Smyrna times., 1908-12-30
RECOLLECTION OF SMYRNA
OF OVER HALF A CENTURY
WILLIAM A.HUKiLL RECALLS HIS
BOYHOOD DAYS IN THIS VICINITY
Tells of People He Knew Who We're
Prominent in Smyrna in the Early
Forties and Relates Incidents

Wilmington, Dec. 28:-Yes, yes,
their turn has cCme and l am up
against it. Great guns of the army
and navy where is the man or who
shall be sufficient for the task to tell
the whole story about the great
Jones family, to do it justice with
credit to himself. Why they are
strewn from Maine to Georgia, from
the Gulf to the Lakes, and dot the
States from the Atlantic to the Pa
cihc, into Canada and no doubt
scattered over, the European conti-
nent, both great and numerous. We
will start at Smyrna but goodness
knows where we will end. There
was an Alexander Jones who lived
on farm in that neighborhood known
as the Alley west of Smyrna, who
went with bay party from that sec
tion to Collins Beach in August
1849, and there were two other
parties one was from what was then
d known as Tadpole Neck and one from
Cantwell's Bridge, tn. year before
the Higenia Hotel was built and they
occupied the beach in common.
mentioned this incident in letter to
the Evening Journal concerning
Thoroughfare Neck a few months ago.
This Mr.. Jones seemed to be a
gentleman in the proper sense, and
came down there with his coach and
two and a colored servant who was
a stout lad. All those who wished
to battle from the three parties had
come from the bathing except a few
and some children among which was
this colored servant, who chose to
amuse himself by ducKing the child
ren. One of them was a small son of
Thomss Enos whom the colored boy
got to crying. Some of the women
became incensed at it and reported
the matter to Mr.. Enos who was
dressing, and with one boot on and
the other in his hand he proceeded
forthwith to chastise the servant on
the head with the boot, which at
tracted the attention of Mr.. Jones
who ran and took hold of Mr.. Enos,
and when Mr.. Enos faced Mr.. Jones
he had that boot drawn on Mr.. Jones.
Quick as a flash all of the men from
all three parties were on the scene
in an excited mood with demonstra-
tions that something serious might
happen r ght then and there, pushing
their sleeves up and saying stand
back. But fortunately cooler heads
pevailed and there was no more licks
struck and an ugly fight was avoided
for they were a set of brawny fellow:
that would not stand any fOolishnes.
at time like that. In a few moment:
after they had time to think they
could be seen standing around il
little knots talking over the unusua
occurrence and getting acquainted
and everybody was sorry for tn,
unfortunate affair.
The Jones Family ofLarge Proportion
James Jones of near Brenford mar
ried Miss Crockett and by that uniol
had six sons, J. Ennis, John, James
Isaac, Josiah and Edward F. hav
no knowledge of any except J. Enni
who when young was with William
c. Eliason in the merchantile bust
ness but later went to Wilmington
where he has been a familiar fgur
for the last twenty-five years and i
still living and active at a good oil
age. Then there was a Thomas Jone
of White Hall Neck who had tw
sons, James and Wesley, who late
came to Smyrna and James later wen
in the butcher business in Whining
ton. Wesley is still resident c
Smyrna and who l have good caus
to recollect. He might have bee
seen in peach time from 1869 to tn
early eighties along Delaware avenu
in Philadelphia in the wee hours G
the morning carrying a lantern whic
the Philadelphia buyers said had
red side for green peaches and
green side for ripe ones, which woul
bring them up to happy mediul
that would fill the eye of an ine1
perienced buyer. Now can't vouc
AOA thS realty VI biAo oboeSiAACAAe, ~
1 do know that your humble dust We
under the same accusation at I'll
same time in the same business
But have a better reason to remen
Der our friend Wesley Jones. Or
day in February 1880 / drove dow
from Odessa to buy eggs on a decliI
ing market and Mr.. Jones had had
later report of the market than m.
self as / had left home before ii
mail came in by which he was postet
Now Mr.. Jones is as polite as Il
average man at all times, but on tn;
occasion he was polite to perfection
CONTINUED on FIFTH PAGE.