davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1886-09-08
MortuarY.
JONATHAN STEPHENSON.

Jonathan Stephenson, one of our old
and esteemed citizens died at his resi-
dence near this town on Thursday last
in his eighty-frst year. But few of the
many men who enter upon the duties
of life have the length of years accord
ed them that he had, and much fewer
have a life so completely crowned with
virtues.
He was born May 7th, 1906, at Swan
land, near Hull, Yorkshire, England.
Fifty-five years ago he married Miss
Hannah Smith, some years after that
event coming to this country and
locating on one of the Common farms,
two miles out of New Castle, which he
carried on until he saved money
enough to buy the farm near this town
in Blackbird hundred, on which he re-
sided until he died. He devoted his
time to farming and was recognized as
holding a leading position among the
practical agriculturists of the vicinity.
His time was devoted to his legitimate
pursuits, and if'he left home to come to
town or 60 elsewhere it was on busi-
ness and not to idle time or engage in
the current topics of news, or local
gossip. His distinctive traits were in
dustry, probity and devotion to relig-
ion, being from early life amOst devOut
and earnest member of the NJ. Z.
Church. But few men could more
nearly throughout half century APP
! prOpriate the language of Joshua when
| he declared, "but as for me and my
house we will serve the Lord" He
reared "A large family, and until they
| grew up and went out into the world
to assume its duties, they went with
the parents to church, and there were
not many services of any charac-
| ter that the respected family carriage
did not come with its ample load. We
need not say that Mr.. Stephenson lived
in the esteem, and died with the re-
! grets of his fellow church members as
well as his neighbOrs
He leaves a widow and seven chill
dren, one having died, Charlotte, who
married Rev. VIM. r McFarlane when
| he was in business here and died the
/ first year after he became a minister IN
the Wilmington Conference in 1869
His other daughters married success
lively Jos Stephenson, Wan. a. Hukill
Isaac +. Stats, and T. L. Bogia
one daughter being still unmarried
two sons, John w. and Joseph, com
plete the family.
His last hours were characterized by
unusual Christian triumph, his face, il
the language of a preacher who visited
him, being lit up with glow as if hi:
eyes had had already beheld a vision
of the future life. His remains were
inferred on Sunday afternoon at Glen
wood Cemetery, attended by an un
usually large number of friends.
Smyrna times., 1886-09-08
Personal.

Hon. B. r. Biggs, of Middletown :;
DR.. Harvey, of Chester, Pa; John C.
WOlcOtt, of Philadelphia; James L..
WolcOtt, Esq, and II. c. Carpenter,
Assistant Superintendent of Public
Schools. of Dover, attended the funeral
of Dr. E. NJ. Cloak in this town yester-
day.
DR.. R. 5. w Hirons and wife pur-
pose going to Old Point Comfort, Va, q,
on Friday, for week of twO's stay.
Noah J. Tilghman, wife and daught-
er, of Florida, have been on visit to
Rev. E. E. White and wife.
Misses Florence and May Cavender
are visiting friends in Camden, n. J.
Miss Name Haslam, of Philadelphia,
is visiting Miss Maggie SiscO.
B. V. Weldon and wife, are on a visit
to Bridgeton, n. j.
Miss Mary English is on a visit to
relatives at Queen Anne's Station.
Miss Lou. COrbit, of St. Georges, has
been the guest the past week of the
Misses Cummins.
Joseph Stephenson leaves tomorrow
for permanent residence at Centre
vile, Md, and Joseph VanWinkle left
CO-udy 10 Hi an engagement Win
Strawbridge & ClOthier in Philadelphia;
Olin l. Hough will leave next week to
take position with Jacob Reeds Sons,
Philadelphia.
Mrs. Sallie Foster, Of Philadelphia, is
visiting Miss Sallie J. Stephenson, near
this town.
Miss Lille Briddelle, of Snow Hill,
Md, is visiting her aunt, Mrs. f. f.
White.
Miss Florence Chrissman, of New
York, is visiting relatives here.
Smyrna times., 1886-09-08
Quarterly Meeting Dav.

