Smyrna times., 1910-05-04
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
William Edward Spruance, aged 70,
For Many Years a Prominent Resi-
dent of Smyrna and Vicinity, Dead

and prominent citizen of this com
munity, died at 11.3O o'clock last
Wednesday morning at his home in
Bala, Pa. He had been in failing
health for about a year but two
weeks ago he was stricken with
pneumonia from which he never re-
covered. The sad intelligence of his
death was deeply felt in Smyrna
where he was born and raised and
spent many years of his life. De-
ceased was q son Of the late Enoch
and Anna (Wakeman) Spruance and
was born in this town, on January
80, 1910. Of a family of eight
children, seven sons and one daughter.
his death leaves James W. Spruance.
of Spruance City, a brother, the only
surviving member. Deceased was
educated in the Smyrna schools and
finished a course at Delaware Col
lege. He entered the merchantile
business for himself in the store
property now occupied by Benton V.
Weldon but only continued this about
three years when he sold out and
went to farming which occupation he
followed until he moved to PhiladeI-
phia some twenty years ago. Since
then he has been the Philadelphia
representa- at Pier 4 for the
Smyrna Transportation & Manufac-
b tt1ri0U COmpapv opJ .ooo,+I.,
made wharf manager for the new
Atlantic City Transportation Com
pany's line. Mr.. Spruance married
in early life Miss Martha Voshell
daughter of the late John M. and
Mary (BOggs) Voshell, who survives
him with four sons and one daughter
as follows: Hon. J. Harvey Spru-
ance, Mayor of the city of Whining
ton; William E. Spruance, Jr.. Gill
bert Spruance and Harry Spruance,
of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Nan Spru-
ance jones, of Bala. The oldest
son, John V. Sprnance, died a little
over a year ago, and his death, the
first break in the family, was a loss
which had a most depressing effect
upon Mr.. Spruance as we'll as the
whole family. Deceased was a Dem
ocrat in politics but never sought or
held office. He was a member of
Harmony Lodge No. 13 A. F. and
A. M. Funeral services were held
at his late residence at Bala, Friday
evening and the remains were
brought to Smyrna, Saturday, in a
special car attached to the neon train.
lnterment was made at Odd Fellows
Cemetery, the Rev. A. S. Mowbray
officiating.
Death of Mrs. David S. Wids, Kenton
Kenton, May 3.-Mrs. Martha Ann
Wilds, widow of David S. Wids, a
prominent farmer of Kenton Hundred,
died Friday after a lingering illness,
aged "a years. She had been in fail
ing health for sometime with heart
disease. The death of Mrs. Wids
has removed one of Kenton's most
estimable women. Devoted to her
home and church and prominent in
the vicinity where she had spent so
many years of her useful life, her
death is keenly felt and lamented
Deceased was a daughter of Lod9man
and Ann (Carrow) Downes. On Feb
ruary 27, 1855, she was united in
marriage to Davis S. Wilds and was
his constant and faithful helpmate
until his death, which occurred June
8, 1909. She is survived by a family
of seven children as follows: Rev.
John S. Wilds, Gouverneur, N. Y. +;
Frank Wilds. Crumpton; Mrs. John
A. Walls, Wilmington; Mrs. Thom-
as Roe, Mrs. Charles P. Bailey, ].
Herman Wilds and Wilbur Wilds,
OF Kenton. Funeral services were
held at her late residence Monday
afternoon, Rev. j. NJ. Anderson,
pastor of the Kenton M. E. Church
assisted by her former pastor, Rev.
W. E. Habbard, of Ridgely, Md. ,
being in charge. Each passed a
touching tributed on her life. The
remains were conveyed to their last
resting place in BrynziOn Baptist
Cemetery and inferred beside those of
her husband.
W. F. Buchanan, Former Smyrna Boy
William F. Buchanan, a former
Smyrna boy who learned his trade in
the printing Office of the Smyrna
Times, died at Sarasota, Florida, on
Wednesday last, April 9th, after a
lingering illness of tuberculosis. He
was son of the late James H.
Buchanan and nephew of Mrs. M.
E. Wells of this town. After finish
ing his apprenticeship on the Times
he followed his trade for several
years and then accepted a position
| with the Armour Fruit Companv and