The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1917-08-17
HARDIN P. f|GUtRs, A
. LEADER At THE BAR
IS CALLED BY DEATH
A DISTINGUISHED CHURCHMAN
LAWYER AND CITIZEN MEETS
GRIM REAPER.
At end or A LONG ILLNESS
Life Had Hung BY A Thread For
Many Weeks And Death Not Unex-
pected-As Editor, Lawyer, Church
man, Citizen, Attained Distinction.

| pcCteO-HS CoitoTy Ga"yS', She'S
man, Citizen, Attained Distinction
Hardin Perkins Figuers, one of the
ablest lawyers at the Columbia bar
for forty-two years steward in the
First Methodist church and for more
than a quarter of century one of the
teachers of the Sunday school of that
4 church, former editor, and prominent
citizen, died at his home on West Sew
enth street, at $50 o'clock this morn
.ng, after a long illness. For many
weeks his recovery had been despaired
of and death has been regarded as a
matter only of time.
| There is no better known citizen of
Maury county than Mr. Figuers and
few lawyers at the Tennessee bar are
more widely known through the Mid
lie division than Mr.. Figuers. He
has been accorded for a third of a
l
lawyers of the state. Not only was he
! universally recognized for his lega,
bility but his activity as citizen,
churchman, as a publicist, com
bined to make him one of the foremost
men of Maury county of the past quar-.
ter of a century. His splendid legal
mind, his quick grasp of legal prop
osition, his untiring efforts, his splen-
did dicttion in argument or pleadings,
and his close application to the pro-
fession, these things combined to win
him at early age the first rank among
the really great lawyers of the state
There never lived man of kindlier
or more generous nature than Mr.. Fig
uers. He was exceedingly kind to
young men and if he liked a man he
would go far and do much to show his
friendship. He was always frank and
outspoken and his views were easily
|ascertained upon any issue.
Mr.. Figuers was a great reader. No
preacher in the state probably was
more familiar with holy writ than this
man, He never made an address upon
any occasion, whether at the bar O
otherwise, that he did not illustrate
some point by Bible story No ADLER
Sunday school instructor lived in the
bounds of his conference. He was
thoroughly at home in the pulpit and
lis lay addresses were always in
great demand
Mr.. Figuers was born in Franklin,
the son of Thomas Norfeet Figuers
and Pethenia Perkins Figuers, on
April Is, 1S49. He lived at Franklin
as boy and was witness, at tn
age of fifteen of the terrible battle Of
Franklin. The scenes of that san
culinary conflict made an indelible i'm
preston upon the plastic mind of his
early youth. He delighted to discuss
the details of the battle and was prob
ably as familiar with it's every move
ment as any of the participants in it
bloody realities.
Soon after he arrived at manhood
estate Mr.. Figuers entered the news
paper business and was for tim
editor of the Franklin Review-Appeal
one of the Oldest papers in the state
A little later he went to Lewisbura
and was one of the founders of tn
Marshall Gazette. He did not long re.
main there but came to Columbia, pur
chased an interest in The Herald an
until about 1875 he was the active
editor of this paper. The editorials
that time reflect the strong and vigor
Gus intellect and facile pen of Mr.. Fig
uers, who never until the hour of his
last illness lost interest in the news
paper work and who continued to thc
end one of the most loyal and devote
friends that The Herald ever had.
In 1872 Mr.. Figuers was admitted
to the bar of Maury county and prac
ticed his profession continuously for
forty-five years. In bar distin
guished for the ability the originality
the application and the high charat
ter of it's members he stood Away
in the front rank. He believed in an
practieed the ethics of his noble pro
fession.
He was married on December
1873, to Miss Lily Dale, by whom h
is survived One daughter, Mrs. Mar
Dale Figuers Rozelle, also survive
him. as does one brother, Thoma,
Norfeet Figuers and two sisters, Mis-.
Lulie Figuers and Mrs. Moseley, all i
this county.
Early in life Mr.. Figuers Joined tn
Methodist church. His church acti
ties were numerous and valuable. H.
was forty-two years a steward. re
1eatedly delegate to the annual cor
'erences, the district conferences an Il