Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-02-25
IN MEMORIAM.
Mrs. Martha Alkaline Thornburgh.

1t is one of the chiefcst consultations of severe
afiliction that we measure by the very depth OF
grief the worth Of those whose untimely loss we
lament.
That sorrow is never the most hopeless ana
bitter where we love to dwell IN thouglC on
those whose absence leaves our hearts so empty
and so aching.
The recentterrible affection which has brought
gloom TO Our community and such deep anguish
to the hearts of near and dear ones, leaves 10
friendship and affection the consolation OF
dwelling with tender and loving remembrance
on the life of her so suddenly snatched away.
Maatba Alkaline Smith was born March 18th,
1916, at jacksonville, Monroe county, East
Tennessee, where nearly al! Of her life previous
TO her marriage was passed.
She graduated at Bolivar Female Academy
at Madisonyille in 1861, at the early age OF tit-
teen. She had previously, on December III,
1898, become a member of the Presbyterian
Church at jacksonville. This membership con-
tnued until the close of her life, for though tor
many years a resident of Knoxville, and an at
tendant on the services of the Second Presby-
terrain Church of this city, the actual transfer
Of her membership had never taken PLACE,
She was married on May 10, 1864, at Madison
vile, to Colonel J. NJ Thornburgh, then an
officer in the Federal army. At different times,
for the space of about three months, she shared
with her husband the vicissitudes and perils OF
actual warfare rather than submit to being sepa-
rated from him Being with him at Huntsville,
Ala, when that city was attacked by Cen
eral Forrest, she, with other ladies, was COM
PEELED to listen from a refuge but a short dis
lance from the city, to the din of the conflict
which waged iercely for many hours, when
each could image with every shot that it sound
ed the death note of the one she held dearest.
On another occasion the gunbOat on which
she was travelling, between Decatur and Bridge
port, was attacked from the shore Those who
knew her gentle, retiring disposition can best
appreciate the tortitude and wfey devotion
thus manifested.
Finally, being sent by her husband to his
home in New Market, Jefferson county, she re-
NAMED there until joined by him at the con-
clusiOn Of the war.
In April, 1867, they removed to his present
home in Knoxville, where they continued to
reside up to the time of the great atfilctOn
which has made that home so desolate.
1t is properly considered very happy thing
to say that one has not an enemy in the world.
OF many may this be said of whom it cannot
also be said, as of her. that to know her we'll
was, was to be her friend. Mrs. Thornburgh was
not of that disposition that makes many &C
quaintanceS.
Her gentle, Christian character was one Ofthose
that the busy life Of today often unseen eX-
cept by those nearest and dearest to her. Modest
shrinking and retiring, she cared little to mix
with the gayer pleasures of the world. While
devoted to her friends she went comparatively
little into society," Her great central idea was
her home. Around this all her other plans and
pleasures clustered. Here she was always hap
piest Here she delighted to gather her friends
around her. rather than seek them amid the
gayer scenes of social life
To beautify. to adorn, to cherish, 10 illumin-
ate her home seemed her great object, her con-
slant delight. Those who have been within
| this scene of her influence can we'll remember
not only the kindly welcome that seemed to
pervade the very atmosphere, but the peasant
memory that fingered on departure of the pure
and holy home influence so apparent there and
that made the outside world seem dOubly hard
and cold from the contrast,
In some respects this was perhaps especially
remarkable, for she was an orphan, and without
brother or sister. Her mother had died when
she was scarce over two years of age, and her
| father, James Smith, some four years later.
Her only brother and sister died at an early
age She was thus the last Of her family, and had
not known the fostering care of father or moth
| CT. This contributed to draw her still closer to
| the relations of her husband and they had
| learned to love her as if they had been dear to
| her from childhood, and the loss has to them
| the keen bitterness felt when death sewers the
| circle which has been cemented around the
| early hearthstOne and the mOthcrs'S knee.
She died February q, 1872 leaving an only
| daughter and child, Margaret, not quite six
| years old.
When the dread blow fell she was yet in the
very morning of life, having not yet complet ed
| her Doth year. We cannot mourn for her as we
do for those she Las left. The bright flush OF
| happy youth has for her paled before the splen-
dor Of the eternal morn. The love of the dear
ones of her earthly home blends now with that
of the heavenly Father in the house not made
| with hands
Its for those lie leaves that our sorrow is keen
est. The husband, leaning on whose strong
! arm, she had so hopefully commenced life 5
| journey. The little, only daughter, too young
to realize now as she may hereafter. how often
she will yearn in vain for mothers care and
| love. In them her dearest earthly wishes cen
tered. To CHERISH strengthen and gladden. the
life of the one, to support, guide and form the
life of the other. were her labors of love given.
Let Us hope that when to the one the sky looks all
! leaden and sombre, and to the other the path of
life seems thornier and sleeper for lack of her
| guiding hand that the blessing we may believe
| She to-day sends down upon them from her
| happier than earthly home, may teach them to
| know that the separation is not an enduring
| one.
| The love Of the departed will bind still closer
| together those to whom she was SO dear, and
! her example and memory continue the work
| her life had begun.