurred. Helen’s son, John Marshall, moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, to work in a mill owned by his Uncle, John Johnson Thayne. It’s believed that Helen and her daughters might have accompanied him. Between 1873 and 1876, a romantic twist saw Peyton Bowers traveling to Salt Lake to marry Helen’s eldest daughter, Martha. However, upon his arrival, he found her already wed. Peyton eventually married Martha’s younger sister, Mary Elizabeth.
Helen’s journey came to an end in Salt Lake City on 12 February 1880. She was laid to rest alongside her son John Marshall Lefler and his family in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. While many questions about Helen Thayne Lefler’s life remain unanswered, her descendants continue to search for clues, ensuring her legacy lives on.
Kathy, a dedicated family historian, made some intriguing discoveries about the Lefler family. She found them listed in the Townsend, Norfolk, Ontario Census and the Iowa 1856 State Census. Additionally, she uncovered marriage records for several Lefler family members in Tama, Iowa.
The story then shifts to Jean Thayne Boyer, another member of the Thayne lineage. Jean’s life remains somewhat of a mystery. She married Michael Boyer in 1848, a man born in Lebanon, Center, Pennsylvania, in 1819. Michael was deeply religious, and it was during one of his family’s Bible studies that he met Jean Thayne. While details about their marriage and children are sparse, Jean’s death on 4 April 1856 marked a tragic end. Michael later remarried, and his life took several more twists and turns, including service in the Civil War and a subsequent marriage that ended in desertion.
The narrative then returns to Ebenezer Thayne Jr., born in Abbey Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland, in 1820. Ebenezer’s life was marked by adventure, from trapping in Canada to settling in Salt Lake City, where he operated a “Traveler Inn.” His life, like those of his relatives, was a testament to the resilience and spirit of the Thayne family.
