Smyrna times., 1911-01-11
DEVOTION TO A HOPE THAT
WAS NEVER ABANDONED
MRS. M. n. CARTER, ONE OF
sMYRNA'S OLD CITIZENS, DEAD
Looked in Vain For the Return of Her
Husband, Whose Homecoming
Was MYsteriousIy Frustrated

MIS-. MARY nuru OdTCerJ WlQOW or |
John Carter, and for half century
a resident of Smyrna, died at the
home of her daughter, Mrs. Annie
H. Armstrong, at Delaware and |
Cummins streets, this townS on Sun
day afternoon. She was 78 years
old The immediate cause of death |
was diabetes, from which she had
suffered periodically for several
years. The final collapse was so
sudden and unexpected that not one
of her children could reach the bed
side before she expired. 1t would
have availed nothing, however, had
they succeeded in doing so, because
she had lapsed into coma before it
was realized her condition was criti-
cal. She died without regaining
consciousness. When Mrs. Carter
was stricken the only relatives at
her side were her granddaughter,
Mrs. George G. Turner and her
daughter-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth
Massey Carter, widow of Joseph E.
Carter. Frederick j. Carter, the
eldest living son, was ill in Phila-
delphia; George Carter, of the edi-
torial staff of the New York Press,
was at his home in Flushing; Mrs.
Armstrong was in Flushing taking
care of her daughter, Mrs. Arthur
M. Pinkham, who is i'll there, and
William Carter. a jeweler in Will
mington. and the youngest son, was
in that city caring for an invalid
wife. They came to Smyrna as
quickly as they could do so With the
limited Sunday service down the
Delaware railroad. Mrs. Carter be-
came unconscious on Sunday morn
ing and died at 345 O. clock that
afternoon, or more than two hours
before any of the out-of town men,
bers of the family could arrive. DR..
E. S. Dwight, the family physician,
and DR.. J. W. Clifton, consultant,
were in attendance.
Funeral at ST. Peters This Afternoon
The funeral services were held in
St. Peters P. E. Church at O'Clock
this afternoon the Rev. Francis
Wellington Ross Arthurs, the rector,
officiating. Three hymns, which
were great favorites of Mrs. Carter,
were sung by the choir. They were
"Nearer My God to Thee" "Lead
Kindly Light" and "Asleep il
Jesus Interment was made in Il {
George Carter burial plot in the Ode
Fellows Cemetery. Mr.. Arthur'
also officiated at the grave. The
pail bearers were S. w. Dresher
Camden; G. D. Jackson. Dover
Joseph B.SHunn, H. B. Grieves, Ed
gar Spruance and john M. Wick
Mrs. Carter was born in England OF
November 25, 1882, She became
the wife of John Carter and lived il
Harttepool, Durham, until after he
sons, Joseph E. and Frederick J. an
her daughter, Annie H.. were born
In 1861, Mr.. and Mrs. Carter an
the three children came to thi
country. They were accompanie
by Mrs. Carter's brother, Sampso
Estell Clark. After living for shor
periods in New York, Newark, N
j., and Philadelphia, they settle
in Smyrna and it was here the tw
younger boys were born.
Her Husband Ciei MYsteriousIY
Mr.. Carter was travelling sales
man. Forty three years ago h
went on a Western trip. When !
Indiana he wrote to his wife b
would be lhome in short time an
sent a letter Of similar import
his mother in England in relation t
his home coming. That was the las
ever heard of him. Those weI
turbulant days in the West and II
supposition always has been he VIZ
the victim of foul play. His vii
and his parents and relatives
England conducted world-wi'
search for him, even resorting
advertising and other agencies
Australia. New Zealand and II
Orient. No trace Of the missiI
man could be found, and Mrs. "a
ter found herself in what practical
was strange country with n
small children looking to her /
support. Years went by and I
children grew to maturity. Neve
however, did Mrs. Carter abanu
hope of seeing her husband agar
Her devotion to that hope was sho'
by the fact that never during .
long widowhood did she hear anyo
stop in front of her home at a
time Of the night that she did
60 to the window and look out a