Prof. William M. Thrasher. This gentleman, distinguished in the educational annals of Marion County, is a product of Fayette County, Indiana, born July 26, 1833, and is a descendant of an old colonial family, his ancestor being one of three brothers who emigrated from England about the middle of the last century. One of the bothers settled in Portland, Maine, married a Cuban wife, and to him was born John S. Thrasher, the well-known editor, with an able introduction, of Humbolt's History of Cuba. John S. resided in Havana, was suspected of complicity with the Lopez invasion of Cuba in 1850, was imprisoned at Madrid, but subsequently released in 1851 by intervention of the United States Government through its Secretary of State, Daniel Webster. John, ancestor of our subject, settled in Maryland and was a soldier of the Revolution. His son, Josiah, emigrated to Kentucky, married and became a noted Indian fighter in the early annals of Kentucky, He, with his eldest son, John, who had married Elizabeth Rush, a near relative of Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia, and his grandson, Woodson, W., emigrated to Rush County, Indiana, in 1824. In 1831 Woodson W. Thrasher married Barbara Daubenspeck, a native of Cynthiana, Kentucky, and to them were born Prof. W. M.; John P, of Fayette County; Elizabeth, deceased wife of Dr. James P. Orr, of Rushville, Indiana; Hattie, deceased wife of Dr. Samuel Bell, of Dublin; Sarah, wife of A. W. Vandeman, of Denver, Colorado; Dr. Marion, of San Francisco, California; Dr. Allen B., a distinguished specialist, of Cincinnati; and Olli, wife of Marshall Blackledge, of Rush County, Indiana. The father, Woodson, served one term in the State Legislature and several terms as County Commissioner. He was known through Indiana and Kentucky as a breeder of shorthorn cattle, founded an academy of collegiate grade and died in 1886, an active member of the Christian Church. His wife followed him in 1892. Prof. William M. passed his childhood and youth on a farm in his native county, and studied several years in the Fairview Academy under the tutelage of Prof. A. R. Benton, afterward the President of Butler University. He graduated in 1854 from Bethany College, West Virginia, after which he taught a classical school at Rushville, Indiana, form 1854 to 1865. In April of the last named year he entered Butler University as Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy, which chair he has filled ever since with the exception of one year, 1873-4, which he spent pursuing higher mathematical branches at Heidelberg University, Germany. Since leaving Germany he has been many years a student of advanced mathematics in the English, French and German languages. He has always been an extensive reader of literature in several languages, writes easily, but has written nothing for publication except in newspapers. His dry humor, keen sense of the ridiculous and extensive acquaintance with literature has aided in rendering his lectures quite popular with the university students. The Professor is a member of the Indiana Academy of Science, and as a teacher is among the most successful in the state. In 1862 Prof. Thrasher married Miss Demia Thayer, daughter of Spencer Thayer and niece of Ovid Butler, Esq., of Indianapolis. Four children were born to this union: Corinne, wife of O. O. Carvin, of Indianapolis; Sallie, wife of A. J. Brown, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Nettie (deceased); Dr. Allen Wade, of Indianapolis' and Raymond T.