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Richard Thatcher

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richard Thatcher
1st President of Territorial Normal School
In office
November 1, 1891 – 1893
Succeeded byGeorge Winans
Personal details
Born(1846-03-23)23 March 1846
Alton, Illinois, U.S.
Died28 November 1909(1909-11-28) (aged 63)
Edmond, Oklahoma, U.S.
SpouseMelissa Thatcher
Alma materMcKendree College
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1861–1865
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War

Richard Thatcher (March 23, 1846 – November 28, 1909) was an American educator, and Civil War veteran. He was a school administrator in Kansas and Oklahoma, hotel operator and the first President of Territorial Normal School, now the University of Central Oklahoma.

Early life

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Richard Thatcher was born on March 23, 1846, in Alton, Illinois.[1] His father, John Wesley Thatcher was a reverend. At the age of 15 he left to join the Union Army as a member of the 111th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment.[2] He was captured on July 22, 1864, and sent to the notorious Andersonville Prison, where he began to have chronic respiratory issues. He was later released during a prisoner exchange.[3][4] After the war he attended McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois, and graduated in 1878.[1]

Academic career

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Thatcher would be a superintendent in Kansas, before moving to Edmond, Oklahoma, in 1890. He operated the Central Hotel until 1891 when he became the first president of Territorial Normal School.[2] He would hold that post until 1893. He would become principal of Edmond Schools from 1894 to 1895.[1][2] UCO would later name Thatcher Hall in his honor.[5]

Personal life

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Thatcher married Melissa D. DeFord a native of Ashley, Illinois. They had five children, four daughters of whom survived infancy, Edna, Mae, Blanche, and Ethel.[1]

Thatcher was also a Freemason, reaching the 33rd degree, and was the second master of the Edmond Lodge.[1][2]

Death

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Thatcher died on November 28, 1909, in Edmond, Oklahoma from complications from tuberculosis. He was 63 years old.[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Richard Thatcher President of Territorial Normal School of Oklahoma [1891-1893]". 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e David Randall Fisk (2014). Arcadia Publishing (ed.). Legendary Locals of Edmond Oklahoma. Arcadia. ISBN 9781467101233.
  3. ^ Robert Scott Davis (2006). Ghosts and Shadows of Andersonville: Essays on the Secret Social Histories of America's Deadliest Prison. Mercer University Press. ISBN 9780881460124.
  4. ^ Ed. Glennan (2013). Mercer University Press (ed.). Surviving Andersonville: One Prisoner's Recollections of the Civil War's Most Notorious Camp. McFarland. ISBN 9780786473618.
  5. ^ "UCO Holding Ceremony". newsok.com. March 31, 1997. Retrieved May 14, 2014.