The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-11-30
THURLOW WEED.
The Distinguished Journalist
and Politician Passes
Away.
Review Of . Career OF Unexampled
Activity.

morning of Nov % at the age Of s. yenrA
He WINS conscious to the last, and expired
surrounded by weeping relatives and
friends No death struggle was apparent
Mr. Weed was possessed Of remarkably
strong and vigorous constitution, and to
this can b, attributed the long years Of bis
he His physicians say that old age was
his only iufirmity, and tho one that carried
him OF Since 1871 Mr.. Weeds eyesight has
cen ia ling, and latterly he had been almost
blind Last August he was prostrated by
chill, and has since been deslin ny
Mr.. Weed leaves considerable fortune In
vested In New York real esttc, and In the
had three danghters-Mrs. barnes. OF Al
hany; Miss Harristt Weed, who was his G NJ
slant companion and hous keeper since tn
dcata OF his wife, many years ago, and Mrs.
Alden, OF Morrisania
Iti.a curious incident that some weeks
before his death although then In good
health Mr.. Weed had a prcsentimcnt that he
was near his end About four years ago .
beautiful white dove flew into the window
Of h = chamber, and WAS adopted by him as
apet. II has been his constant companion,
roosting UPON the arm OF his chair by dAy
and upon the foot OF his bed by night He
fed II with his own hands, and the gentle
from no one esc. Some weeks ago he acci-
tlentnlly sat upon {, crushing out its inno-
cent life, nj his sorro Y was rs genuine Aa Ii
he had lost an only child. The death Of the
bird affected him seriously, and he spoke to
his II ends Of pres ,ntiment that he should
soon die, and mentioned his beliet in the
roetical theory Of tie ancients that tho
spirits Of doves surroundedt Z cdeath-beds OF
the lust
Thnrlow Weed was born in Cairo. n. Y, on
the 18th day of November, 1197 and was the
first thorn OF parents in lowly circumstances,
and Mt an early age he was compelled to
work to aid h mself and his family. At the
nge of . he worked for . blacksmith at
atskitl, N. Y, from whom he received .
shilling day end his board He subse-
quent y worked In tavern and sailed on q
sloop IS cook. At about this time young
Weeds father removed his family
to Onondaga,' where the bo, found work
with tho Postmaster, who enabled him
to receive six months shooting. the only
tuition he ever enjoyed. In ISL paper,
the Lgnx, was started in 0nondaga, to the
fortunes OF which he attached himself as q
printers apprentice, ut which business he
served a year and half, when his employer
left the city. Weed continued to run
the paper for several weeks. In 1872 he
volunteered for service In the war as Z
private under Co. petrie, and was ordered
to Sacketts Harbor fore reaching
y
comm ssion, for which he ever after
caeris ed the ndiest fcclincs toward Col
Petrle, and when the later met with re-
/ verses Mr.. Weed aided him materially. He
/ served during three campaigns in tho wal
and during the intervals worked Mt his trade
j the war he was employed In Seymour's
printing office, New York city, where he be
\ came intimate with james, the eldest OF tn.
Harper brothers Returning to the countr,
/ he was married, and then embarked in thu
extremely uncertain pursuit OF publish
ties he encountered were namcr
ous, but his industry and ability hat
d their effect. His paper was called the Anti
Masonic Eaqairsr. At that time there wal
great excitement over the opposition to Ma
sonic institutions In 1874 he was again
printer in Albany Political excitement was
running high, and Martin Van Buren,
Dewitt Clinton and others equally fam u
4 In the politics OF the State were there
Tnuriow Weed here virtually began hi.
career. His wonderful pow, rs o. man
he did the lions sha.e Of tho work which
resulted in the election Of John Quincy Ad
ans to the p. esiGency. Mr. Weed next re
moved to Rochester, VIII, re, while no sus
tanned MANY reverses, his reputation "a q,
editor steadily grew. Twice he was elected
I IO the Assembly us WH auVl 1UWsoutC IcI1cScu
tative anl his political influence was q
widely felt that he soon came to be recog
nized as lea icr, and to him was accorded
the honor OF the victory which place.
Dewitt Clinton In the guberna
torial chair OF New York. Il
$50 he was chosen to lead tho Whig,
against the Democratic party, which thel
controlled the affairs Of the State. and it Wa
through his efforts that the Democrats sun
cred their first defeat He went to Alban
and assumed editorial man cement OF tn
Eeeaing Journal, which soon gained ma
tional reputation and influence. The politi
cal history of the State for forty years show
how he used his OPP ortunities. He WI
prominent in secur ng the nomination q
candidates Harrison, TAYLOR, Scott, Ere
mont and IInco IL When the Repuhlsca
party was organ zed, Mr.. Weed ioine
the young parry, and early n the civil wa
he was sent TO England, whore h was in
strumental in preventing that country an
France from uniting in favor Of the Confed
eracy. Mr.. Weed acted In unity with tn
Republican party uns Ill the close Of the wal
when he sided with President Johnson In hi
reconstruction views, but Ills influence ha
always been thrown toward the advance
ment Of Republican prin iples, and has g
felt in every great political movement fo
the last half century.