The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-10-07


died at his residence in Lebanon last
Monday, uged eighty.two years and
two months. We had known and
loved him from our childhood, and
don't believe we ever knew purer,
nobler man. He was first in all good
works in Lebanon, and many poor
people whom he helped in this life
will call him blessed and add stars tv
his crown in the heavens. Judge
Caruthers filled many positions of
honor and trust during his long life,
and refused many more. The MASKS
vile American gives the following
brief sketch of his life, to which VOL
umes might be added:
He was born in Smith county, in
this State, on the 3lst of July, 1900.
He was educated at Greenville East
Tennessee) College, studied law, aud
commenced practice at Carthage II
few years after obtaining his majority.
In 1924 he edited newspaper ut Car.
thage, published by John s. Roul-
stone. He was elected Clerk of the
House of Representatives at an early
period of his life, and, at the next
session, was elected member of the
General Assembly, the late President
james Il Polk serving that session
as Clerk of the House. Judge Car,
uthers was also elected General of
the State militia. A few years later
he removed to Lebanon, and married
Miss Sally Saunders, daughter of
James Saunders, of Sumner county,
and was shortly elected Attorney for
the Lebanon district. In 1886, to-
gether with the late Hon. A. o. =.
Nicholson, he compiled Jaruthers u
Nicholson's Digest. In 1S41 he was
elected to Congress, and served with
marked distinction. lie declined
reelection, preferring to resume his
professional work at home. During
his service in Congress he was one of
the members who voted for the ap.
preparation for Morse's electric tele,
graph system. He not only voted
for the Morse bill, but he was made
Chairman of the Committee on Tel.
egraph Lines. and, as such, superin-
tended or overlooked the building of
the first line built in the United States,
being from Washington to Baltimore,
nd hi ln
ever sent over the wires from one city
to another.
In 1874 he was chosen Clay cleo
tor and made memorable canvass,
and was one Of Mr.. Clay's wurmest
personal friends. Several times, sub
sequently, he declined nomination
for Governor when Nomination was
equivalent to an election. In 1852
he was appointed by Gov. Campbell
a Judge Of the Supreme Court, to fill
a vacancy occasioned by the resigna-
ton of Judge Nathan Green. He
was elected afterwards by the Legis-
lature, and served full term on the
Supreme Bench, afterwards elected
by popular vote, and served down to
the breaking out of the late war,
when he voluntarily retired. In 1861
he was chosen and served as a Peace
Commissioner in the Peace Congress,
and labored zealously to preserve the
Union and avert the threatening civil
war, but when his efforts failed and the
war ensued, he took his place with
the people Of his State and section,
and cast his destinies with them to
the end Of the struggle.
He was member of the Provi-
sional Congress at Montgomery, and
declined Il reelection, but was after>
wards chosen Governor of tennessee
TO succeed Governor Harris 10y the
army and citizons of the State in Is.
SO, but declined to qualify, as the
State Capitol was in the hands Of the
Federal army, and when he subse-
quently returned to the State after
the war he found Gov. Brownlow fills
ing the chair to which he had been call.
ed. He afterwards returned to his home
in Lebanon where he served as PRESS
dent of the Board of Trustees of Cum.
Der land University, in which capacity
ne served until last year, when old age
and infirmity caused him to retire to
private life,
The monthly report Of the Railroad