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Born on a farm in the state of New York on July 15, 1827, Governor W. W. Thayer came to Oregon in September, 1862, locating in Corvallis. In 1851, he had been admitted to the bar in his native state, and he continued in that profession until his death. He went to Idaho in 1863. After serving as a member of the Idaho legislature and as district attorney of the third judicial district in that territory, Mr. Thayer removed to Portland in 1867. He was elected Governor of Oregon in June 1878, and filled that office with distinction from September, 1878, until September 1882.

Asylum Removed from Portland to Salem. Efforts had been previously made to remove the State Insane Asylum from Portland to Salem, but powerful local influences succeeded in preventing the change. During the session of 1880, however, a strong combination was formed to resist all opposition to the movement, and the act passed with but two votes to spare in the house. Two years later, the buildings having been completed, the patients were removed to Salem and the long contest was ended. Prior to that date all the State's mentally defective were kept in Portland under the private contract system, which was unsatisfactory and expensive. The institution is now known as the Oregon State Hospital at Salem.