The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-07-10
f. 3. THURBER DEAD.
Well Known as a Lawyer, Publicist,
and Wholesale Merchant.

and Wholesale Merchant.
New York, July 5.-Francis Beatic
Thurber, the lawyer, Of 80 Broadway
and 4s West Twenty-ifth street died
yesterday. The funeral will take place
on Monday from his late residence.
Mr. Tuurber, wholesale grocer,
lawyer, and publicist. was born on a
farm near Delhi, Delaware county, n.
Y, on Nov. 13, 1912. He was edu-
Gated at the Delaware Academy, in
Delhi, from which he was graduated
in 1854, and at Union Hall Academy,
where he took a post graduate course
in 1855 and 1856.
| After several years Of farming Mr..
Thurber tired OF agriculture and came
to New York, where ne obtained a po-
sition as Office boy at 50 a week. He
afterward became a clerk in the es-
tablishments of Robert & Williams
and T. M. Wheeler & Co. and here he
picked up a thorough knowledge Of
the grocery business. He saved a few
thousand dollars, which he later in
vested in the business of Pupke &
Thurber, Of which MS brother, H. (.
Thurber, was a partner.
Mr.. Thurber early demonstrated the
possession cf an enormous capacity
for work, and eventually, after a ca
reer as salesman and manager, be-
came the active head of the concern,
which was afterward known as Thur
Der, Weyiand & Co., and, at one time
had the reputation Of being the larg-
est wholesale grocery house in the
world. He succeeded his brother as
fsenior partner finally, and continued
the business until 1894, when, through
superabundance Of bad debts, the
firm passed into the hands of a re-
ceiver.
In the meanwhile, however, Mr.
Thurber had acquired a quantity OF
other property which was not affect
ed by the crash. He had also writ
ten a book entitled Coffee, from
Plantation to Cup" and had become
ectively interested in public ques-
tions. On the advice Of friends, he
began to study law, and was admit
ted to the bar in 1899, with the repu-
tation Of having been the Oldest law
student in the history Of the State. AT
that time he was 81 years old. AL
most Immediately thereafter he or
ganized the New York State Anti
Monopoly League, which was largely
instrumental in creating the State
Railroad Commission, which passed
out of existence last Monday. The
league also had something to do with
the creation of the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
Mr.. Thurber joined several civic
and national organizations, and fire.
auently took an active part in current
debates. AS early as 1895, when VIII
liam Jennings Bryan raised the ques-
ton of exorbitant freight rates Mr.
Thurber took issue with. him, and as
serted that the danger Of the freight
situation at that time lay not in high
rates but in unfair discrimination in
rates.
7. In 1902 Mr.. Thurber gained consid-
erab!e notoriety in connection with
tie Cuban reciprocity bill. He was
summoned before the senate sub-com-
mittee on relations with Cuba and
testified, after considerable question
ing by Senator Tillman, that he had
received money both from the sugar
trust and the war department to car
ry on a campaign in favor OF the
measure.
Mr.. Turber was at one time presi-
dent of the United States Export as
sociation and as such took an active
interest in protection. He, had con-
siderable ability as a speaker and fire.
quently spoke on tariff questions. He
was a vice president Of the National
Board OF Trade, vice president Of the
Irrigation association, a life member
,of the National Academy Of Design,
a member of the Metropolitan Muse
urn of Art, a member Of the Chamber
of Commerce, the Board of Trade
and transportation, and the Ameri-
can Economical association. He be-
longed to the Uunion league, the Re-
publican and the Press clubs.
In 1859 Mr. Thurber married Jea-
nette Meyer Of Brooklyn, who after
ward founded the National Conserva-
tory of Music, and who practically or
ganized the American Opera Compa-
ny. They had two daughters, one Of
whom. Marianne Thurber, married
Francis L. Pruyn last March. Later
she appeared as an actress al Keith
& Proctor's Fifth Avenue Theatre
Mr.. Thurber had a summer home
at Onteora Park, in the Catsklls.