River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-07-09
Mortimer Thomson.

Inc following obituary notlce OF Nor
timer Thomson is from the pen Of Clifford
Thomson, his brother, now editor Of the
Minneapolis Tribune:
We printed yesterday the Geographic
announcement Of the death, in New York
city, on Friday, Of Mortimer Thomson, a
gentleman formerly well known in this
city as an associate editor Of the Tribune,
and the elder and only brother of the
present editor. Mortimer Thomson was
a native Of New York State, and was near
ly 43 years Of age at the time of his death.
lie was for many years resident of Ann
Arbor, Michigan. but for the past twenty
years New York city has been his home.
During these years he has been con-
nected with journalism, being known as
an observant, scholarly and facile writer.
Over the nom de plume of 30. X. Phi
lander Doe ticks, P. B." he attained a
wide reputation as humorous writer.
He, however, attached but little
Importance to this class of his work,
regarding it as purely ephemeral and of
little value to literature. Other literary
work of his, of more substantial char
acter, was more satisfactory to him. For
u number Of years previous to the war,
he was upon the staff Of the New York
Tribune, contributing to its columns nu-
merous valuable articles which are still
regarded as literary work of great merit.
While his general reputation was that Of
humorous writer being the pioneer of
the present style of American humor-
he was at the same time, closely followed
by misfortunes throughout the whole of
his matured life. When at the height of
his popularity, the competence which he
had acquired FROM his published works,
was swept away by the failure and treach-
cry of one in whom he had confded,
lie was twice married, each wife
bearing him a child-a son and a
daughter. His first wife was the eldest
daughter of Gen. ii. P. Van Cleve of
this city, and the son born to them, at
the cost of the mothers life, is now living
with Gen. Van Cleve. The deceased's
second wife was the daughter of Mrs.
James Parton, better known to the pub
lie as "Fanny Fern" She also died,
within year Of her marriage, leaving a
daughter. This child was Immediately
adopted by Mrs. Parton, and has been
cared for by her and her maiden daugh-
ter ever since. Thus broken in fortune
and robbed of that domestic happiness
for which he so much yearned, his family
scattered by the war. Mortimer was be-
reft of much of that ambition which had
previously spurred him on; the lofty aims
which inspired him we're overwhelmed by
his nisfortunes; and he became content
during the past few years to struggle
through life, which had lost all its
charms for him, YEARLY and drearily
hoping and praying for the end which has
come so peacefully at last. Let those
who have censured him for missing his
opportunities continue to do so if they
will; we can only remember the great
hearted, generous man, filled with noble
impulses, fighting courageously for years
against misfortune and what seemed a
calamitous fate, and finally passively
yielding TO the inevitable and calmly
and patiently, hopefully and cheerfully
awaiting the end. We thank God that
it has come at last, and that he whom we
loved as our own life, and who returned
that love to its fullest, is to-day to be
laid quietly away from the cares and
troubles Of this life, in that quiet nook
in Greenwood Cemetery, where already
rest those members of the family who
were so dear to him and to us, and who
have preceded him.
"After LIES ftful fever, he sleeps well"