Smyrna times., 1896-04-08
Wm. Il. Thompson.

VIM. H. Thompson, from his bust
ness pursuit one of our most widely
known citizens, died at his residence
on Commerce Street, Saturday even
ing, from a complication of diseases
chief of which was Brights disease,
aged 62 years.
He had been failing in health two or
three years especially noticeable the
past winter, but was not confined to
his home until the past four weeks,
his strength waning perceptibly day
by day until the final hour when death
ended the contest.
The deceased started life under the
most favorable circumstances, having
In his youthful period comforts and
social surroundings superior to the
bOy-hOOd home of most young people
in father and mother both, the quail
ties that go to make bright and cheer.
full home and elevated ideas of life.
Finally the time came as with other
boys, when it was necessary to start
out i'll a life pursuit, and he entered
the store of the late Geo w. Cum
minis. His mother, q woman of strong
character and noble instincts, died 8
few months after he entered, in Au-
gust 1850. OF the six children, four
were still home, who realized in such 6
loss much more than an ordinary
grief.
The deceased after serving o proper
time with Mr.. Cummins was elected
to clerkship in the Bank at Delaware
City and after serving here a year or
two was offered q better position in
the bank at Newark. When the civil
war broke out in 1861, he, as was the
case with his father, William Thomp
son, differed from most of their party
associates in that they stood by the
Government in the maintenance of the
Union, and he enlisted in the 4th Della
ware Regiment, serving as a Quarter.
master Sergeant we think, throughout
the was. After the restoration of peace
he engaged as o salesman with SalO.
man Garman, at Clayton, and after
wards went in business for himself a
Marydel buying grain and selling ferti
lizers, June 25th of 1867 marrying
Miss Alexine Wharton, daughter o.
Samuel Wharton, of Dover.
A few years after this he came tC
Smyrna to sell phosphate for j. E
Tygert & Co., and remained with then
During the remaining ten or more
years he was salesman for the Lister
Chemical Manufacturing company
Tracy, Norris, 4 Co. and merchandise
for himself, being thus engaged whe1
he died. His business in the past 2;
years carried him over q wide scope O.
country not only in Delaware but il
Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jer
sey, and when acting for the Lister
company, in the western states also.
He had an open, hearty way of meet
ing strangers that while it put them a
ease, had also the quality of challeng
ing barter or deal, and was thus par
ticularly fitted in opening up business
In new territory, as were the require
ments then, however different may b,
the methods now.
Mr.. Thompson's married life has
been most happy one, the only mar,
except when settled in business here
being the long separations on bust
ness trips. Everything was done tC
make his home comfortable and he in
turn was kind husband and devoted
father He leaves besides wife, {
grown daughter, Miss Mabel, two
children having died in early child
| hood
The funeral services We're held NJ
1890 o'clock yesterday, Revs. Estlin
and Stengle officiating, the intermenI
being In the M. E. Cemetary at Dover
A number of people were in Dover tC
loin the procession at the cemetery
that came from Smyrna.