Quarterly Meeting Sunday, which
was, in the times of the " Fathers "
and in the days of big f" circuits IA
day of so much moment, has in the late
economy of Methodism become of little
more account than any other Sunday,
but it may still have its occasional ex-
ceptions. One of these was Sunday
last with Asbury NJ. E. Church, of this
town. 1t was the first Sunday in Au-
tumn when the vacations are over and
the absentees mostly at home, and
when the people are supposed to be
ready to throw off the lassitude incl
dent to the time of the heated term,
whether there is occasion for it or not.
The first meeting, the Love Feast,
commencing at nine o'clock tan early
Sunday morning hour for most Chris
tians of the latter dispensation), was
well attended if not promptly at the
hour, and it went along with a swing
from the time of the passing of the
bread and water" until the close, with
out an admOnitiOn once from the pas
tor to Improve the time" The other
noticeable feature, as expressed by the
pastor was the uniform testimony of
fraternal feeling in harmony with the
occasion.
After the opening Of the regular
morning services i'll the auditorium
the pastor read into full membership a
class of nine probatiOners after answer
ing the solemn questions propounded
| from the Discipline Rev. Mr.. Quigg
followed i'll a sermon that embraced To
a larger degree than usual the topics OF
j 10 % L.. ],
| Ject, the earthquake answering well for
this purpose, the discourse eliciting the
earnest attention of his audience.
Presiding Elder France ives in the
pulpit for the evening service accord
ing TO announcement, but having con-
Quoted two Love Feasts and preached
twice already-at Friendship and Sew
erson's Churches-he pressed Rev. VIM
Il. McFarlane, of Roxanna, Sussex
county, into the service and introduced
him as a former Smyrnian, who had
been recommended by this church and
sent out to preach the Gospel and whom
they would no doubt be glad to hear
the intervening time since being
eighteen years. Mr.. McFarlane took
his text from Hebrews, xii; u: But
ye are come unto Mount Zion" But
few sermons that have been preached
in the church for several years have
been more surprise and pleasure thar
this for its vigor of thought, cleal
analysis, clean-cut sentences and force
fulness of presentation. In conformity
to the wish Of those of his audience a.
well as some of his friends who were
not present, we will publish it in oul
next issue as taken down by short
hand reporter.
Smyrna times., 1886-09-08
Great Abundance of Fruit.

The cities are Overstocked with fruit.
The Philadelphia Times, of Saturday,
thus states the condition of their mar
ket, which would apply likewise to
New York, Boston and other cities:
People who have an eye for the
beautiful or a taste for luscions fruit
will be we'll repaid by visit to the
dock of Vine street-Wharves lust at
this particular time. The fruit estab-
lishments in these localities were over
flowing with fine fruit, in which
peaches, apples, pears, grapes, melons,
plums and tomatoes abOunded. Much
of this fruit is as handsome as is seen
at the average State fair, and in vari-
ETY. and quality has seldom been
equaled in this or any other market.
The prices were away down yesterday,
and as they are not likely to advance
this morning a goOd-siZed boarding
house can be supplied with an abun-
dance of fruit to carry it over Sunday
for a dollar or two.
" Peaches of splendid quality can be
had for 90 cents a basket, while in
terior ones are selling for 25 cents.
Bartlett pears of tempting size and
quality are only 90 cents a basket,
and monster watermelons, the choice
OF jerseys famous patches, were sold
as low as $lS a hundred yesterday,
while fair grades were offered at $7.
Grapes are about as abundant as
peaches and pears and command 3a4
cents pound, according to quantity
and quality. AS for tomatoes, which
are at all times a popular esculent with
Americans and ever welcome to their
tables, they were stacked up in con-
tinuous pyramids in the fruit section
last evening and were of superior quail
ity in size, color and flavor. The finest
brought 10 cents a basket, but excel
lent lots were sold as low ms cents.
There is no limit to the supply and
consumers will enjoy them at low
prices for some time to come. The
Philadelphia fruit dealers are now in
the very thick of their busy season
and are handling goods by the steam
boat and train-lOad daily. Shipments
are being made West, South and
North, to sections that are less favored
this year, and hundreds of trucks are
kept moving receiving and reshipping
the products of the pethoric MARYLAND
ana New Jersey orchards.
Smyrna times., 1886-09-08

