Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-01-16
\ LONG AND HONORABLE CAREER


BON. Nathaniel u. smithers Frustrated by
kidney Disease-His Recovery Extremely
DoubtfmI-Dovar his Home Nearly His
Entire Life-sketch Of His Career.
Special Corresuondenceo OF Gazette and journal
Dover, Jan. il. Hon. Nathaniel I3
Smithers is extremely i'll and his family
fears that he cannot survive. lie Is suf-
ering from kidney disease and has been
seriously sick since Saturday.
SKETCH OF MR.. sMrTnEns.
Hon. Nathaniel Barratt Smithers, LII.
D., lawyer and ex- member of Congress-
son of Nathaniel and Susan f. Bar
ratt) Smitners, was born in Dover
October Sth, 1918. He received his
early education in his native place and.
was prepared for college in the Academy
| at West Nottingham, Cecil county, Nd.
Entering Lafayette College in the
spring Of 1884, he graduated with dis
tinctiun in 1886. He then entered the
law school at Carlisle, Pa, and re-
manned one year, when he assumed
charge of the Snow Hill Academy.
Maryland. He again studied at Carlisle
and WAS admitted to the bar in 1540.
He was admitted TO the Kent county
bar year later. From the first his
research, scholarly attainments, rare
powers of analysis and peculiarly accur-
ate discrimination, combined with his
remarkable forensic ability and per
spicuity of expression, commanded the
respect of the profession and the conf
dence of laymen and very early gave
him an enviable status at the bar and
| in society.
He entered the political arena in 1912
pr hi alA ale - hn
| House OF Representatives. in 1915 and
| 1S47. In 1850 he was active in organ
izing the independent Temperance
party. Although always opposed to the
| Democratic party he would not Join the
''Know Nothings, +" and gave his efforts
| to promote the success of the People s
party. in 1860 he took decided ground
in favor of sending delegates to Chi.
cago and of organizing the Republican
party in Delaware. He was sent as IL
delegate to tho memorable convention
in Chicago and has ever since been
active in the movements of the Republi-
can party. lie was appointed Secretary
of State in 1868 and elected Repre-
sentative in the Thirty eighth Con
gross, where he served with distinction.
During the late war he was an ardent
and uncompromising Unionist. He was
a member of the National Republican
committee from 1860 to 1868, and repre-
sentod his State as delegate to the
national conventions at Baltimore in
| 1864 and at Chicago IN 1865 and 1850.
| While he has always beon earnest in
fealty to his party, and been outspuken
and determined in his political convic-
tions no has en- Dyed in an eminent
! 1nprea tho reenert of hia nolifiral nm
| ponents, who were ever ready to attest
the conscientiousness of his motives
and the integrity of his purpose.
For more than 40 years he has been
actively engaged in the practice OF
his profession, and his professional life
has been characterized by diligent re-
search and the careful examination and
preparation of his cases and exhaustive
argument of the questions involved in
tnem. His legal eminence is recog-
nized by bench and bar, and his opin-
ions are received with great respect and
confidence.
Amid the pressure of professional
duties he has found recreation in classi
cal literature and translated quite a
number of Latin hymns-among them
the Dies Irae"-which are peculiarly
notable for the careful preservation oi
the measure and spirit of the authors.
He possesses peculiar facilities for
imparting instruction and in no sphere
was he more successful than in the pre-
paration Of young men for the bar. He
was also Secretary of State during the
administration of Gov. Marvil. A few
months ago he became member OF
Wesley NJ. E, Church, Dover.