The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-12
THURMAN'S HOME LIFE.
A wOMAN'S RECOLLECTIONS OF
HIS FAMILY AND SURROUNDINGS.


"A Pretty Granddaughter Who il
the Pride OF His Life-How the Thur.
mans Have Always Chung Closely
to the German Element.
From the Netc York World.
Every one knows when and where Allen
q. Thurman was born; how, under the
fatherly care of his uncle, William Allen
United States senator and governor Of
Ohio, he received his education at Chilli
Gothic in that state: how he was admitted
to the bar, then became private secretary
10 Gov. Lucas, afterward member OF
congress, then supreme judge in Ohio,
finally taking his seat in the United States
senate where he served two terms, and after
retirement to private life, which has lasted
several years, was on Thursday last nomi-
mated by the democrats at st. Louis as their
candidate for vice president. In the proba-
BILE event of his presiding over the Senate
of the United States, and the possibility of
his presiding over the destines of the ma
ton itself, a few words in regard to what is
not so well known-his family, his home,
his home life-can scarcely fail to be of in
tereSt to the world at large. MY recollec-
lions of Judge Thurman extend back to my
infancy, but of his family and home only
TO the time of his removal to Columbus in
1852, shortly after his election as judge of
the supreme court of Ohio.
The old house stood on High street, be-
tween Mound and Friend streets, in close
proximity to the German colony, which
long ago, in the early settlement of the
town, appropriated the southern part of the
town for MISUNDERSTANDING up the Gus
toms, traditions and language of the father
land to such an extent that in my childhood
we used to call a drive to this part of Co
lumbus going to Germany" This very
large German population has always been
the dominating power of the place, and
this queer, ugly. dear old town, which has
given so many illustrious men
and women to the world, is
Justly prond of this German element,
for il has been an honor to her, and long
and interesting history might be written of
this portion of Columbus alone. Whether
the locality Of Judge Thurman's home,
which brought him into close and almost
constant contact with these estimable
people, was the cause of bis becoming so
identified with them, know not, but GER
tain 1t is that they soon formed themselves
into mutual admiration society, and that
to-day Judge Thurman is stronger with the
Germans of Columbus and the
entire state of Ohio than any other man
not of their race. The old house on
South High street and on the borders of
Germany" was a very democratic affair.
built right upon the street, with the entrance
and parlor window almost level with the
ground Ito the delight of the numerous
small, idle boys always on exploring expedi-
tions), and here for years the family dis
pensed an old-time hearty hospitality after
the most democratic fashion, to the intense
enjoyment of the democratic heart No
fine airs of superiority here! No danger of
the humblest person ever feeling the
slightest difference of birth, education OF
worldly position. Here at last was an ideal
politician with an ideal family. At least.
80 thought the masses.
There was one spot in the house. how
ever, where the most rigid laws were
enforced and lavish expenditures INDUCED
In. The laws were those of neatness order,
system. The expenditures were for appoint
ments and provisions, and this spot was
the kitchen! 1t would have delighted the
eye and heart of a Philadelphia housekeeper
what more could be said than this0, and
if there was want of aesthetic taste dis
played in the furnishing and arrangement
Of the parlor it was more than atoned for
here, for it told of hospitable healthy,
prosperous people and notable cook and
housewife, both of which Mrs. Thurman
was in an eminent degree.
The judges library, too, was an attract
i've place. But how could room be other
wise with It's walls covered from ceiling to
floor with choice books. In those DAYS. it
seemed to me, from the unusual number.
that half these books were in French-a
language of which the judge is fond and
with which he is perfectly conversant His
office was detached building of two rooms
standing near the house in the large ward.
a little way back and protected from the
street and small boys by fence Here
that perfect quiet and seclusion so necessary
to men of studious habits could always be
found
have not seen the old place for years
When | last paid visit to Columbus the
judge had moved into new quarters, having
purchased several beautiful city lots at the
corner of Rich street and Washington
avenue still clinging TO the borders of
Germany, where he had built two pretty
Aouses of brown stone for himself and his
son, Allen w. Thurman, and it was in his
doorway which he had accompanied me,
saying goodby and sending messages to old
acquaintance in the east, that last saw
him. While he was speaking, one of his
dear little grandchildren, who had been
playing on the lawn, ran up the steps He
took the child in his arms with delight. and
l left him bowling an adieu, smiling and
kissing this child all at the same time, the
Very picture VI happiness ana cOntentment.
no wonder that | was astonished to hear
that he had consented to tear himself from
all these home comforts, and would once
more be forced into the din of battle-to
the very front-as he will be in this bitter
political contest that has already begun.
Who knowsl Perhaps their very grand
children, of whom / shall have more to say.
were as much in his mind as his party when
he consented to become democratic stand
ard-bearer again.
Mrs. Thurman, though quite as old as her
husband, seems many years younger, and |
could not help thinking on this day Just re-
ferred to that she was the most serene and
at the same time the most energetic woman
j had ever seen. She was Miss Dunn. of
Lexington, Ky, and the family must have
enligrated to Ohio at an early date, as she
was a widow-Mrs. Tompkins-living in
Chilhcothe when Judge Thurman, as a
young man, fell in love with and married
her Mrs. Humans three brothers-Wal-
ter, John and Robert Dunn-with their
families, live in patriarchal style on an i'm
mense tract of land in Madison county. O..
not far from Columbus, which they pur-
chased years ago and named "Dunalan.p
Some idea of its size can be gained by the
fact that the homes Of the brothers are sew
eral miles apart. They are gentlemen
farmers, rich and prosperous, and "Duna-
Ian" is noted not only for the generous hos
pitality of these charming people, but for
the very fine horses and cattle raised there.
Mrs. Thurman had by her first marriage