The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-10-24
MARY IS GONE,
And Allen Is ''waiting for the Ferryman"-
The Death of Good Woman. and the End
of Beautiful Life Here On Earth

The Death of n Good Woman. and the End
of Beautiful Life Here On Earth.
COLUMBUS, O., Oct. 1S-Mrs. Thur
man, the wife of Judge Allen q. Thur
man, died at o'clock Saturday after
noon.
The condition of Mrs. Thurman
changed for the worse Friday night
During most of the week she had been
in an unconscious state. rallying occa-
sionally. For some time there had been
but little hope entertained of her re-
covery. She was victim of la grippe
during the winter and never recovered
from the attack Advanced age pre-
vented her from regaining her accus-
toned strength. The only persons
present at the death scene were:
Her husband Allen g. Thur
man, Mrs Gov. Mccormick OF
New York, n daughter, and Miss Nina
Thurman, Allen Thurman's oldest
daughter. Mr.. Angus Dun, of London,
O., nephew, had just left the resi-
dence, and Allen W. returned to the
room and found his mother dying. She
was unconscious. and had been in that
condition for forty eight hours The
scene was affecting, but Judge Thur
man bore up much better than it was
thought he would. lie was grateful
that his aged partner should be per-
mitted to die in SO peaceful and pain
less manner.
After the last spark of life had flown
Judge Thurman consulted with those
about him in regard to the funeral, and
il was concluded that it should occur
Tuesday, and he requested that four OF
his relatives act IS pall-bearers.
As soon as the news of the death be-
came known a number of old neighbors
called to extend sympathy, among them
being Gen. Potter and wife, who lived
next door to the Thurmans for over
thirty years; Col. James Kilbourne and
wife and others. Severalprivate tele-
grams of coincidence and sympathy
were received by Judge and Allen w.
Thurman later in the evening.
Judge Thurman is much enfecbled
and broken down. and it is the opinion
of those who know him best and under
stand his condition, that ne will not
long survive the death of his wife.
Mrs. Thurman was universally loved. A
great point In her character WAS her re-
markable beneyolence- She was continu-
ally caring for the sick and needy, and vas
always found ready to contribute to Il
worthy cause. She never identified herself
with any church. but was n church going
woman always engaged In charity work.
Mrs. Thurman was born In ChillicOthe in
in 1911. Her maiden name was Mary Dun.
Her father, Walter Dun, was wealthy land
owner and merchant at that place. While
Mary was yet young woman, her father
moved to Lexington, Nv. Here she married
Mr.. Thompkins. bu: he ed in a few years,
leaving one daughter. Nancy. she was mar
ried to Judge Thurman I'm November, 1874,
and has been his almost constant compan-
ion and helpmaie since during his long pro-
fessional and public career.
TRIBUTE.
The death of Mrs. Thurman recalls an
editorial in a recent number of the St.
Louis Globe Democrat, which paid the
following touching tribute:
The wife OF Judge Thurman is a woman of
81 years. but to her husband she seems no old
er than She was when he married her nearly
half century ago They have grown Old
together in Il most affcctionate AID bcauti-
ful way. Their un.On has served to
yindicate the law of afflnities ami to pre-
sent Il choice example of domestic harmony,
confidence and devotion They have al
WAYS been MARY" and ALLEN" 10 each
other with answering and 81 nple fond
ness The 80 d Ro'nan," a he Il familiarly
known in our po tiles. has not won his
honoIs by forgetting for Il moment the
partner with whom he began the battle OF
life. Ii is said that no man can livH up TO
his love-Inaking, but this ease must be rated
IA a sweet and wholesome exception The
best Of all that Allen said to Mary
as suitOr has been repeated In his
conduct a. husband. lie has
beIiev ed in her rs in nobody else. Her wishes
have guided him, her faith has strengthened
him, her approval has blessed him. In no
contingency has Ire gone cOntrary to her ad-
vice The word of Mary has outweighed all
other influences with him, not in the sense
of blind submission to anothers will, but
under constraint Of well Justified reliance
upon her wisdom and fidelity; and she has
found her full reward in his candid and ten-
der apprec alton of her services.
There is something inexpres5iDly gracious
and admirable i'm this view OF great states
mans life and character. His friends de-
light to recall instances OF his profound re-
spe-t for his wifc's opinion, and OF his sur
passing desire to please her. When the
committee waitcI upon him In 1885 to tender
him the nomination for vice president he
did not respond with II set speech OF accept
arcc; he said Lc would ask Mary about it
The remark was like the man; and lt was
like the woman to shake her head mt n st
and say that he was too feel le to make this
race. She had to be persuaded, and when at
last she consented he merely observed: "All
right; it's iast as Mary says"
The morning following Mrs Thur
mans death the Globe Democrat said:
Mary now beckons to Allen from the other
side of the river upon whose banks Allen
wears ago said he was waiting for the ferry
man II then Looked 1s IL Allen wouli cross
over first But fate has d-crcei IL other wise.
Some other word than death should be used
to tell what will soon reunite this grand old
couple For them and those like them
There is no death: what seems 50 is trInsi-