The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-26
OBITUARY r..
MORTIMER THOMSON.


Mr.. Mortimer Thomson, known better as 20 X.
Philander Doesticks r. b. died yesterday IN this
city, al two O'Clock. Mr.. Thomson mas no better
reputation than rne popular appreciation 81 ms
humorous writings. lie became famous just when
the appreciation OF s.John Phnuixu was growing
aim, and the sunbursI OF Artemus ward and Mark
Twain had not REDEEMED the eastern mills OF Jour
nallsm. Mr.. Thomson found himself alone.
and, without thinking IT, built up
splendid personality. His peculiar drift Of nina
led MIN into comical idiosyncrases OF thought ana
criticism when caught the spirit o. the age EN-
ployed simply as q police reporter upon the 1rt0-
une, he saw chances for descriptive writing, be-
fore unknown TO the reading American public,
and, wedding his pen to hts fancy, there followed
prolific birth OF ideas which made two con-
tinents laugh. During the zenith or his fame
he was the king Of American humorists.
No one disputed his sway and he sat
In his glory, the authorized New York agent
OF King MOnus. The decline VI TINS prllilhnt
genus should be told only IN tue minor Key the
last scenes OF MS lie should D. veicd by the
shadows OF friendship.
Mortimer Thomson was born near Rochester.
n T., fourty-iour years ago. lis iatler VS.
Ject 81 THIS sketcn was but ten years old. Young
Thomson was put 10 school ana dld SO well that
ne almost ciaspea the honor OF graduating
at the University OF Michigan when MS member
snip OF secret collegiate society preciplated his
irement before the anger OF the Faculty. AMER
IA romantic connection WIN strolnng company
OF players he came 10 New Y TX and entered the
establishment OF Messrs. Sackett Davis X Potter,
Jewellers IN Maiden lane, ns cierk II was wnile
In their employ, ana particularly while enjoying
Il midsummer vacation, that he burst INTO The
original fund OF numor winch he aiterward con-
uoHed. HIS famous letter about Niagara rails
was a private letter, published by his PERMISSION
ia amateur journal published at his college
TO IL was afiiXed the signature. "D0esticks,p
Wnica he immediately TOOK without invention
MIR. Cha rles a. Dana. then editor u the New YORK
Tribune, saw The evidences OF Inomson's genus
aud sent ior him. lbs whimsical ponce sketches
tflI Hob ~ OY "A san
while ne was enabled 10 use taetn commercially
70 the extent OF issuing z work called "ihe
witches or New YORK; In 1888 Mr.. Thomson
was sent 10 Savannah, Ga, 10 report the sale OF
the slaves 0l Pierce Butler. PARTY ieenng ran
nign at the time anu the ulscovery.ofa New York
tribune man Southern Save auction was
hkely 10 mean death - the scribe. ''Doestckan
Draved IL all and wrote an account wnlcn rang
through the North ike an alarm bell. When ne
returned he made dramatic crItic OF the
Tribune. He ornamented TINS position by some
elaborate sketches OF ACTORS aud actresses, anu
held the place until the war broke out. ana
OF min. One OF his Ieats during tue war Was 10
come unaidcd and alone to New YORK ana OBTAIN
needed assistance Tor regiment most diastrousiy
placed. me trip was from the lower CEesa-
peake Bay, and required fnaomitable pluck for It's
iuliilment. After the war Doesteks began 10
write letters for the New YORK Weekly Wnicn
were continued for nearly seven years. lie was
twice married his nrst wife was Miss GIVE
daughter OF General Chve, OF Minnesota. by ner
he had q boy named Marco now at school IN
Michigan His second wife was the daughter OF
Fanny Fern. she dled in seventeen months alter
marriage giving birth to "A gIrl baDy, now alive
and wen, ana IN tue care OF Mr. James Parton, NJ
OF four volumes, published by the Peterson Broth.
ers, ol Philadelphia, anu OF variety or
hight tribes which died with the laugh
they produced the books known as hts are
Letters "PInrlDustan,n elephant CuD,'
ANA s'Tne witches OF New YORK; Two years and
"A nalf ago ne returned from Minneapolis where
he had been wlth his brother. IL was noticed
tnen that lie was little feeble. lie struggled
nobly against disease aud ala most credltaDle
work Tor Mr.. Frank Leslie ann other publishers.
But the dreaded word was whispered at last.
There came DAY when his desk WAS vacant, when
his associates sought Tor MN IN vain. Dying,
dies u cnIld win a smile upon ms face, he passed
away, leaving TINS legacy There never lived q
more perfect gentleman than Mortimer Thorn
son.n
HON. OBADIAH B. MADDEN, DELEGATE TO
CONGRESS.
BY despatch from san Francisco we are in
formed that the Hon. Judge McFadden, Delegate
20 Congress from Washington Territory, dice yes
serday, 25tn inst, at Olympia, W.. T.
obadiah Is. McFsdden. whose death we record
above. was born in Washington county. PennsyI-
vania, In the year 1917. lie was consequently in
the fifty eighth year or his age. lie studied law IN
early lie, was admitted 10 the Bar, and gained
repute by the practice OF his profession. In
the year ls43 he was elected To tue Leg
lslature Of Pennsylvania and was subsequently
a%o0 Peas w 1r Se Court
Oregon Territory. lie appointed Associate
Justice OF the supreme Court o. Pennsylvania IN
sIonea Associate Justice 81 the supreme Court Tor
Washington Territory, anu IA the year 1855 was
appointed Cnlci Justice 0f tue supreme Court Tor
tue same TERRITORY. lie discnar6ed the duties OF
his position with great credit 81 ans II ana with
much benefit 70 ne community uuth tue iall OF
1851. lie represented the district IA tue Legis-
lative Council VI The Territory. lie was elected a
member vi the F0rty.tnird Congress- a. oemo-
Graf, BY q majority vi Jos over y Garfield, the
republican candidate.