Vera Charlotte CORNWALL THAYER
- Birth Place: Downing, Dunn Co,Wisconsin
- Birth Date: 8 AUG 1901
- Death Place: Shell Lake, Wisconsin
- Death Date: 15 AUG 1989
- Place Burried: Stillwater, Minnesota
- Veras Family History
My cousin, Jan Jordan Lokengard wrote the following about Vera:
Vera had dark brown hair, very blue eyes and a laugh that lit up the room. A gifted storyteller; she always had an interesting and funny story about someone or something. She also had a gift for writing. Her letters were as interesting and colorful as talking to her in person. Vera wrote at least four journals about her life in the early to middle 1900's which included events with her husband, family and friends. Her stories are truely captivating. They depict the times in the life of a young woman growing up in Pine County, Minnesota and Burnett County, Wisconsin. Vera was also a talented artist, painting many pictures. Most of her letter's have cute little cartoons and sketches on them. Vera was an entrepreneur, running her own successful business with her husband for many years. In fact, when she was a young woman, before she married, she started her own candy business called "Honesty Candy". She was an excellent cook and loved to bake up a storm for company. She would have made a great restaurant owner, which was one of her dreams. Vera loved to travel, she was known to be ready for an adventure at the drop of a hat. She was a good wife, mother and grandmother. It was so much fun to be with her. She was an extraordinary woman.We really do miss her~~~Jan
My aunt, Diane Thayer Myers wrote the following about her Mother Vera
Ambitious: She never permitted herself to sit back, expecting 'someone else to do the work', even whenever sick or exhausted. Thoughtful: She thought about everyone in everything. But her thoughtfulness was not 'just thoughts', she spontaneously acted out kindness in everyway. No one went hungry because she always shared her cooking and baked goods with everyone. Even the birds and animals benefitted with her leftovers. She was never too tired to get the work done or to water the thirsty plants. Before we had a garden hose, or if the hose wasn't long enough....she would carry pails of water out to the garden and kindly give each plant a drink. Much like a laborer ,who works for you, would do. She would stay up all night tending to a sick calf if she had to. Feeding it by hand until it was strong enough to stand on it's feet. Her greatest joy was feeding someone who was hungry. She often went without. Knowing someone was enjoying whatever she sacrificed to give to them. She let everyone know that she often thought of them ,by her dedicated letter writing. Her letters were always fun to recieve. She believed that, "If you can't write anything good and happy, you shouldn't write anything at all," and "Don't be a sad sack" was another famous saying of hers.unloveing: Throughout her whole life she displayed her love of music and the lighthearted spirit of dance and laughter. Artistic: She loved drawing cartoons that had a comical message, and learned to paint with oils, taking gratification when the animals that she characterized had a happy look.
This talent showed up in her cooking as well. She took a home study course on cake decorating and displayed proudly her accomplishments. She really enjoyed astonishing her guests and when she cut into one of her choice cakes, revealing a checker board pattern of rich chocolate brown and white they were delighted. She always followed a recipe and was anxious to try the new recipes that came each month in "Good Housekeeping" magazine. She would fill the recipe box and over-stuff the cookbooks with clippings. She would say, "Anyone can cook...if you can follow directions, you can cook." Values: Vera valued education and formal study. She thought that one of life's biggest embarrassments is dropping out of school and never completing your education. She said, "Something you can keep and have with you always is what's in your brain." With all these characteristics, everyone that met her, loved her. Even those who met her briefly can not help but comment, "I love her already." They would go home with everlasting memories. In 1950, Cora Hegge Meade wrote a song called "Down in the St.Croix Valley" with these words in it. "And, Vera, we all love her so..." No words were ever spoken so true. She bacame more beautiful as the years went by. Then, shortly after her 88th birthday she finally became very tired. Her work was done and the Lord said, "You earned a place close by my side." As her daughter; not a day goes by that I don't think of her and how much I miss her. I can never match up to her. I can only say with pride, "That's my Mother." Anyone who has ever met her will agree. She truly wanted to be remembered. "We will never forget you."... written by Diane
Jan Jordan Lokensgard added this bit of history~~~~~~~~~
Our Stanchfield's were from Pine County, Minnesota, via Iowa and Maine. The Thayer's originally lived in and owned property in Pine County too, until Grandpa bought the property on the Wisconsin side of the St. Croix (Burnett County) and built the tavern. They had bought a house on the top of the hill from the tavern (toward Danbury) but it burned down when my mother was young. I think they were not there but a year or so. They continued to own the farm property in Ogema township until 1970. The Burgert/Burgett's and Cornwall's were from Burnett County, Wisconsin via Dunn County, Wisconsin.
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