The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-07-19
DEATH OF REV. T. ]. H0RNER.
One of stenderson's Oldest and Best
Known Citizens Passes to His Re.
ward


Known Citizens Passes to His Re-
ward.
Rev Thomas j. Horner, one of the
| oldest and best known citizens of
Henderson, died at the home of his
son, Prof. w. d. Horrer. about 4
o'clock Saturday morning. His death
was not unexpected, he having been
in a very feeble condition and for
most part confined to his bed for Il
year.
About three and half years ago
Mr.. Horner received a stroke OF
| covered. His death removes a long
familiar figure and striking personal
ity from the community. Mr.. Horner
was good scholar and good teacher.
He had been a teacher and preacher
for more than 50 years. And no man
ever served his generation better or
more faithfully. lie left his impress
for good where he went along.
Mr.. Horner was sincere, true
man, honest, rugged, manly. No man
ever went to him and came away feel
ing that he did not get his bottom
thought. He stuck to his work until
forced out of it by the hand of God
But his works do follow him.
OF the life work of this noble man
we leave another to speak. There
have been few like him. He needs no
marble shaft to perpetuate his memory.
His epitaph is written in the lives
and character of the countless num-
bers of boys now grown to useful and
honorable manhood who received in
struction from him. and that other
grand army" of men and women
who were led to better lives under his
preaching.
The funeral was held from the Bap-
fist church at $50 O'Clock Sunday
afternoon, Rev. j. d. Hufham, d. D.,
conducting the services, assisted by
Rev. J. S. Williams and Rev. A. r.
Shaw. The following brief sketch Of
the deceased written by his son-in-
law, Mr.. I. I. Hicks, by request, was
read by Mr.. Williams:
Rev. Thomas Jefferson Horner, third
of the five children of William Horner
and Sarah Parker his wife, was born on
Flat River in Orange county, North Car
DINA, on the twenty first day of Novem-
Der, A. d., 1923, and departed this life on
the fourteenth day of July, A. D., 1900
He married Isabella, daughter OF
Joseph Norwood, when they two were
twenty-five years of age in the year S45.
After AZ years Of welded life he pre-
coded him to the Spirit land on June
22nd, 1887. There were three children
of this union, two OF whom, William d.
Horner and Mary E. Hicks survive. In
the year 1888 Mr. Horner was again
| married to Sarah A. daughter of James
A. Crews She survives him
The knowing readily recall the advance
ment of human thought and the worlds
progress during the time OF his earthly
career. With these he kept pace; and he
was bookish man and trod with pleasure
the paths long ago explored by the wise
| and good: he also looked with the eye
of faith and hope into the invisible flu
ture. He ''ured to brighter worlds and
! led the way
An intelligent, scholarly man, in early
| manhood he begun to teach and preach,
| and fifty years he did the work of two
men, serving his day and generation in
| the school-room during the week and in
tuC VII LIZ suC-
cessful schools OF high grade first at
| Oxford, next at Tally Ho, and for the
last twenty years of his active lifeat Hen
derson; and during these years he served
many churches as pastor one-Mount
| Zion in Granville county for more than
twenty-five years.
! 1t is known that the conversion OF
Richard Baxter and the great work of
| his heroic Christian life were traceable to
little tract left in his room by trav-
eIer. 1t is also known that the whole
| State in general and in particular the
community included in the counties OF
Orange, Person, Granville and Vance
possesses in expanding proportions,
strong character, intellectual force and
| spiritual life acquired by association
with, and the precept and example OF
| Thomas Jefferson Horner.
| He was born three years before the
death OF his great name sake. Aside
from his labors in the schools and the
church, he was a man of.affairs and a good
citizen. He kept his promises. He paid
his debts and when he died he did not
owe cent. He was faithful to his fam
lily and his neighbors. 1t is worthy OF
remark that, though greatly afflicted for
the last few years of his life he did not
complain, but showed in affection as in
health that he was a strong man and
able to bear a double portion. Possess
ing unusual gifts, he was modest and
unpretentious, an humble man, and
though he taught and preached to Others
he felt keenly the duty of watching lest
| he himself should be a castaway.
| The world is better because he lived in
| If We are SIRE of this
| He obeyed the commands of God, and
yesterday being weary with the world he
| went to live with Him. OF this also we
| feel sure.