An Old Veteran

Col. Gains Smith. 

AN OLD VETERAN WHO ENJOYED THE JOINT DEBATE.

At the Oates-Kolb joint debate at Salem there was one remarkable man who supremely enjoyed the visible triumph of democracy in the person of Colonel Oats. Col. Gaines C. Smith was in the Mexican war, going clear through and coming out with honor. in the confederate army he was the bravest of the brave and led the gallant Ninth regiment as its colonel. He looks to be about 55 years old, but is 78. He plowed all day before the speaking and is the happy father of twenty-one children. A grand old patriarch, truly. 

"Col. Gains Smith. An Old Veteran Who Enjoyed the Debate." Age-Herald [Birmingham, AL] 27 July 1894, Pg. 4 sec.: n. pag. Print.