The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1875-07-09
Mortimer ThAmS0n.

lne lOllOWln6 OBITUARY notice OF Nor.
timer Thomson is from the pen Of Clifford
Thomson, his brother. now editor Of the,
Minneapolis Tribune:
We printed yesterday the telegraphic
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 7Tibune,
and the elder and only brother Of the
present editor. Mortimer Thomson was
= native of New York State, and was near
ly .43 years Of age at the time Of his death.
He 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 be has been con.
nected with journalism, being known as
an observart, scholarly and facile writer.
Over the nom de plume Of 20. X. Phi
lander Doe: ticks, P. b. he attained a
wide reputation rs a 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
a 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 arc still
regarded as literary work Of great merit.
While his general reputation was that Of
a 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 confided.
He was twice married, each wife
bearing him a. schild-a son and a
daughter His first wife was the eldest
daughter Of Gen. III. Van Cleve of
this city, and the son born to them, at
the cost of the mother life, is now living
with Gen. Van iCleve. The dcceased's
second wife was the daughter Of Mrs.
James Parton, better known to the pub
lie as t'Fanny Fern She also died,
within year Of her marriage, leaving a
daughter. This child was Immediately
adopted byMrs. Parton, and has been
cared for by her and her maiden daug gh-
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 were overwhelmed by
his misfortunes; and he became content
during the past few years to struggle
through life, which had lost, all its
charms for him, wearily5 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 passivcly
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, id. that quiet nook
in Greenwood Cemetery, where already
rest those members of the family who
were so dear to him and to us, and whe
have preceded him.
s'After ite's fitful fever, he sleeps WELL"