The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-13
ALLEN G. THURMAN Is DEAD
The Old Roman Passes Away Peacefully
at His Home In Columbus.
his DEATH CAUSES GREAT SORROW
He Was Native OF Lynchburg, Wal
though Opposed to Secession He was
Friendly to the south-skctch
of Useful Life.

ator Thurman died at his residence here
at 1920 o'clock this morning. OF
general debility Of old age. ending In
collapse. lie had been dangerously Ill
ony since yesterday morning. Since ms
fall about a month ago he had been ap-
parently in his usual heath, but to tho
experienced eye OF his physician 1t was
plain that his I~wsrs were rapidly fail
ing.
Until yesterday he was able 90 sit UP
the greater part Of the tins, ana at
times showed Keen interest .n public az
fairs. on his eighty-secJnd birthday,
November S0th, he was able TO dictate
letter L. the Thurman club, OF this city.
in reply 10 resolutions OF sympathy with
him in his sufferings, resulting nom inc
fall. Yesterday morning no was SIT
ting in his library reading, when ne
began TO COMPLAIN OF feeling Ill, ana
shortly grew so much worse that Dr.
Whitaker. his physician, was called.
THE END.
lie saw that At was the beginning Of
the end. and 70 informed the family
In the afternoon Judge Thurman lost
consciousness, and never fully recovered
IL again. When Dr.. Whitaker called in
the afternoon he found the patient aD-
parenuy sinking, and gave IL as MS
opinion that he could mol survive more
than "A few hours. Last night. however.
he was better. but with the morning
hours he began to sink and when Dr.
Whitaker called at 10 o'clock this morn
ing. he stated 10 Mr.. Allen ". Thurman
that death was a question OF but "a Few
hours. Death came peacefully and pain
Iessly. IL seemed that he passed from
sleep 10 death.
Al the bedside were Mrs. Governor Nc
Cormick. OF New York. and Allen W.
Thurman. and members OF the family.
His lother child. Mary Thurman, is in
California.
Outside OF the immediate family. IL
was not known that Judge Thurman
was dangerously M, until the announce
ment of his death came like shock
There was universal expression OF sor-
row, for Judge Thurman had been looked
upon for years as the foremost citizen
OF Columbus and soon the flags were
at half-mast upon all the city and State
buildings.
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Allen Cranberry Thurman was born In
Lynchburg, Va, November 90. 1913. his
father was the Rev. Pleasant Thurman,
a minister of the Methodist Church, and
his mother the only daughter OF Col
onel Nathaniel Allen. nephew and adopt
ed son Of Joseph Hewos, one of the
signers OF the Declaration Of lndepend-
ence.
His parents removed to Chillicothe in
1919. and ne made that place his home
until ne settled in Columbus, in 1853,
where he has since resided. His educa-
tion was in the Chillicothe Academy, and
at the hands Of his mother.
At the age of eighteen he assisted IN
land surveying. and at twenty-one he
was private secretary TO Governor Lucas,
studied law With his uncle, Governor WI
liam Allen, afterwards. was admitted to
the bar in 1885, and IN a few years was
employed in almost every lltigated case
I'm Ross county.
YOUNGEST MEMBER or CONGRESS.
IN 1874 he was elected by the Demo-
Gratis TO Congress. and he entered that
body on December J. 1875. as its youngest
member. preferring the practice Of law,
he declined a renOminatiOn 70 Congress
and remained az the bar until 1854, when
he was elected to the Supreme Bench IN
Ohio.
From December. 1854. 'till February
1886. he served as chief Justice, and on
the tApIoiloi VI HIS A'iiif Ht A'AN''N 4"
denomination. His opinions, contained
in the first five volumes Of the State Re-
ports are remarkable for the clear and
forcible expressions of his views. and the
accuracy of his statements Of the law.
In 1861 he was the choice Of his party
for Governor OF Ohio. Rutherford y.
Hayes, his opponent was elected by
majority OF fewer than 5000 votes. though
the Republican majority in 1866 was
more than 5000.
Mr.. Thurman was then elected TO the
Senate 10 succeed Benjamin +. Wade.
lie took his seat March (. 1859. and from
the first was recognized as the leader
Of the Democratic minority. lie was "A
member OF the Committee on the Ju-
dietary. and on tho accession Of his party
TO power. I'm the Forty-sixth Congress, ~
was made its chairman. and also chosen
President pro tempore OF the Senate,
owing TO the Illness OF Nice-Presidcnt
Wheeler. I'm 1874 he was elected 10 the
Senate FOR a second term, and m his
twelve years of service. ending March
T. 1881. he won a reputation FOR judicial
fairness and readiness. dignity, and
power in debate especially upon ques-
tions Of constitutional law. Besides
his labor in the Judiciary Committee, he
rendered valuable services in the Com
He was the author o. the 1cf TO COM
pei the Pacific rallrcrd corporations 10
fulfil their obligation to tle Govern
mont. since known as the Thurman
act" the passage of which he forced III
spite OF the combined Influence OF those
compauies. Ills arguments against the
constitutionaiity Of the civil rights bill
have since been sustained by the United
States Supreme Court. in language that
Is almost Identical with that of his
speeches.
FRIENDLY TO THE SOUTH.
Efforts 10 secure for the Confederate
States the most favorable reconstruction
legislation. IN which he persisted while
i'm the Senate led to a charge that he
had disapproved the war for the preser-
walton OF the Union. Ills true position
he thus defined. in letter to friend:
Il did all / could 10 help TO preserve
the Union without a war. hut after IL
began ] thought there was but one thing
to do and that was TO fight IL out.
therefore sustained all constitutional
10 put down secession. never believed
in the doctrine of secession"
Mr. Thurman retired from The Senate,
not alone with the high respect OF his
partisan associates. but also with that
of senators OF opposite political Views, one
of whom-James G.. Blaine. with whom
he afterwards contended In debate-says
in his Twenty Years In Congress:
"Mr Thurman's rank In the Senate
was established from the daV he took