Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-11-23
The End Came at His Home Early
Yesterday, at the Ad-
Vanced Age Of Nearly
SO Years.
WAS AILINGF FOR ONLY A FEW DAYS
Visited the Philadelphia Expo
sition Last Week, and En-
joyed it Keenly-Hls Long
and Honorable Career.

Milford, Nov. %. Thomas B.
Coursey died at his Residence, at
Spring Mills, about 2ls miles vest of
Frederick, at 1.30 O'clock this NOM
ing, aged so years, II months and 8
days.
Mr.. Coursey had been ailing for only
few days, having last week visited
and keenly enjoyed tho Export Ex-
position in Philadelphia. The funeral
will take place on Friday, November
Gath, at j O'Clock, p. m, with inter-
ment at Barratt's Chapel.
his LIFE AEp cHARAoTERISr1cs.
Thomas Boone Coursey wns born at
Camden, Del, December 14th, 1S0e,
and was the son Of Thomas Coursey, u
carpenter and builder, and Mary Boone
Coursey. He was educated in private
school and at the age of Ii years was
set to learning the trade OF carpentry
and worked at his trade for several
years. devoting his leisure TO reading
and study. He became skillful me-
clianic. and specimen of his ability
is beautiful Office desk now in his
office at Spring Mills, which he made
when in his S9th year. He was also
interested in forestry, and delighted to
study, as we'll as work with, woods.
In 1880, Mr.. Coursey became
interested in the Wyoming Mills, near
Camden, and in 1889 or 1Si0' pur-
chased the Spring Mills property. near
Frederick. where he resided and fol-
lowed business afterwards. They COM
prised grist and bark mills, and he
added carding machinery and carded
wool. Ho also took an active interest
| in agricultural pursuits, and was a
progressive and successful farmer.
MI. Coursey's interest in politics
was pronounced from the time he be-
came voter, and continued until the
end of his days. Good politics and
honest elections were ever the objects
OF his contention. He spoke and wrote
against suffrage corruption in the days
before the Civil War. when the pur-
chase of venal voters in Kent and
Sussex counties WAS held to be very
ordinary proceeding His interest in
| honest politics and pure elections
never tagged, and despite his ad-
vanced years, he wrote reform election
laws and advocated electoral reform in
| ali ways, clear ur TO the last session OF
the Delaware Legislature.
In politics Mr.. Coursey was originally
Democrat, and later acted with the
American, the Peoples Union and the
Republican parties. In 1870 he was
the nominee Of the latter party foi
governor of Delaware, but was de-
feated by the late James Ponder. He
remained affiliated with the Republi-
can party, but was decidedly in
dependent in his political views during
recent years,
Personally Mr.. Coursey was a most
agreeable parsonage, kind and sym.
pathetic and With entertaining con
versational, powers. He was con
sistent Christian and man of great
charity. lie was Conference Steware
of the Philadelphia M. e. Conferences
and member Of the Board of Steward.
of the Wilmington M. u. Conference
since the organization Of that body,
He was active in the membership ant
work of the Methodist Episcopa
Church from 1888. He served as I
lay delegate to the General Conference
of the NJ. Z. Church, which met il
Cincinnati in 1880.
Mr.. Coursey was married, Januar.
Goth, 1882, tc Sarah A. Wilson Of Ken
county, Del, and their family com
prised eight children, Of whom onl,
one, Sarah Coursey, survives.