Taken from Kentucky Explorer Vol 17 #3 June 2002, pg. 36, by Earl R. Sutton. This is just a Summary and Highlights of the story that he tells. Capt William Sears and The Development Of Woodbine, Whitley County Owes Much To Its Native Son. William Sears was born Sept 4, 1823, at Rockhold, KY. Rockhold was named for its founders, the Rockhold family of Eastern Kentucky. They not only founded the town, but owned it as well as most of Whitley Co, KY. Since William's mother was a Rockhold, he was born not wanting. The family wealth could have allowed them to live in great cities with little land, but they preferred to be a big fish in a small pond. Nothing is known of William's father or any other member of the Sear's family. William was well educated and grew to be a well-rounded man. He knew every inch of Whitley County, KY. He married H. J. Early, of the Whitley Co, KY, Early's. After the wedding, they settled in Whitley County for a season. They had a son, birth date Unknown, and a daughter, Mary, born May 19, 1854. The Plains soon summoned William to seek his fortune and he packed his family in a wagon and headed to Missouri. They settled in Mercer Co, MO, where life was hard, but a welcome change from Kentucky. The move was cut short when their son died on an Unknown date, and then his wife died Jan 16, 1858. The two are buried in that county. Feeling that his daughter needed a woman in her life, he returned to Kentucky. On his return, he met Mary Pimberton, a courtship ensued, he proposed, and they were married on Christmas Eve, in Whitley County, Dec. 24, 1860. John H. Pimberton and James M. Jones, appeared as witnesses. Afterwards, they settled in Whitley County. At this time, Mary was 6 years old. The need to defend the Union and the citizens of Kentucky, William Sears, joined an effort to organize a volunteer force, on about August 1961. On Sept. 16, 1861, the organizing Captain suddenly died and the 7th Reg of the Kentucky Volunteer Infantry was mustered into service on Sept 22, 1861, at Camp Dick Robinson, KY, Captain William Sear. First called Captain Sear's Reg., the Third Reg. or the Old Third, it was one of the first recruited regiments in Kentucky. One of his most outstanding features of William Sear's character was his compassion for his men and the protection of Kentucky. His motives were reflected in the journals of the war. He wrote of his great sadness over contacting families about the deaths of their sons, lack of supplies for his men, and the horror of one trooper who's leg was removed. The Reg was first attached to Thomas's command in the Army of Ohio. They were moved to Mt. Vernon, Kentucky in Oct 1861. Confederate troops made their first moves on the Reg. on Oct 21, 1861, at Camp Wildcat, near the town of Rockcastle Hills in Rockcastle County. For months following the battle, the 7th moved towards Cumberland Gap. In Jan 1862, the Reg was reassigned to the 12th Reg, 1st Div, Army of Ohio, led by Navy Lieutenant Samuel P. Carter. From March 21-23, 1862, another skirmish occurred near the Gap. The Reg. was in the process of changing hands again. The 24th Brigade, 7th Div., Army of the Ohio, was now led by Gen. George W. Morgan. Five days after the skirmish, the Cumberland Gap Campaigned began. The battle waged from March 28th to June 18, 1862, giving way to the Union victory, and the 7th occupied the pass, beginning June 18th. The 7th kept the Gap open until Sept. 16, 1862, when the Confederates again began to threaten the supply line thru VA. The 7th battled in a retreat to Greenupsburg, on the Ohio River, that lasted from Sept 16th until Oct 21, 1862. After which the 7th was assigned to the 3rd Brigade, Dist of WV, later they went to Charleston, WV from Oct 21 to Nov 10, 1862. They were reassigned to the 2nd Brigade, 9th Div, Right Wing, 13th Army Corps, Army of Tennessee. The 7th left West Virginia for Memphis on Nov 10, 1862, and remained in Tennessee until Dec. 10th. Then reassigned to the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Div, under Gen. Sherman's command. The Campaign, called Sherman's Yazoo Expedition, began on Dec 20, 1862 and ended on Jan 2, 1863. Once again the 7th was reassigned to the 2nd Brigade, 9th Div, 13th Army of Tennessee. They soon departed on a second expedition towards Arkansas Post, Arkansas, Jan 3, 1863. This lead to the capture of Fort Hindman on Jan 11, 1863. The troops remained in the fort until Jan 15, then moved on to Young's Point. While at Young's Point, they were reassigned to the 1st Brigade, 9th Div, 13th Army of Tennessee, Feb. 1863. The 7th remained there until March 8th, when it moved to Milliken's Bend. They were in a number of operations from March 31st to April 17, 1863. Captain Sears led an expedition from Perkins Plantation to Hard Times Landing passing Phelps' and Clark's Bayous on April 28, 1863 and ended April 29, 1863. On May 1, 1863, the 7th was at the Battle of Thompson Hill, Port Gibson. Then moved to the Battle of Champion's Hill on May 16, 1863. By the end of the war, they had lost 274 men to disease. On May 18, 1863, the Battle of Vicksburg began. Captain Sears was struck with fever. When the Battle was over, July 4, 1863, he was still ill. The surgeon recommended that he be released from active duty because of pain in his right side and head. In August 1863, Captain Sears resigned his commission. He returned home unable to do any work. After getting back about half of his strength, he returned to MO. Some think he moved because of being a Union Captain in the War. He returned to Mercer County, MO, where he stayed from Nov 1863 to May 1867. His daughter, Mary, remembers cutting firewood and feeding the animals, while her mother tended to her father. But life was too hard and they returned to Rockhold, Kentucky. William Sears bought land in Joefield, Kentucky, an area that was covered in a vine called woodbine. Everyone wanted to change the towns name to Woodbine, all but old Mr. Joefield. This idea upset him so much it was though that it would end up killing him. So after the death of old Mr. Joefield, the town of Joefield was then changed to Woodbine. The valley where Woodbine was built was flat, green and perfect farmland, set between two mountains, or what the locals call "hills." The trees were great for lumber for building, streams kept the land moist, and made for great dairies. Many dairy houses were built over the springs so the milk would be kept cold. On his land, Captain Sears built a large home for his family. Their daughter, Mary met William Perkins, Jr. in the 1870's and soon married. Her father must have liked William and formed a partnership with him called Sears and Perkins. William Perkins, Jr. was a hard worker. He worked so hard that it is said that when he returned home at the end of the day, he would take off his pants and they would stand up by themselves because of the sweat acting as starch. When their store opened, William was to do most of the labor alone so his name was placed first. The need of ice caused Captain Sears to open another innovation, a blockhouse. With the addition of ice, Woodbine became quite a modern town for the day. The general store remained in the Perkins family until the 1980s. Captain Sear with of the Baptist faith. He donated land and William Jr. donated $1,500 to build the First Baptist Church of Woodbine. William also donated a church bell, organ, and lumber from his land in Knox Co, KY. The family wealth grew and at the age of 73, Captain William Sears passed away. He was buried at Woodbine in the Perkins Cemetery. His second wife, Mary Pimberton Sears, also called "Aunt Pop," had been married exactly 38 years. She died 11 years after her husband, on July 12, 1909. The Sears' lives had touched all of Woodbine and Whitley County. (this was shared by Earl R. Sutton. Captain Sears was his great-great-grandfather) There is a picture of Ruby Harris Sutton and her son, Earl Sutton, writer of story, taken in 1917 in Whitley County. There is a picture of Mellie Perkins Harris, taken abt 1910, most likely in Whitley County. Also a picture of William and Mary Sears Perkins, taken in 1922 in Whitley County.)