Allen William Thurman (May 1847 – November 15, 1922) was an American politician and baseball executive from Ohio. He ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Ohio in 1889 with

eugenicist Eugenics is a set of largely discredited beliefs and practices that aim to improve the genetics, genetic quality of a human population. Historically, eugenicists have attempted to alter the frequency of various human Phenotype, phenotypes by ...

ideas.

Early life

Allen William Thurman was born in May 1847 in

Chillicothe, Ohio Chillicothe ( ) is a city in Ross County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. The population was 22,059 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along the Scioto River 45 miles (72 km) south of Columbus, Ohio, Columbus, ...

, to Mary A. (née Dun) and Allen G. Thurman. His father was a U.S. senator. At a young age, he worked as a secretary to his father.

Career

In 1875, Thurman was a trustee of

Deer Creek Township, Madison County, Ohio Deer Creek Township is one of the fourteen townships of Madison County, Ohio, United States. The 2020 census found 967 people in the township. Geography Located in the central part of the county, it borders the following townships: * Monroe T ...

. In 1889, he sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of Ohio. As a

he argued that "unless

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

takes prompt measures to stop the production of imbeciles, within ten years it will be bankrupted by the cost of maintaining this part of its population." He was president of the American Association in 1890 and 1891 where he was known as "The White Winged Angel of Peace", so called because he helped negotiate the end of the labor strife that had resulted in the formation of the

Players' League The Players' National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, popularly known as the Players' League (PL), was a short-lived but star-studded American professional baseball league of the 19th century. The PL was formed by the Brotherhood of Pr ...

and the weakening of the finances of organized baseball. He was replaced by Louis Kramer. In 1896, Thurman championed the free silver movement in Ohio. Under Governor George K. Nash, he was a member of the state canal commission. Under Governor

Judson Harmon Judson Harmon (February 3, 1846February 22, 1927) was an American United States Democratic Party, Democratic politician from Ohio. He served as United States Attorney General under President Grover Cleveland and later served as the 45th governor ...

, he was one of the original members of the Ohio Board of Administration. He served as president of the body in 1912. Thurman wrote in journals and periodicals about the free silver movement and economic ideas. He purchased (including of timber) of land in

Madison County, Ohio Madison County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,824. Its county seat is London. The county is named for James Madison, President of the United States and was e ...

, after his mother's death. In Madison County, he owned farmland, and a stable that he used to train racehorses.

Personal life

In 1872, Thurman had his left hand amputated following an accident with a corn husker. Thurman married Harriet Webb of

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

. They had four sons and two daughters, A. Lee, Allen G., Tod Deford, Sterling, Katherine De Ford and Mrs. Virginia Cole. His daughter Katherine married Frederick Nicholas Sinks, attorney and private secretary to Governor George K. Nash. Thurman died following a fall on November 15, 1922, aged 74, at the home of his daughter at Sunbury Pike near Linden, Ohio. He was buried at Green Lawn Cemetery.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Thurman, Allen W. Year of birth uncertain 1847 births 1922 deaths People from Chillicothe, Ohio People from Madison County, Ohio American amputees American eugenicists Baseball executives Ohio Democrats 19th-century American politicians