John Borland Thayer (1862-1912)
Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Railroad; died aboard the RMS Titanic
He was born at Philadelphia and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. In 1881, he entered the railway business as a clerk in the auditor's office of the Empire Fast Freight Line. In 1903, at Baltimore, he became the 5th Vice-President of the Northern Central Railway and the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad.
In 1911, he became a director and 2nd Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Railroad; the Northern Central Railway; Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington Railroad; and the West Jersey & Seashore Railroad. He was also a director of Long Island Railroad; New York Connecting Railroad; Norfolk & Western Railroad; Erie & Western Transportation; Cumberland Valley Railroad; Lehigh & Hudson River Railroad; Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway; Franklin National Bank; and, Girard Point Storage Co. He married Marian, daughter of Frederick Wistar Morris, Iron Manufacturer, of Philadelphia & Villa Nova. John and his father-in-law were keen cricketers and after John's wedding he lived with his wife at "Redwood," just behind the Merion Cricket Club. They returned to Philadelphia again after 1911 and were the parents of 4-children (listed). They were in Berlin as guests of the U.S. Consul two weeks before John, his wife, and son, Jack, boarded the Titanic. John went down on the world famous liner but his wife and son survived.
In 1911, he became a director and 2nd Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Railroad; the Northern Central Railway; Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington Railroad; and the West Jersey & Seashore Railroad. He was also a director of Long Island Railroad; New York Connecting Railroad; Norfolk & Western Railroad; Erie & Western Transportation; Cumberland Valley Railroad; Lehigh & Hudson River Railroad; Baltimore, Chesapeake & Atlantic Railway; Franklin National Bank; and, Girard Point Storage Co. He married Marian, daughter of Frederick Wistar Morris, Iron Manufacturer, of Philadelphia & Villa Nova. John and his father-in-law were keen cricketers and after John's wedding he lived with his wife at "Redwood," just behind the Merion Cricket Club. They returned to Philadelphia again after 1911 and were the parents of 4-children (listed). They were in Berlin as guests of the U.S. Consul two weeks before John, his wife, and son, Jack, boarded the Titanic. John went down on the world famous liner but his wife and son survived.
