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Memorial For The
Sears
REUNION.

Sat. Aug. 14th, 1897.

Light and Shadow, pleasure and pain, mirth and sadness, joy and grief, are the mingled experiences through which we pass in this earthly life. And these are so blended together that we should not become unduly exalted through the one kind or experience, or weighed down and depressed by the other. Neither should we desire to be always blest with the first kind, and made free from the other. What is more to be desired than either, is to have our lives develop into something more tender and sympathetic, as well as more noble and heroic. For: -

‘Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way,
But to act, that each tomorrow,
Find us fa(r)ther than today.’

The warp and woof of our lives are only the more strongly woven together when the elements which compose them are so interwoven by the shuttle of affliction that the finished fabric bears the impress of the Divine Pattern.

Our family Reunion here are pleasurable gatherings, where all the ties of kinship are renewed, and the bonds of affection are strengthened.

Here young and old from the prattling babe to the aged grandsire can meet with hearty good will, and greet each other as members of one parent stock, or ancestral line, and feel the thrill of affinity which unites them together as one common family. But these greetings will bring tears as well as smiles over the face of some who shall meet here today. The passing months since last you met have brought days of sadness to some of your homes.

Some who met with you one year ago are not here today.

He who, at the last meeting, presided over the exercises of the day, as he had done year by year since your organization 11 years ago, was called away by death on the 17, day of Sept. 1886; having been stricken with paralysis four days before. Today “Uncle George” will not call you together as in former years. His tall, manly form, will no more be seen moving amongst you, nor his voice be heard as he presided over your assembly. But he will live in your hearts and memories, and his life will still be an inspiration to young and old, calling them to truer and nobler living, and speaking to them of fidelity and earnestness in all life’s duties. Having faithfully performed his work to the best of his ability, he has answered to the welcome call of his Master, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
The let us believe that his usefulness has not been cut off, but his sphere of influence been extended in all that exalts life and glorifies its bountiful Giver.

We are called upon also to memorialize the departure of Deborah Sears, who died Jan. 22, 97, after having suffered many years from organic ailments which assumed acute form and suddenly called her from her home and family, to join the great silent majority who have passed over to the other shore. She usually met in these Annual gatherings, but by reason of partial deafness was not able to enjoy these pleasant occasions as well as many.

John and Deborah are my 3rd great uncle and aunt.

George Sears An Aged And
Honored Citizen Gone
To His Reward

George Sears, who resided – miles So. West of here, died Thursday evening of last week, Sept. 17, 1896, from a complication of diseases, aged 72 years, 5 months and 19 days. He came to Ohio with his parents when he was 4 years old. He has been three times married; in 1847 he was married Lavina Hatfield, to Sarah Young in 1856, Lucinda Cramer in 1859.

Mr. Sears was regarded as one of the best men of his community. He lived the life of a christian, and his daily walks were always in accordance therewith and his spirit is with God and His holy angels. Deceased leaves a wife and one daughter and a large circle of relatives and friends. The funeral was preached from the christian church last Sabbath by Rev. Butler assisted by Rev. Vaughan. Burial in Centerville cemetery.

"There is one period in the history of this monthly meeting to which I would like to call attention. It is the period from 1812-1824, It covers the active ministry of Huldah Sears, wife of Paul. She was a minister of power in this section. She was a true evangelist and was untiring in her zeal and efforts to revive the strength of the Friends in her area. She reminds one of the Crenshaws of Cedar Creek. She appointed new meetings in Mecklenburg County, in the city of Petersburg, "among the Methodists of Bryant's Meeting House", and "at a place call Laurel Spring Meeting House in Surry County". She traveled far and wide even extending her journeys to Indiana, Ohio and eventually to Europe. She, with the courageous aid of Martha Binford, bearded the lions in their dens and visited slaveholders of her own community urging them to free their negroes. Though the monthly meeting cooperated to the extent of granting her official permission to continue her labors and even bought her a horse and carriage, somehow the spark she supplied could not re-kindle the dying fires of the Society in this state. With all hope abandoned and the discontinuance of the Upper Monthly Meeting the tide of Quakerism receded from the Southside Virginia to the extreme lower eastern counties where to this day it remains." On her death a memorial written by her husband, Paul, was read and ordered recorded by the Virginia Yearly Meeting on 18 May 1829.
Her grandson, George, was the father of 5 children, four of whom mothered by Lavina (Hatfield) (1828-ca1855) Sears, and the last whose mother was Lucinda (Cramer) (1824-1914). Around 1850, he purchased land from Asbury Watkins, to the south and west of Centerville. His father, Samuel, owned land south of Centerville, which is now located around the property where Centerville High School is located.

The Sears’ Reunions were held on George’s property for the 11 years before his death and were said to be attended by as many as 1200 people. The Centerville band would often play in the afternoon after church services were held in the morning, and relatives attended from all over Ohio and Indiana.

George and Lavina (Hatfield) Sears are my 2nd great grandparent; Samuel and Mary (Wilson) Sears my 3rd great grandparents; and Paul and Huldah (Ladd)(Simmons) Sears my 4th.