RAIN would be a welcome visitor
now after an absence of over a month.
WANTED-One copy of TIMES of
the issue of June oath, 1885, for which
five cents will be paid.
CONSIDERABLY sickness exists in the
the rural districts of a bilious character,
and our physicians and druggists are
kept busy.
THE superintendent of the water
works distributed this morning the by
laws in relation to the water works so
parties who have been infringing upon
the laws can see wherein they have
trespassed.
THE Delaware State Fair, Dover,
begins on Monday, September 9th and
lasts six days. The display of farm
products, machinery, &C., will be fine,
and the trials of speed will include
some goers.
JAS. W, ,SPRUANCE's residence which
has been carried through a thorough
course of remodeling is nearly com
pleted, giving him with its ample por-
ches, double bay windows, bath room,
The new Church at Mt. Friendship.
near Kenton, which, we are told, is a
neat, handsome structure, will be ded-
icated next Sunday, 18th inst. Bishops
Campbell and Wayman are both ex-
pected to be present. They will be
assisted in the singing by the choir of
the Bethel Church, of this place and
a1o af
town, will also be present in full re-
gala.
A CORRESPONDENT of the Baltimore
Sun, writing under the headlines of
Land of Peaches and Lovely Women
Skill and Daintiness in the Kitchen, F"
has the following paragraph in regard
to the Peninsula:
Rich folk are the exception on the
Peninsula; cOntented folk are the rule.
Small but comfortable incomes, pleas
ant homes, hours for work and hours
for pleasure, sincere sociability, and
widespread, earnest sympathy are the
causes of this contentment."
SEVERAL of our young men-sOcial
| companions of DIR. ClOak-procured
! from city florist a very chaste and
| beautiful floral tribute which was used
at the funeral services yesterday. 1t
stood two or more feet above the base,
in proper proportions, monument of
white flowers running up which was a
spiral band of green, designed by the
artist to represent a broken column.
While delicate tribute, it bore at the
same time striking similitude of the
life it commemOrated This shaft
at one end and a cross at the other
were left the silent sentinels at the
grave after the friends had bid their
last sad adieu.
For several days past George Carter.
w. c. I. of Smyrna Lodge of Good
Templars, has been circulating paper
in behalf of temperance headed as fol-
lows; 1--WE, the undersigned, do
hereby agree to form ourselves into a
Temperance-Reform Club, for the pur-
pose Of voting the Hofecker and
Cooper ticket and working to advance
its interests" The project took well
and the paper is already signed by
over forty voters, fully one-half being
former Democrats. On Friday even
ing Of this week a meeting will be held
in the Town Hall, for the purpose
of organizing the Club and electing
officers. All signers of paper and those
interested in this new departure OF
political work are cordially invited tc
be present alta o'clock.
Smyrna times., 1886-09-08
r. MORRIS CLOAK NJ. d.

After al illness of ten days E. Nor
ris Cloak, NJ. d., died on Saturday
morning last at the residence of James
d. Wilds. which is also the home of his
mother, at the age of thirty-three
years. We can hardly say that his
death was unexpected, for ii had been
feared for a week, so severe and
unrelenting was the hold of the dis
ease; but up to the hour of the
first approach Of the fatal visitor, life
had never held out brighter visions Of
earthly happiness or the prospect of
home life-the charm of a new home
planned by himself and his bereaved
wife in all its details-which had been
completed and which in a few days
they had expected to enter. Death
under such circumstances is sad, untime-
ly deaths always have their peculiar
shades OF sorrow, and we but speak the
truth when we say that the bright,
cheerful young wife, now the bereaved
widow, has the sympathy Of the whole
community in her great sorrow.
DR.. Cloak was the only son of the late
Ebenezer Cloak, the only other child
being Mrs. Wilds. On arriving at the
proper age he was sent to Delaware
College, from which he graduated and
afterwards went to Philadelphia to
study medicine, graduating from JEFF
ferson College in the year 1876. His
health was very precariOus for several
years from frequent attacks Of hemmOr-
rhage, but these gradually grew less
frequent and finally left him in appar-
ent good health. Having opened an
Office here for the practice Of medicine
he gradually grew in his profession as
his health gave him vigor for its prose-
! cution until some six years ago he
| opened a drug store, since which time
it has claimed the larger part of his at
tentiOn. As a citizen he took an active
interest in our municipal affairs and
served in both the Board of Flown
| Commissioners and Board of School
Directors.
DR.. Cloak was man of an exceed
ingly sunny, genial temperament. He
! lived in the pleasures of TODAY
and Il life had serious aspect il
was quickly covered up or hid under
! the humorous, and what might be d
care to some men was by him turned
into joke for the amusement of him
self or friends. His quick, ready wit
that Was all the time gurgling up made
his company desirable by those who
had the capacity to enjoy but not Sc
ready to originate.
The funeral, which occurred yester
day afternoon, was largely attended by
relatives and friends who followed hi.
remains with sorrowing steps to St
Peters Episcopal Cemetery, their las
resting place.
Smyrna times., 1886-09-08
The Peach Market

