Smyrna times., 1899-05-24

y
in one week embraces three names
running so high in years as those re-
corded below of them the larger
part of a century. Itshows that death,
though it may apparently be belated
at times, as compared with others, is
sure to come to all.
Mrs. Rachel HOffecker.
Mrs. Rachel HOffecker died at the
residence of her son, Congressman
John HI. HOffecker, on Thursday
morning last, near noon, i'll the 91st
year of her age, Since the removal of
her daughter, Rachel, wife of Dr. VIM.
L. Collins, to Camden, n. j., in 1888,
she has been making her home with
her daughter, Emily, wife of VIM. NJ.
Bell. She went to her son Johns, on
Tuesday, to spend the day, seemingly
in her usual good health; about three
o'clock she was taken violently i'll and
her sickness continued throughout
that night and the next day; Wednes-
day evening she had a stroke of
apoplexy from which she died the next
morning.
Mrs. Hoffecker was a remarkable
woman, not only in her life of nearly a
century, in what has been the most
developing period in the worlds his
tory in science, civilization and relig-
ion, but in the personal qualities that
went to make strong character. She
was frank in her bearing to others,
original i'll expression, informed and
well poised on the public questions of
the day diving af she did in the most
eventful period of our history and
while not Obtrusive or aspiring to
leadership, had a firmness and posi-
tiveness of conviction that made hers
a strong personality. The advance of
years made but little difference in her
social qualities, and she ever seemed
like one twenty years younger than
she was. This quality of vivacious-
ness and frankness, so rarely found in
one of advanced years, made her com
pany especially attractive to visitors.
With the qualities above described,
it was very natural for her convictions
to be very decided for the Union
and against the extension of slavery in
what led to the Civil War, and that
she should rejoice in the success of the
government and our great national
development since. But it was the
times only of great crises that called
her out of the inner and higher social
realm where womanly dignity and
virtue reigns supreme. Another char
acteristic feature that followed her to
the last, was hearty liberality.
Her maiden name was Rachel Van
Gasken. She married Joseph Hof-
fecker when IS years old, and his
death in 1851 made hers a widOwhood
OF 4S years. Her life in the years that
needed it was devoted to her children,
and since that, theirs has been devoted
to her. Her fine business qualities
were manifested in the fact that on
the death of her husband she took the
property at the appraisement, paid it
and all other bills, educated the chill
dren, and maintained home so long
as there was any of them left unmar-
ried, to live with her.
She had been a member of the NJ. f.
Church from early life, and her chill
dren had each followed in her foot.
steps Her children now living are
John H. HOffecker, Mrs. Emily Bell,
JOS. V. Hoffecker, James P. Hoffecker,
Mrs. Rachel Collins.
The funeral occurred on Saturday
afternoon. Her pastor, Rev. C. A.
Hill, being sick, it was conducted 10y
Rev. A. Stengle, of Georgetown, anC
Rev. I. H. Haynes, both of whom
made addresses. The interment wa.
made in Glenwood cemetery, hel
grandsons acting as pail bearers
There were about seventy five rela
tives who attended the funeral.
The following persons were presen
at the funeral from a distance: Mr.
and Mrs, Joseph V. Hoffecker, Mrs
h. H. Matlack, Mr.. and Mrs. Harr,
Van Vasken. Mrs. John II. Huffing
ton, Mr.. and Mrs. j. Talley Smith
Miss Florence Hoffecker, Francis H
Hotfecker, Esq, John S. Hoffeck er
Mrs. ThOs. G. Oakley, Wilmington
Mrs. DIR. w. Z. Collins and daughters
Misses Nellie and Emily, Mr.. ant
Mrs. E. Wilmer Collins, Maurice B
Collins, Camden, N. j.; Mrs. A. F
r. Martin, Newark, N. j.; Mr.. ant
Mrs. A. S. Whittock and Miss Bell
j. Appleton, Odessa; Mrs. Geo. S
HOffecker, Middletown; DIR. Frances
Van Gasken, Mrs. r. A. Hance
Samuel M. Hoffecker, Philadelphia
Albert T. Hoffecker, Cheswold; Mr.
and Mrs. l.. Irving Handy and chill
dren, Margaret and Irving, of Newark
Del; Mrs. George Giles, Baltimore