Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-02-28
IN MEMORIAN.
Mrs. martha Alkaline Thornbursh.


1t is one of the chefcst consultations of severe
affection 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 and
bitter where we love to dwell in thought on
those whose absence leaves our hearts so empty
and so aching .....t. "". :.
The recent terrible afiliction which has brought
gloom to our community and such deep anguish
to the hearts of near and dear ones, leaves TO
friendship and affection the consolation of
dwelling, with tender and loving remembrance
on the life Of her so suddenly snatched away.
Ma'ts" AdHns Smith was born March 1h
Tennessee, where nearly all of her life previous
TO her marriage was passed. 81 @ 30 III
She graduated ut Bolivar Female Academy
at Madisonyillc in 1861, at the carly age of fiji
teen. She had previously, on December 10,
1853, become a member of the Presbyterian
Church at jacksonville This membership con-
tinued until the close of her life, for though for
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, 1854 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 pcrls of
actual warfare, rather than submit to being sepa-
| rated from him Being with him at Huntsville,
Ala, when that city was attacked by Gen
eral Forrest, she, with other ladies, was COM
PEELED to listen from refuge but a short dis
lance from the city, to tho din Of tho 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 tho 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 fortitude and wifcly 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, whore they continued to
| reside up to the time of the great afiliction
| 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 il cannot
was to be her friend. Mrs. Thornburgh was
not of that disposition that makes many ac-
| quaintances.
| Her gentle, Christian character was one ofthose
that in the busy life of today arc often unseen e-
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 &c
pervade the very atmosphere, but the pleasant
memory that fingered on departure of the pure
and holy home influence SO apparent there anC
that made the outside world seem doubly hare
and cold from the contrast
| N rpsnpptS \
| remarkable, for she was an orphan, and wthou
brother sister. Her mother had died whel
she was scarce over two years of age, and he
! father James Smith, some four years later
| Her only brother and sister died Mt an earl,
age She was thus the last of her family and haC
not known the fostering care of father or moth
or. This contributed to draw her still closer t
| the relations of her husband and they hat
learned TO love her as if they had been dear t
her from. childhood and the loss has to then
? the keen bitterness felt when death sewers tn
circle which has been cemented around tn
early hearthstone and the mothcrss knee
She died February %, 1872, leaving an onl
f daughter and child, Margaret, not quite 81
5 years old.
e When the dread blow fell she was yet in tn
0 very morning of life having not yet complete
: her 18th year. We cannot mourn for her as "
= do for those she Las left. The bright flush {
: happy youth has for her paled before the spler
S dor of the eternal morn. The love of the des
, ones of her earthly home blends now with th,
n with hands. rt
1t is for those she leaves that our sorrow 1eeI
est. The husband, leaning on whose stron
arm, she had SO hopefully commenced life
. journey The little, only daughter, too youn
! to realize now as she may hereafter. how ofte
II she will yearn in vain for q mothers care an
t love. In them her dearest earthly wishes Gel
e tered. To cherish, strengthen and gladden. II
Q life of the one. to support guide and form II
2 life of the other. were her labors of love gvel
|. Let us hope that when to the one the sky looks
leaden and sombre, and to the other the path {
= life seems thornier and sleeper for lack of h
: guiding hand, that the blessing we may belev
e She to-day sends down upon them from HI
happier than earthly home, may teach them
know that the separation Is not ansendurin
II one. ... ... 1870
/ The love of the departed win bind still clos
Is together those to whom she was so dear, an
n her example and memory continue the wor
= her life had begun. 81
Il Fraud Against the Government.
z On Tuesday the arguments in the case of Il