Peaches have been going to market
over the Delaware railroad, at the rate
of about so car loads day for the past
week. Only two cars were shipped
from Clayton yesterday. The prices
have been very unsatisfactory from
80 cents to $1OO per basket in New
York and 40 to so cents in Philadel-
phia. The universal expectation that
the market would recover its firm tone
after the "Old Nixon glut" was over,
has not been realized. This is attribu-
ted in part to poor fruit, the trees that
did bear. being entirely too full, the
other cause being a full crop in New
Jersey to compete for the market.
The unusual high prices obtained the
first two weeks of the season drove the
most of the foreign buyers away and
now from the lateness of the season
and the poor quality of the fruit, they
do not return. These facts render the
Peach Exchange failure for this Sec
tion at least, this year.
Smyrna times., 1886-09-08

who shall be Levy Court Commissioner
really is of more importance to US. The
action of the Lew Court comes nearer to
our home life and prosperity Therefore,
in choosing our representative in that body
we should look closely to the welfare Of
our home community and select q man
who will be most effective in attending to
our individual interests.
Two men-George G. Rothwell and John
Lockerman-are asking for our votes at
the primary election. Which one shall we
support2 1t may be question as to what
kind of n Commissioner Mr.. LOckerman
would make; but we all know what kind
of a Commissioner Mr.. Rothwell has been
and what kind he will be if reelected.
The wise thing for US to do is to vote for his
reelection. He has been one of the most
jealous and successful representatives
Blackbird Hundred has ever had. 1t has
never been too early or too late for him to
work for our interests Approaching that
he represented this hundred, he has cared
for its welfare and seen that we have re-
ceived from the Levy Court all that we
have been justly entitled to. Mendiug
roads, building bridges and draining
swamp lands, so that we may have better
opportunities for prosperous business enter
prise, he has contributed more than any
other one man to building up the best in
terests of Blackbird Hundred
We may thank him for the appropria-
tion recently given for banking and ditch
! ing at Collins Beach. When Mr.. Rey-
bold threatened to stop the work by an in
! junction, Mr. Rothwell bought the Collins
Beach Hotel. l do not know whether he
bought it for himself or for other parties ;
! but do know that his unfailiDg exertions
/ 10 build up the welfare Of the hundred is at
/ the bottom Of the transaction.
Why should we not drop all Of our per-
/ sonal preferences and unite on Mr.. Roth
( we'll for the common good of the whole
HUndred2 As a man and an officer he
/ can be Objectionable to nobody. Mr.
/ Lockerman should not permit his ambition
+ e. lit in the Levy Court TO interfere with
the hest interests Of the community Mr.
Hayden had the same ambition: but with
/ "a generous regard for the general good he
! has retired from the field and now Joins in
/ the almost unanimous demand for Mr.
/ EuthwelTs nomination Mr. LockerlnaI
/ should gracefully follow his example
| This Is not matter Of personal ftvOritism
1t must not be regarded in that light
advise my fellow Democrats for the good
of Blackbird Hundred TO come 10 the pri.
mary election and vote for George c Roth.
well. A good citizen useful officer. a
true man, surely he will receive Il large
majority Of the votes cost at the primary
| election. DEMOCRAT.
Biack5ird Itudlo1 SEP. Ctt, 1S5
Smyrna times., 1886-09-08
MARYLAND Item =.

