JESSIE OGDEN (MALLORY) THAYER/O'NEAL Part 3 of 4 Frank D. Myers Deming J. Thayer was buried the afternoon of 23 June 1898 in a lot in the northwest corner of the Chariton Cemetery that his father-in-law, Smith H. Mallory, had purchased during 1887 from the Stanton partnership, which had purchased the cemetery's hilltop site above the Chariton River valley many years earlier, commissioned its park-like design and continued to operate as a business until after the turn of the 20th Century. I visited the grave early Tuesday before the fog had lifted, driving down the long approach lined with over-arching trees in autumn dress, and thought of John Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," Savannah's Bonaventure Cemetery and, as the sculpted woman atop the Bates tombstone emerged on the cemetery's highest point, of the "Bird Girl" statue featured both in the film and on "Midnight's" cover. To reach Deming's grave, drive straight from front to back of the cemetery on the lane that commences at the entrance gate, follow the lane's curve southward for a car length, stop, then walk west for approximately 12 feet. The low gray granite stone is inscribed in raised lettering, "Deming Jarves Thayer, 1852-1898." It is likely that Deming's father-in-law, too, was buried here during the 17 years his body was interred in Chariton since the Mallorys owned no other lot. Today, Deming seems alone and stranded in death, half a continent from his Massachusetts birthplace and from the Florida graves of his wife and parents-in-law. The Lucas County Historical Society has in its possession a small but beautifully-crafted drafting set encased in an inlaid walnut box. It was left behind when the Mallory belongings were removed from the Ilion, retrieved by a caretaker, Henry Stroud, and donated many years later to the museum. I wonder if it was among the possessions of civil engineer turned farmer Deming J. Thayer. Jessie had assumed management of Brook Farm during her husband's illness, and continued those duties after his death. She also traveled extensively, occasionally writing letters that were published in The Chariton Patriot. During February and March of 1900, for example, she wrote from Havana and Puerto Rico, respectively. Following the death of Smith H. Mallory during March of 1903, Jessie and her mother assumed many of his business responsibilities. Annie Mallory became president of First National Bank and Jessie, one of its directors. They continued to rely, as the family had for many years, on Frank R. Crocker to manage their bank and superintend many of their assets. They continued to make Chariton and Ilion their headquarters, and to travel extensively. Jessie's 1923 obituary suggests that the family also may have acquired its first property in Florida during this period between Deming's death and the financial disaster that would sever their ties with Lucas County. When First National crashed during November 1907, Annie and Jessie were on board a ship bound for Egypt, where they planned to winter. A telegram announcing Frank Crocker's suicide and the bank's failure caught up with them in Naples, and they turned toward home. By late November, Annie and Jessie had reached Batavia, Ill., which was the home of Smith H. Mallory's brother, A. D. Mallory, and the following was published on 5 December of 1898 in The Chariton Patriot: STATEMENT BY THE MALLORYS They Cannot Put the Bank On Its Feet Again "The Patriot is in receipt of the following communication from Mrs. Jessie M. Thayer in which she states the present attitude of herself and her mother, Mrs. Mallory, in the matter of the bank failure, based upon such information of conditions as have so far come to their knowledge: "Batavia, Ill., Dec. 2nd, 1907 "E. H. Lewis, Esq., Editor, Chariton Patriot, "Dear Sir: "I am in receipt of your favor of late date, requesting that I write out for publication in your paper, in behalf of my mother and myself, a statement pertaining to the affairs of the First National Bank. "As far as we are informed of the situation, about the only thing that I can say is, that as to taking any steps towards reopening the bank or paying depositors out in full, to do either one of these things is entirely beyond our power. This indeed would be a very satisfactory thing to do, but it is simply useless for us to attempt the impossible. "We expect to meet our legal liabilities as far as same are known to us, but there seems to be a possible contingent legal liability, the amount of which we are now unable to determine, which makes it impossible to say anything further at this time. "Very truly yours, Jessie Mallory Thayer "Mrs. Anna L. Mallory, president of the defunct First National bank, her daughter, Mrs. Jessie M. Thayer, one of the directors, accompanied by Miss Polly Wolcott, arrived last week from their interrupted trip to Egypt and are in Batavia, Illinois, at the home of Mrs. Mallory's brother-in-law, A. D. Mallory. As a result of the suicide of F. R. Crocker, the cashier of the bank, and the failure of that institution, Mrs. Mallory is quite ill and will be taken to Florida in hope of regaining her health. Mrs. Thayer and Mr. Mallory were here from Batavia late Friday night to learn of the condition of the bank, and the situation they may be in as the result thereof and the ill doings of Crocker. The names