Smyrna times., 1911-09-20
DEATH OF HON. W. T. SMITHERS

DEATH OF HON. w. 7. SMIT HERS
Delaware's Secretary of State Died
Suddenly at His Home in Dover
Thursday Night-ActiVe Career
The people of Dover as we'll as O.
the entire State were shocked Thurs
day night to hear of the sudden an
unexpected death of William T.
Smithers, present Secretary of State
of Delaware under Governor S. S.
Pennewil), which occurred at his
home on State Street, Dover just
after midnight. Mr.. Smithers had
been working late at his office in
the State House, which had been his
custom since he held the office of
Secretary of State. He returned to
his home shortly and sat up reading
until near IL O'Clock, when he pre-
pared himself for bed. He got in
bed, but feeling uneasy, arose and
sat in a chair nearby and at once
complained of feeling i'll. Two ply
sicians living across the street were
summoned and hastened to his side,
but too late to render medical aid,
as he was about breathing his last :
Besides his wife, at his chair when
he died, was his mother, with whom
they both resided. His only child
is William 7. Smithers, Jr., a news
paper man of Wilmington. William
T. Smithers was born in Frederick,
Del, in 1858. After attending the
schools of his native town, he went
to Wilmington and entered the priv
ate schools of Mr.. Reynolds, of
that city. His later education was
completed by private tutors. He
studied law in Dover under the late
Nathaniel B. Smithers and was ad-
mitted to the Kent County bar in
1880. In 1897 he served as a mem
ber of the constitutional convention
which framed the present constitu-
tion of Delaware. At the appoint
ment of Daniel o. Hastings ther
Secretary of State, in 1909 to the
judgeship Mr.. Smithers was selected
by Governor Pennewill as his sec.
retary of State. which office he filled
up to his death. Mr.. Smithers
was also spoken of as one of the
, State judges at the resignation Of
. Judge Daniel Hastings last year, bu
: Governor Pennewill realizing his
worth as his secretary. would not
t listen to his appointment to tn,
, bench. The national flag was order
; ed at half mast on the State House
and by direction of State librarian
t the State House was partially drapet
I in mourning. The funeral services
r of the deceased Secretary of Stat
a took place Sunday afternoon with
' short service at the residence fo
the immediate family, after whic
: the remains were taken to the People
-? Church of Dover, of which the de
ceasd was an official member and on
v of the founders, which services wer
: at 1.30 o'clock, after which the in
t terment took place at Barratt
o Chapel Cemetery, near Frederick tn
e former home of Mr. Smithers. Tn
d address at the Peoples Church wa
k made by Rev. DR.. A. W. Light
t bourne. At the close of his addres
It the Male quartet of the churc
e Messrs. Taylor Fisher, Benson
i Carrow, Wharton, Louderbough an
It Lewis, Zone member absent) sang
It favorite of the deceased, "Som
e Glad Day." Upon an invitatio
n being given to view the remains Q
IS the deceased. fully one thousau
N persons passed before the casket
l.. The choir sang "Home of til
a Soul, >" while the remains were b
J. ing viewed. The church male qua
,e tet sang Fearis Beautiful Isle (
DO Somewhere, at the grave. tt
ct honorary pail bearers included D
Is James E. Carroll, ]. Frank Wild
u Walter Morris, William M. Hop
70 A. B. Conner, A. R. Benson, Dani
IN Jones, H. Ridgely Harrington, Fo
7 mer United States Senator j. Frar
az Alice and Herman G. Taylo
or Twenty members of the Kent Coun
40 Bar occupied seats in the front
ut the church and many prominent mi
Iv of the State including Govern
no Pennewill were present.
Iy
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