The Queenstown NeUVs says that not
a family in that village has escaped the
bilious this summer. And they sell
ague preventive there, too
The official board of the NJ. f.
Church, at Millington, granted the pas
tor, Rev. r. K. Stephenson, leave of
absence for three weeks. He will take
trip to Minnesota. While absent he
will attend the Great Council of United
States of Red Men, in Detroit, as rep
resentative from the Great Council of
Maryland.
4 Boy Commits Suicide.-James BOyce,
II years old, who lived near Hughlett's
wharf, Dorchester County, on the
ChOptank river, committed suicide
Monday, by shooting himself through
the heart with a pistol. His mother
had died an hour before, and this fact
is thought to have induced the
act he died instantly from his wound.
His step-father, named Faulkner, is
Overseer on VIM. Hughlett's farm.
Fatally Gored by 4 BuH.-Richard J.
Carter, one of the leading farmers of
Caroline county, died on Thurs
day from the effects of Il horrible
wound made by being gored by an an.
CRY bull in his stable on Tuesday. The
bull struck Mr.. Carter Just below the
groin and tore upward, making a fear
| tul cash. Mr.. Carter was thrown into
the air, and after falling was trampled
upon. He was about 40 years old and
unmarried. He was brother of Capt.
E. c. Carter.
SeCenty-SeCea u H'cddcd to SeUeateca.-
Captain Joseph Griffin, a patriarch of
Denton, Caroline county Md. was
married Thursday He is seventy
seven years old, and his bride is 4
blushing and buxom Delaware damsel
OF seventeen summers. She tips the
scales at one hundred and twenty
pounds. He weighs one hundred and
ninety-five pounds and is six feet three
inches tall. Rev. james COnnor tied the
knot. The venerable bridegroom
danced polka with his bride at the
celebration and reception that followed
the ceremony. Captain Joe has been
twice widOwer and has received con-
gratulatiOns on the announcement of
his thlrty-third heir He works six
days in the week at wheelwrightine
and points with pride to the fact that
the doctors bills on his own account
have been but $3.50 to date.
Smyrna times., 1886-09-08
A Challenge and a Pro-
position.

If one knows that his goods
are superior and can be guaran-
teed, both in the mill and in the
field, he can safely issue chal.
lenge to all competitors.
If one knows that he can
beat all competitors in the field.
with his Phosphate he ought to
issue a challenge: because the
farmers ought to know which is
the best and buy the best and
grow more wheat. II and II
bushels to the acre is poor along
side Of 20 to 30!
Marrow Bone Victoria puts
forth the Challenge for this Falls
trial against all Phosphatcs manu-
factured and sold in Delaware.
The proposition is that every
farmer who has been using a
favolite Phosphate, should try
one or more tons of Marrow Bone
Victoria on the same field with
their favorite. AS many farmers
have their favOrites, by the trial
proposed, many Phosphates will
be brought together with the
NJ. B. Victoria, and the true merits
of each will be known. At har-
vest, let a certain number Of
farmers, as a committee. visit the
wheat fields where the trial is
made around Smyrna, and in
spect them. and request each
farmer, at threshing to take Il
strict account and report and let
their testimonials be published in
the Smyrna papers.
Smyrna times., 1886-09-08

THE following from the DelaUarean
is as true as preaching, but we confess
that with a knowledge of the politics
that has characterized our state for the
past twenty-five years, we did not ex-
pect to see it thus stated in our esteem
ed cOtempOrary
1.-THE time has come when the per-
sOnal of the Delaware Legislature
should be changed in some respects.
At every session men are slipped in
who have no more business in the Gen
eral Assembly than babe unborn,
whose object while as members are to
obey his master and vote as he directs
so that few ducats may be dropped
into his pocket. At the last session OF
the Legislature two members were no.
tOrlOusly known to have no opinion
until their bosses were seen. and every
evening one boss ut least was i'm close
proximity to his dummy waiting tc
raise the wind. Such persons should
be kept at home. They not only dis.
grace themselves but disgrace the hun
dreds they represent, and the wav tC
keep them at home is for the voters tt
turn out and select good delegates who
in convention, will select good meL."
Smyrna times., 1886-09-08

MAYOR RHOADs of Wilmington is
showing what a mayor can do when
he tries. He set himself to work, Tim
pressing his police in the same service),
at breaking up the policy shops and
gambling dens of that city some two
or three months ago, and made them
as places OfresOrt extremely unhealthy.
The Lottery policy writers are about
broken up, and the gambling dens that
were leading 50 many men respectfully
connected into the vices attending the
gaming table, if not broken up, are car
ried on with such secrecy as to amount
to little more than a family card table.
1t would be very strange if Mayor
Rhoads hadn't the support of the press
and the good citizens of our metropolis.
Smyrna times., 1886-09-08

THE general disposition to kick all
around in politics this year says an ex-
change, is one of the healthiest signs OF
the times. Thousands of Republicans
are kicking the woods seem to be full
of kicking Democrats; there are signs
of all sorts of free kicking in the Labor
ranks, and lively kicking is clearly
foreshadOwed in Liquor circles. The
plain truth is that the people are get
ting bigger all the time under univer-
sal newspapers and free schools, and
the leaders don't size over the masses
as they did in times past.