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Note: N12010 The Leaf-Chronicle (Clarksville, Tennessee), 26 June 1916 (Monday)
CLARKSVILLE LAMENTS THE PASSING OF JAS. L. GLENN, SR.
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IT'S OLDEST BUSINESS MAN, HE GAVE SEVENTY-THREE YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL SERVICE TO A COMMUNITY WHICH HE LOVED—HIS OBSEQUIES VERY LARGELY ATTENDED.
James Lyle Glenn died at his home on Madison Street extended Saturday afternoon, June 24, at 4 o'clock in his 88th year.
The funeral took place from the family residence at 10 o'clock this morning and was conducted by Dr. Charles E. Diehl, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, and Dr. R. A. Webb, of Louisville. A large number of friends availed themselves of this last opportunity of showing their high regard and esteem for this good man.
The following gentlemen served as pall bearers:
Honorary—C. W. Tyler, J. M. Bowling, John W. Faxon, John Hurst, Wesley Drane, A. R. Gholson, L. B. Askew, Jos. A. Bollin, Michael Savage, C. L. Lockert, George S. Bowling, John Anderson, John J. Conroy, J. F. Gracie, G. C. Lynes.
Active—C. W. Baily, A. Howell, H. P. Pickering, E. H. Harrison, E. W. Rollow, James Holleman.
Mr. Glenn came to Clarksville from Elkton, Ky., when about 15 years of age and had lived here ever since that time, almost seventy-three years. He was born in Elkton, Ky., December 14, 1828, the son of James Lyle and Jane Meriwether (Gray) Glenn. His father was a physician and practiced medicine in Todd County Ky. until his death, which occurred when the subject of this notice was an infant.
Mr. Glenn was educated in the common schools of Todd County. When he came to Clarksville he entered the employ of Edward Howard, who was then engaged in the banking and insurance business, and continued this employment into Mr. Howard quit the banking business, when Mr. Glenn succeeded him in the year 1853. In 1854 Mr. Glenn and D. N. Kennedy formed the banking house of Kennedy & Glenn, and in 1855 incorporated this business with a capital stock of $50,000 as the Northern Bank of Tennessee, of which he became cashier, and Mr. Kennedy President. He continued as cashier of this bank until 1898, when he and Mr. Kennedy retired from the banking business, since which time he has devoted his time to the management of the large estate he had accumulated during his more active years.
On June 17, 1856, Mr. Glenn married Miss Ella Poindexter, and to this union were born three children, who survive him, viz.: Mrs. Gracie Childers, Richard and James L. Glenn. Mrs. Glenn died April 15, 1875. Mr. Glenn became a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Clarksville, Tenn., more than 70 years ago, was its oldest member and lived a life thoroughly consistent with his religious profession.
Mr. Glenn's first connection with the wholesale grocery business in Clarksville was with the firm of Walter McComb & Co., with which he continued until about 1876, when Mr. John Hurst was admitted as a partner in the firm, the firm name remaining unchanged. Subsequently, after the removal of Mr. McComb to Nashville, the firm name was changed to John Hurst & Co. Still later, the firm name was changed to Hurst, Bollin & Co., Mr. Bollin having been a partner several years prior thereto. Later the firm was incorporated under the name Hurst, Bollin Co., which it is unnecessary to say is still the active existence being one of the most extensive wholesale homes of the self.
Mr. Glenn was the last of his contemporaries, and the history of the generation to which he belonged and the lives of those splendid men with whom he was long associated have suffered nothing by reason of his survival.
The history of Clarksville can at most be written within the period of Mr. Glenn's life as one of its citizens. When he came here, a mere boy, he found Clarksville in its infancy. Long before railroads were built, and before any of the other conveniences of our time were dreamed of, Mr. Glenn and his contemporaries laid the foundation of the splendid community and built upon that foundation a splendid business, religious and social structure and he was at all times one of its leaders—in church, in business, in social. In all things pertaining to the upbuilding and betterment of the community, he was active and influential. If the results of Mr. Glenn's activities were subtracted from our community, it would be lacking of many of its most important possessions. He found Clarksville a mere village of about 1,000 people, built on the banks of Cumberland River, business confined to the Public Square, with one banking house and a few retail houses, and lived to see it grow to a town of 12,000 people, and second to none in the South in culture, morals and business. He not only saw it grow, but materially aided in making it grow. Many of the best buildings and business institutions in Clarksville were erected by him. The Northern Bank, one of the oldest banks in the South, has grown from a small private banking house, first established by him, to a bank of more than $200,000 capital and surplus, and more than half a million dollars deposits, and during these years has been one of the best paying bank houses in the country. He saw it whether the Civil War, and during that period aided in moving its assets from place to place in this country, and to Europe for the security of its customers, and to the return of same at the end of that conflict. This bank has been and will be a monument to him and his friend and co-temporary, D. N. Kennedy. He saw the house of John Hurst & Co. grow from a small beginning to one of the largest wholesale houses of the country, and many other enterprises with which he had been connected survive him as important links in the chain of his worthy endeavors.
Mr. Glenn was a good man, a gentleman of the highest quality, companionable in nature, pleasing in conversation, with plenty of good humor, and a keen relish for the ludicrous side of every question, the practical in all things. He was at all times and under all circumstances a gentleman. While he was not active in business within the last two or three years, his daily visits to the business sections of our town will be greatly missed. He always brought with him words of cheer, and good humor, and the sunshine of his personality was at all times and inspiration to the younger, who are bearing the responsibilities which age forced him and his contemporaries to place upon their shoulders. He will, of course, be most missed by his immediate family, whom he so dearly loved, and who loved him and loved to honor him.
In the presence of a large concourse of friends, his mortal remains were today laid by the side of the remains of his companion and forty one years ago was called from their family circle, and who committed to him charges more valuable than the world's riches, and for which he has in their meeting been able to give good account.
In all of his religious, family, social and business relations, his life has measured foursquare to every duty, and as he approached the great divide, they could well have said, the grave is vestibule to victory, the surcease of labor but a sting.
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