Milford chronicle., 1909-05-21
Business Men of Frederick From
1910 to the Present Time.
CALEB SMITHERS.


His father was John Smithers, a promi.
nent man in Kent County during that
period of the Nations history when it
was passing from the status of colonial
dependency to a young Republic. In
early manhood Caleb Smithers adopted
the occupation of a sailor and for several
years was engaged in that calling, most of
which time his home was in Milford.
In January 1924 he was married to Sallie.
daughter OF Vicent and (Minors) Bes-
wick of Milford Neck. Mr. Beswick was
a large land holder of Milford Neck and
died about 1904. By this union there
were three children, Joseph, Sarah A. |
and Caleb j. Smithers. Mr.. Smithers
moved from Milford to Frederica about
1877 and was ever after while he lived /
resident of that place, except for the two
years he was Sheriff of Kent County
from lS44 to 1916. Shortly after his loca-
ting IN trederica he formed a partner
ship with James s. Buckmaster in the
mercantile business. under the firm name
of Buckmaster and Smithers and for
many years was an active member of that
firm, selling goods and dealing largely in
grain and produce. The large and in.
creasing business demanded several yes. .
sells for he transportation of their grain /
and other produce, and finally they had c
several vessels built for that purpose ,
which piled between Frederica and Phil /
adelphia. About the middle of the I
iortles-p perhaps about the time his son s.
Joseph reached his majority, he with t
drew from the firm of Buckmaster and e
Smithers, and forming a new partner. d
ship continued the business as Smithers 4
and Son. As well as investing in vessel ic
property Mr. Smithers invested extern b
sively in real estate and became the DOS
SCISSOR Of several valuable farms. In
1870 he was elected to the Legislature
from Murderkill Hundred, and it is
noteworthy coincident that his brother. re
Captain Elias Smithers, was at the same La
time elected to the same body of law q
makers, from Milford Hundred. Mr.. tin
smlthers was member of the State Con.
venuon, to revise the Constitution in in
1907, and sat as member through the Or,
entire deliberations of the Convention. inQ
This Constitution was never ratafied. os- to
enslbly on account of some mooted illeg- Coz
.lity OF the proceedings but really be- dal
ause Hon. John NJ CLAYTON. who had an,
more influence over the masses, than anv too
ther Delawarean, opposed it. In 1861 7 "
resident Lincoln appointed Mr.. Smith npt
rs Collector of Revenue, at the Port of mit
which position be held for doh
'uI years. WIN great credit to him tow
If and satisfaction to the Government. I
Nth the termination of this office, his the
hcial career ended and he retired to the
'ivate life, to enjoy the quiet of his on &
1me. About 1868 the firm was chang ing
to Smithers and Co., the elder Mr.. ferre
nithers retiring and his younger son. but
Ileb ). Smithers, entering as partner meet
tn his brother Joseph. This firm con-
lued the usual routine of business. nm so tn
the death of Mr.. Joseph Smithers unde
vember 18th, 1870, after which the on. that
e business passed to the junior partner. OF J.
j. Smithers, Mr.. Smithers after sue We
sfully conducting the business for for t
re or more of years, sold out to Ed. bring
> w. Thomas and Joseph Frazier. two consc
erprising and deserving Young men, to me
o since that time have conducted ~ befor,
lness with the same methods of IN
mptpess bopasty ond ca. asa,;. Let III
had characterized the place for many ~ d
RS. For more than sixty years it has 5iioul
n business stand and its occupants uec'ut
e always been distinguished for being meet
est, upright and square in their busi- susses
transactions. one ia
heb Smithers was man Of more than fron,
nary ability. From a business point ird,,as
ew he was active, energetic and alert; foa ~;
mind rendering him 80,
bic Of grasping opportunities as they Tbar
presented and directing them into ,,odo
er channels. He was quick at re n.iu
e and possessed a wonderful. al It.
unbounded fund of wit and humor.
voc be to the one who encountered -T7r TT
in contest, where wit was the 1 II
on of warfare. Politically he was
d Line Wing and a great admirer Of Few N
y Clay. He was friend Of Senator
NJ. Clayton, personally and politi-
anu justly regarded hIm as one of Every
ea'est men Oh the nation In the ALLOW
ion when the threatening clouds of Fail +
ltion, hung like pail, dark and You o
i"s over 'ne union' and Delaware disease.
ing in the balance, with uncertain. Dosp,
winch sue ner fortune SHOULD be from da
{ nconlpromislngly stood by the Proof
After the death of his first wife Vim
miners married the widow of Cap ford, Del
mes I. Burley, who survived him. and main
d October 21st, 1869, in his seven arise fro
year lie was an honored, rec have to