Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-08
AS OTHER PEOPLE SEE Us.
Giarksville's Eminent Citizens, the Gent
us of Her People, and Her Enor-
nous Trade as Compared With
Places of Like Size.

Whitsett, ID. d., of the Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary, Louis
vile, who was in GAINESVILLE recent
ly. |. shows the estimate placed on
our people by intelligent stranger,
visiting the place:
No important city can be found
that does not point with pride to the
distinction it has gained as the birth
place, the home, or resting place Of
persons of eminence for genius or
achie> ement. GAINESVILLE, Tenn,
claims as much honor as any of the
rest in that regard. 1t points with
pride to Cave Johnson, secretary OF
the treasury under President Polk.
Gustavus A. Henry, the eagle orator
of the West, lived and died there.
In its beautiful cemetery sleep the
ashes of Willie Blount, the third
governor of Tennessee, who enjoyed
something of national reputation
in his time, and of Senator Bailey,
who was one of the ornaments of the
commonwealth. But, all things con
sidered, the most remarkable nota
billy of GAINESVILLE and the NestOr
of the American pulpit is Rev. A. ID,
Sears, ID. d., pastor of the Baptist
church of the town DIR. Sears was
born on the first of January, 1904
This venerable minister is in fall
charge of a large and leading church
in city o: uncommon thrift and Of
5000 population. GAINESVILLE is one
of the most considerable to- acco cen
ters Of the country, having ten large
warehouses and u tobacco exchange,
where an immense business is
daily transacted. The volume OF
trade is enormous as compared
with places of like size and
situation; the community is highly
cultured and thoroughly awake. DR..
Sears breaches regularly twice on
Sunday and performs AL the other
duties incident to his position, enjoy
ing the VeneFation of his own people
and of the community. In the en-
tire history of the town thu re is hard
ly a more interesting and remarkable
figure; his life and labors will fur,
nish one of the most engaging chap
ters in the annals.
YOUNG AT EIGHTY-sEVEN.
went to GAINESVILLE the other day
to take part in the ordination OF
Rev. w. II. Major, a grandson Of the
pastor. DIR. Sears came at 10 O'Clock
in his buggy, to drive me about the
the city. 1t was my first visit, not
W,thstanding the fact that | was
reared at Nashville, not many miles
distant, and he wanted to make sure
that | Was rightly introduced. / felt
that it was rare experience of life
to be shown about by such cicerone
lie abstains with studiOus care from
aecep ing any of the privileges Of al
vancei years the easy chair is az.
corded to slme other, and the old
man eloquent is the brightest mem
Der Of the slcials circle. If age has
its infirmities he has no suspicion Of
them he has achieved his second
sight, and reads without glasses al
most any kind o. print. One of the
most singular features Of bis labors is
touad in the fact that his church is
the gathering place of the young
people of the community. On
Sunday evening they flock in
crowds to hear him. 1t was q
pleasant sight to watch the girls of a
large female school as they took
their accustomed seats. 1t must
have been a sore trial for him to
hold his place throughout the some
times almost intolerabe heats Of the
past summer, but he would consent
to no vacation, and kept his church
open at every service. A number Of
years ago he built fac church edi-
lice, and his people are making ar
engagements for parsonage.
Mrs. Sears, if possible, is more
wonder than her husband, being six
years his senior. She says that
though she was born first she was nj
ways the younger of the two. Her
maiden name was Bowie she is n
cousin of the fighting Bowie, OF
Louisiana, who Invented the Bowie
knife. She was present at every
service in the church, and resists the
advances Of age with a. much cour
age and tenacity rs her husband.
Is there another example Of this
sort in America, or anywhere in the
world? 1t is alike creditable to DR.
Sears and his excellent people, and
to the city of GAINESVILLE that holds
him in such tender regard. On the
first of next January he will celc-
brate his cighty-sevehth birthday
and the twcntyiilth anniversary oil
his pastoral connection. II he
should survive 20 that date, | hop,
that not alone the church, but also
the citizens of Clarksvi le will make
it an opportunity to testify the senti-
ments they entertain for one of the