Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-12-19

years there was no public celebration
here in honor of the "Old Roman"
Judge Humans death is directly
traceable to an accident Novembe 1.
In walking from his room to the
library he tripped in some unaccount-
able manner and fell heavily to the
floor. He did improve to some eX-
tent, but a week after the accident he
suffered a relapse and since then it
had been realized among his family
that his days were numbered
MIR. Thurnan's Career.
1.-THE Old Roman" as Mr.. Thurman
will ever be reverently and affection
ately remembered by his political adj
mrers, came of a proud old Virginia
family. He was born November Is,
1873, in Lynch burg, mis- father being a
minister of the Methodist church.
But his father became early in life
impressed against slavery and he dis
posed of his colored help. In 1919 the
father removed with his family to
Chillicothe, Ohio, where he secured
employment as school teacher, and
his son became one OF his pupils.
Mr.. Thurman entered politics in
1874 when he was nominated for Con-
greSs by the Democratic convention of
his district, and was elected, entering
the House of Representatives Deem
Der 1, 1o45, as its youngest member.
He declined a denomination and con-
tinued to practice at the bar until
1851, when he was elected to the Su-
preme court of the State, in which
service he remained four years. during
the last two years of the time being
chief Justice. At the end of this ter m
he resumed practice, which he con-
tinued until 1867, when he was unan-
imously nominated by the Democratic
convention for the office of governor.
in his of
the most exciting in the history of the
, State. was Rutherford B. Hayes Mr..
Thurman was defeated, but he cut
down the normal Republican ma ority
in the State from 40, 600 to 5000.
The Legislature being elected at the
same vote being Democratic, however,
Mr.. Thurman was chosen United
States Senator to take the place of
Benjamin f. Wade and he took his
seat March 4, 1869, there being at the
! time only seven Democrats in the
body. His ability was at once recog-
nized, his speeches on the Geneva
award bill and on the Pacific railway
funding bill. especially attracting
public notice and applause. He served
two terms in the Senate with great
distinction and honor, closing the
twelve years period on March 4, 1881,
with a reputation which stood among
the highest for judicial fairness, dig
nifty aad strength In debate. especially
on questions of constitutional law and
for patriotism and probity.
At the close of his service in the
Senate Judge Thurman returned to
his home in Columbus and resumed
the practice of law. He had an
nounced that he was out of politics
for all time, but his friends mentioned
his name in connection with the Presi-
dency early in 1876. In 1880 he re-
| ceived the vote of Ohio in the national
convention and some support from
other states, but he was not nomin-
ated. Again, in 1884, he received some
votes.
Then in 1888 came the red bandanna
campaign. Cleveland and Thurman
were nominated at st. Louis amid
great rejoieings by the Democrats.
The ticket was defeated.
Since that Mr.. Thurman lived
quietly with his family.
1.-The Old Romans wife passed away
several years ago. She was Mrs
Tompkins, daughter OF Walter Dun, a
wealthy merchant and land owner Of
! Chillicothe, Ohio.