Smyrna times., 1908-11-11
RECOLLECTION OF SMYRNA
OF OVER HALF A CENTURY
WILLIAM A.HUKlLL RECALLS HIS
BOYHOOD DAYS INTHIS VICINITY
Tells of People He Knew Who We're
Prominent in Smyrna in The Early
FOrties and Relates Incidents

family once Spominent in the active
business life of Smyrna, seems to
have become nearly extinct there.
There was James, John, Miss Ann and
another brother in Maryland that l
never knew, and indeed l think they
were all originally from Maryland.
James never married, but was in the
mercantile business on the northwest
corner, commonly known as Ray
mond's Corner, but later went to
Philadelphia in the wholesale grain
and commission business and died
there in the sixties. John H. Bew-
ley was a man of some note in the
community in which he lived, an up
to-date merchant an active Demo-
crat in politics Served one or more
terms i'll the Legislature, active in
the M. E. Church. Married Miss
Nary Jefferson, daughter of Ephrairn
Jefferson. Thew had six children.
Five died in youth. Miss Clara,
the only surviving child, married
S.Gilbert Wilds, cashier of the Fruit
Growers National Bank of Smyrna.
l once heard Lewis Zebley, a promi-
nent Brandywine Hundred man, say
at the dinner table in Reesister's s
Hotel in New Castle, speaking of
him as a member of the Legislature,
"That John H. Bewley was as sharp
as a pair of scissors. He was horse
proud and in the middle of the sixties
had pair of the finest black coach
horses that country ever knew. The
old man Samuel Townsend son Rich
ard raised one of them which was
fast for that day. l can't recall the
other horse's record but knew them.
Mr.. Bewley lived in Smyrna from
my earliest recollection, and died
there some years ago. His widow
died in February, 1904.
Benjamin Benson, of Benson and Cats
Benjamin Benson was man prom
inent in the firm of Benson & Cats,
carriage manufacturers, whose fame
was spread far and wide for the ex-
tensive business they did in that line
as we'll as for the fine quality of We
hicles they turned out. Had eleven
children. One of his daughters mar
ried Mr.. Joseph Carrow and another
Mr.. William R. Cahoon. Captain
Joseph B. Benson, son of BENJAMIN,
who was carriage trimmer by trade,
in Benson & Cats shop, and later
kept the lighthouse at Bombay Hook
for long time and died at his post
at an honorable old age, January 4th.
last. He had twelve children. One
son, Benjamin, who married Miss
Crow, daughter of Owen C. Crow.
late of Smyrna, died in Wilmington
lately after successful business ca
reer.
Major Black Large Land Owner
Major Black came from Maryland
and lived where Mr.. J. p. Hoffecker
now lives. l only knew him as a
land owner and retired gentleman.
He had one son, who went West, and
three daughters. DR.. Hirons married
one and the other, Miss Susan Black,
married DR.. William Daniels, who
is now Mrs. WE. Waters. One daugh-
tel, married DR.. George Culbreth, I. IS.
N, who was lost at sea.
Backson Family in And About SMYRNA
The Blackiston family was of divi-
sions and subdivisions, which L can
not undertake to follow out. Three
brothers of one set came to Whining
ton years ago, of which Samuel and
William are in the grocery business.
William married Mrs. James Roberts
daughter who was Miss Mary Vo-
shell, and did business in Smyrna for
long time. There was one, Richard
Blackiston and l think an old bachelor
who kept a store in Smyrna, and
kept clerks whom he suspected of hav-
ing a good time at the store at
nights, at his expense, when he was
away, for he liked tn have his nights
off, and have good time himself.
So to satisfy himself just who was
having the best time, himself or
bis clerks, he fell on plan to catch
them mapping, and told them early in
the morning that he would be away
all night. But these clerks were
= up to snuff as Smyrna clerks gener-
ally were, and shifted a mouse.
About the time old Uncle Dick
Blackiston thought things were ripe
ne knocked at the store door, and one
OF the clerks putting his head out at
the window says, "Who's there? ?"
Mr.. Blackson," was the response.
mot bit of it,, says the clerk,
You can't come that game on this
chicken" We'll, l tell you it. s
CONTINUED ON FIFTH PAGE.