Smyrna times., 1908-12-23
RECOLLECTION OF SMYRNA
OF OVER HALF A CENTURY
WILLIAM A.HUKILL RECALLS HIS
BOYHOOD DAYS IN THIS VICINITY
Tells of People He Knew Who Were
Prominent in Smyrna in the Early
Forties and Relates Incidents

Forties and Relates Incidents
Wilmington, Del, December 21.-|
Lodeman Jefferson, of St. Georges.
New Castle County, married Miss
Howell, and by that union had two
sons, Enos and Thomas. 1 have no
account of Enos but Thomas who
was 80 years old the 31st of October
1908, may be seen any good day
going around Smyrna with about as
much ease as other people of many
less years, and it may be truthfully
said of him that he is a very remark
able man. l don't know of anything
that have seen about Smyrna that
refreshes my recollections of Smyrna
sixty years ago any more or any more
pleasant to pencil off on paper than
these notes concerning Thomas Jeffer-
son. Why it seems to me that l
scarcely went to Smyrna that l did
not see he and Alex Wilson, both
butchers, somewhere about the Four
Corners before l left town and Mr..
jefferson was still wearing that old
fashioned cheerful smile when [ saw
him few weeks ago. Now you have
often heard,
You mnst pick lean deg to make long chase,
And we all say yes to that
But lh TINS very particular case
You have little singed cat.
Mr.. Jefferson had four sons, two
died. Thomas is now postmaster
of Smyrna and William Frank is in
Philadelphia. He had two daughters,
one of whom married Samuel Wilson
of Wilmington and went to Norfolk.
The other daughter, Miss Mollie
resides at home.
Ephrairn jefferson and Family.
Ephraim Jefferson a Methodist
preacher and jeweler in Smyrna
was q very fine and worthy old
gentleman and had one son, Henry
Jefferson, now living at 76 years of
age and two daughters who were
Mrs. Thomass Carrow and Mrs. John
Bewley. There are a great many
other Jeffersons scattered over the
country in Kent county and Mary
land. There was also a large and
prominent family in New Castle
county, but l am not informed as to
their relationship with the Kent
Countians. Joshua Jefferson married
Miss Eunice and had five sons, James,
Purnel, Samuel, Elihu and John.
James had one son, Charles of Della.
ware City and one daughter who was
in the dry goods business in Will
mingtOn. She made money there
and died few years ago. Purnel haC
two sons, Purnel and Joshua, living
near Chestertown. Samuel was ;
steamboat captain and ran the steam
er and passenger boat, Maintinoma
from Salem, n. j., to Philadelphia il
1854 and resigned to that posi-
tion because the company wanted hin
run Sunday excursions. He was
very conscientious Christian gentle
man Of the Presbyterian faith, anC
N@NCA lCdN lllR tllG DtCdlAlOOclI
located on his farm near Port PEN
and died there. He was a Democra
In politics and was nominated fol
Governor and defeated by Williar
Cannon, the first Republican governor
in 1862. Elihu had two sons, Ran
dolph and Henry, both died young
Mr.. Jefferson was Sheriff of NeN
Castle county in 1888 and had the un
pleasant duty of hanging Thoma
Morgan, a popular colored man fo
Killing another colored man who IN
terfered with his family affairs
When the trap was sprung the rop
slipped and Tom fell Mr.. Jefferson
who was a powerful man, and wit
one arm held him up while he &C
Justed the rope with the other, wit
the expression "God bless you
Tom. " He was later a grain mel
chant at New Castle and became
large property holder. John Jeffel
son had three sons, Frank, Howar
and Percy Of whom l have no IL
formation.
With this brief sketch of what
Know of the Jeffersons / am not ab
70 give them relationship to Thom;
jefferson who was elected presidei
Of the United States in 1900, and
anyone knows anymore about th'
than do, who has any right to obje
they all claim kin with him. The
ls one thing sure the president was
Democrat and all the rest of the
We're too so far as know exec
Charles at Delaware City who was
me Bloody 5th Delaware VIII
was, in 1863. There was ol
noticeable quality about the Ne
castle county Jeffersons which do