of Mrs. Mallory and Mrs. Thayer are on the $350,000 M.W.A. Bond and on the bond to the county for $50,000. They hold $47,000 of bank shares and are liable for that amount." Part of the difficulty the Mallory women faced following the bank failure seems to have been that many in Lucas County expected them to follow what they thought would have been Smith H. Mallory's course: Use their personal fortunes to reimburse depositors for their losses. Whether or not the Mallorys had sufficient assets to do this is questionable. In any event, they chose not to. Annie and Jessie seem to have complicated the situation for themselves by not returning to Chariton to face the situation personally. Some months later, during February of 1899, when Lucas County filed suit to seize the Ilion and other Lucas County assets as security for the $50,000 in county funds deposited in First National, the county alleged that "Mrs. Mallory and Mrs. Thayer have absconded, so that ordinary process cannot be served against them." The long and the short of the situation is this: In the end, the Mallorys were "convicted" indirectly in a series of lawsuits and rulings of gross carelessness in the failure of First National Bank and their assets in Lucas County, including the Ilion and its associated farmland, were seized and sold to help pay off depositors. As the dust settled in Iowa, Jessie and Annie set about establishing new lives for themselves in Orlando, Florida. There is no indication that they were short of funds, and by 1914, when Jessie, now past her 50th birthday, married Orlando businessman William R. O'Neal, a widower, they had established what seems to have been a comfortable, even luxurious, lifestyle for themselves. The following account of Jessie's second marriage was published in The Chariton Patriot of 22 October 1914: THAYER-O'NEAL "From the Evening Reporter-Star, published at Orlando, Fla., we take the following account of the marriage of a former well known Chariton lady, Mrs. Jessie Mallory Thayer, whose friends here will extend congratulations on this happy event: "Probably no marriage ever solemnized in Orlando has held the deep, true interest of as many friends and acquaintances, both here and elsewhere, as did the quiet event of last evening when Mrs. Jessie Mallory Thayer became the wife of Mr. William R. O'Neal. No cards were issued and the informal, personal invitations were extended only to relatives, a few very intimate friends and the "PollyAnna Club," of which the bride is a member. These gathered shortly before 8 o'clock at "The Tree Pines," the attractive home of Mrs. Thayer, and were shown into the long music room. Here, as throughout the house, quantities of roses were used, the lovely blossoms having been sent by their friends. With these flowers was used asparagus fern, and the feathery green was most effective upon the old rose hangings of the windows, and upon the casements and mantles, the artistic decorations being the work of Mr. John H. Harvey, uncle of the bride. Bishop Mann, clad in his robes of office, stood at the east end of the music room, and as Mrs. Thayer and Mr. O'Neal took their places before him, the gay chatter of the guests gave place to silence, which was more impressive than music, however sweet. The beautiful wedding service of the Episcopal church, so fraught with meaning, was used, and after the responses made by the bride and groom and the words of the bishop had ceased, the guests gathered close to voice their sincere congratulations and affectionate good wishes to Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal. "The guests were led to the dining room and served with a salad course, ice cream and fruit cake. The dining table was bare, except for a handsome centerpiece of heavy lace. On this was a silver bowl, hand carved in the symbols of the natives of India, on a standard of ebony wood, molded in the shape of miniature elephants. The unique receptacle was filled with white roses and ferns. Mrs. George R. Newell poured coffee, which was passed by Mrs. Thomas Brodwater, Mrs. Bolton Mallory and Mr. Sidney Newell. Roses, of an exquisite shade of pink, held in brown willow baskets, were used in the drawing room. On the screened porch on the south of the house, red roses gave a bright touch to the dark green of the veranda furniture. "Although the request had been made that no presents be sent, many useful and handsome gifts were received. The bride was becomingly and very beautifully gowned in white brocaded charmeuce, over satin, with silvered lace. Her jewels were diamonds and rubies. Mrs. Mallory, mother of the bride, wore a gown of grey brocaded crepe de chine and Miss Mable O'Neal was prettily costumed in white net with lace. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal have hosts of friends wherever they are known, and have taken a prominent place in social circles. Both have labored for the welfare of the community in all matters relating to its advancement, and are active in civic and church work. Appreciation of their endeavors in such matters is expressed in many messages of congratulation and good wishes which have been received by them during the past few days. They will continue to live in Orlando." It would be interesting to know how this account was received in the farm living rooms and town parlors across Lucas County.