The Washington Co. MD reference librarian stated that this obituary appeared in the "Daily Mail" newspaper on June 28, 1906 The clipping had this written at the top: The Evening Globe, Hagerstown, MD, 1906 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MORGAN HURLEY DIES OF TUBERCULOSIS, AGED 72 He Was Well and Widely Known and Had an Eventful Life-He Was a Native of Chewsville, a Lawyer, an Able Writer and Well Informed on Local and National History-Was a Personal Friend of Abraham Lincoln Benjamin Franklin Morgan Hurley died of tuberculosis at 1:20 o'clock at the Franklin House Wednesday afternoon, in his 72nd year. He had been in ill health for several years. When in New Orleans about two years ago, he became much worse. Since then he failed steadily. He was well known throughout Maryland and adjoining States and had an eventful career. He was a lawyer by profession, traveled extensively throughout the United States and abroad, was a writer of ability and an entertaining lecturer. He was a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, who advised him to study law. He was born in Chewsville in the first house built in that place and was the son of James Hurley, who taught school in this county for half a century, and Marie Hurley. He was educated at the old Academy, on Prospect Street, attended the Rock River (Ill.) Seminary in 1855 and Franklin and Marshall College, confining himself to studying civil engineering at the last mentioned institution. In the latter part of December, while attending school at Mt. Moriah, he was appointed a page in the executive office as acting governor. Mr. Hurley did not like frontier life, and he resigned, coming East across the Rocky Mountains, suffering many hardships. Governor Thomas had him appointed as consul to Amsterdam, Holland. He returned home in 1865. He was in Ford's Theatre with his brother, Samuel, and witnessed the assassination of President Lincoln. He returned to Holland, remaining until 1866. On his return to the United States President Johnson appointed him assessor of internal revenue for the 4th Congressional District of Maryland. Chief Justice Chase appointed him register of bankruptcy for the same district, having his office in Frederick. In 1871 he was appointed by the mayor of Frederick a delegate to the National Commercial Convention in Baltimore, serving in that body on a number of committees. The register's office having moved to Cumberland, Mr. Hurley took up his residence in that city. In 1872 he was appointed a commissioner to take testimony for the Alabama Claims Commissioners. In 1877 he was elected to the City Council of Cumberland by the largest majority ever given a candidate [continued] House of Representatives. He rode to Washington on a butter wagon with Mr. Gilbert, Cavetown, and his personal effects were packed in an old-cloth bag. He was assigned to duty at once. The pages who were veterans in the service poked fun at him. He knocked down three of them in one day. The Speaker, when acquainted with the episode, said it served the jokers right. In 1857 he was elected a School Commissioner while teaching school and reading law. In 1858 he was appointed assistant surveyor of Kansas Territory. Surveyor E. C. Childs dying, Mr. Hurley was promoted to the vacancy. When Kansas became a State, he returned to Maryland, taught school and finished reading law with James H. Grove. He attended the Columbia Law School and was admitted to practice in 1859 in Washington and in Hagerstown later. In 1859 he was elected a justice of the peace. In 1860 he voted for Douglas for president. He 1861 he was elected a delegate by the Union party to the congressional convention and took a prominent part in the proceedings which resulted in the nomination of former Governor Thomas, who was made chairman of the judiciary committee, of which Mr. Hurley was made clerk, just a few hours after having been made Congressman Thomas' private secretary. During the temporary indisposition of the reading clerk of the House, Mr. Hurley filled the place for three months. For this and subsequent service of the same character he was allowed $4,500. At this time he drew three salaries. Judge Weisel and Isaac Nesbit had him appointed aide de camp, with the rank of Colonel, on Governor Hicks' staff, A. K. Sycater having declined the appointment. Governor Bradford appointed him second on the staff and designated him as State military agent at Washington. In 1863 he was appointed deputy second auditor of the United States Treasury and later was made auditor by Secretary of Treasury Chase. In May, 1863, he was elected to the Common Council of Washington from the Fourth Ward. He was chairman of the ways and means committee, also serving on other committees. Mayor Wallach appointed him one of the School Commissioners for the Third and Fourth Wards. In December, 1863, he was appointed by President Lincoln as Secretary of Washington Territory. He made the trip via Isthmus of Darien. Governor Jacobs leaving for the East on a trip of several months, Mr. Hurley was left in full charge of the [] in that ward. He was unanimously elected president of the Committee. After Congress in 1881 repealed the bankruptcy law Mr. Hurley moved to Baltimore and practiced law. In 1884 Secretary of the interior Teller appointed him a special pension examiner and later designated him one of the board of appeals in rejected cases. In 1863 he was detailed for duty at the White House in place of Mr. Todd, President Lincoln's brother-in-law, who had been taken sick, to sign the President's name to land warrants. The salary was $2,500 a year. He was an inspector of consulates and frequently appointed judge advocate before military commissions. In 1863 he was admitted to practice before the U. S. Supreme Court. He took an active part in politics having been a delegate to many conventions. He supported Bryan for president but in late years he was independent in politics. He was a lecturer of some note his leading subjects being "Memory," "Fashion," "Ups and Downs of Life," "Lincoln," "The Land in Which We Live." He had a valuable library. He was acquainted with many eminent men in public life. He was fond of field sports and fishing and possessed a generous nature. He had a remarkable memory. When a resident of Kentucky he was elected to the State Senate, being the only Republican in the Legislature. He was appointed by Governor Smith a member of the Board of Visitors of the Deaf and Dumb School at Frederick. He married Miss Ulie Normant of Washington. His only son, Frank, who studied law under Roscoe Conkling, died at the age of 20. He and Conkling were caught in a great snowstorm, took pneumonia and both died within a week of each other. He was a brother of Hezekiah W. Hurley, Hagerstown; Wesley F. Hurley, Harrisburg; Mrs. John Clopper, Rantoule, Ill.; Mrs. Anna Royer, widow of Dr. Royer, California. Several sisters and brothers are dead. He was a prominent Elk and a charter member of the Junior Fire Co. Funeral Friday 3 p. m. Services at the residence of his brother, Hezekiah, by Rev. Dr. J. S. Kirker[?]; interment in Rose Hill Cemetery. Several years ago he bought a lot and provided a monument in the cemetery. Pallbearers Judge Keedy, A. J. Long, L. D. Sycater, Col. Buchanan Schley, Geo. B. Oswald, Col. C. A. Little. =end= From newspaper clipping in possession of Holly Enberg transcribed 2 May 2002 by Diane Bender, POB 178, Washington Grove MD 20880 For Norment only: http://www.genealogy.com/users/b/e/n/Diane-Bender/ http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=dnbender