Smyrna times., 1909-01-27
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, Jan. 26.-Jac6b Ray
mOnd was one of the old families of !
Smyrna and was in the mercantile |
business at the northwest corner which |
he owned and was succeeded by James |
Bewley. He had one son, George |
Henry Raymond, who was president |
of bank at one time, but lived rather
a retired life. He married Miss
Caroline Upton and they had sons one
of whom is Clarence B., of the firm
of Clifton & Raymond, well-knOwn
Smyrna druggists at the -Four Cor
ners.' There was another Jacob
Raymond, who was a cousin to
George Henry who at one time kept
the upper hotel. Joseph and Samuel
Reynolds were residents of Smyrna
in the early sixties. Joseph had two
sons, Samuel J. and Jospeh M. and
two daughters, one of whom is Mrs.
DR.. Smithers and Miss Elizabeth who
is single. And there were two bro
theirs, Robert and John Reynolds from
about Frederick, clerks in Smyrna.
Robert who was in George W. Cum
Minis store would in these davs have
been styled a dude. He was a tall
slender fellow and pink of perfection
in dress, a model of fit and fashion
and when he stood erect you would
hardly have thought he had a joint in
him. l always looked him over we'll
when l came in contact with him, for
l had some notion of good clothes
myself. l know bought the first pair
of patent leather CATERS that l ever
possessed from Robert, but he soon
left Smyrna and lost the run of him.
Governor Reynolds of Smyrna Family
Then there was another Robert Rey-
nolds who had the honor of being Gov
ernOr Of our State for four years with
whom | had no acquaintance but knew
him by sight. l heard him make a
little off-hand speech one Decoration
Day 'whi standing on the curb in
front of the Court House in Whining
ton. He was a little inclined to be
flowery but l was inclined to the
conclusion that he acquitted himself
pretty we'll and / thought l could read
on the countenances of some of the
critics that he had exceeded their
expectations, as we'll as my own. AS
l was at loss to know whether it was
an impromptu production or a care
fully prepared one for the occasion,
CHANGING to meet Mr.. George V. Mas
sey day or so later l remarked,
"Well l heard your Dover Governor
make a little speech the other day and
he acquitted himelf pretty we'll if done
without preparation. To which he
replied, "Oh, we all have to prepare
for speeches, which left me guessing.
James Roberts a Smyrna Merchant
James Roberts was among the
Smyrna merchants sixty years age
ard was a man highly respected by
all. He married Miss Areanna Greer
sister to Edmund Green, whose son wa
known as John Fiske, a Professor O.
Philosophy, and Historian. Mr.
Roberts by that marriage had tw'
daughters, Anna Spruance, now Mrs
J. Wesley Jones and Irene Levi
Roberts, of the singular number, ant
married for his second wife Mis-
Mary Voshell and by that marriag
had one son and one daughter. Hi
son, James v. Roberts was Pro
fessor of music and served the st
Johns P. E. church in that capacit
for 13 years, and the Unitaria
church for ten years, both Of Will
mington, and the daughter, Mary,
now Mrs. William Blackiston also o
Wilmington Mr.. Roberts had on
brother John Roberts who owned
small farm at what was then know
as Roberts Corner just west of Due
reekg He was pluckv little fello'
of about 125 pounds and about as fu
of grit as sand could make man. H
later went to Wilmington and die
there some years ago. Then ther
was Samuel Roberts formerly of Lewe
who settled OH nice farm over in Ne
Castle near Clayton but later retire
from the farming business and can
to Smyrna where he died leaving tW
sons, John w. and James Robert
both now of Smyrna.
James c. Robinson and his Two So'
James G. Robinson wandered ovei
into New Castle county in his ear
business life and lived on Ayres Sto
KEYS farm near the Long Bridg
where made his first acquaintan
while an enrolling officer in 1863 or
tax collector in 1865 and 66. Thoui
the enrolling business was rather di
agreeable to all parties concern
cQNTlNuEp OK FifrB FAoE,
.ss.I4l1 sA,444.