Evening journal., 1911-09-15
DEATH ENDS ACTIVE
CAREER OF wv. T. SMITHERS
Secretary of State Expires
of Heart Disease After
Busy Night in His Of
flee.
ENTIRE STATE
MOURNS HIS LOSS

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER, Del, Sept. 15.-William 7.
Smithers, Secretary of State. lawyer,
and church worker, died at his home
here early this morning Of heart trou-
bic shortly after he was stricken
Apparently in the best of health when
he retired late last night after going
over many business matters in the
Secretary Of States Office in the State
House. his death is all the more
shocking to his many friends through
out the state and 10 the Dover COM
munity i'm particular He was SIS
years old, and a lifelong Delawar-
can
Mr. Smithers was in his Office until
midnight going over legal and state
papers and getting ready 10 charter
today the DUPONT Boulevard Corpora
ton. He was one of the three COM
missioners to determine route and
other details of construction of the
boulevard General r. Coleman DUPONT
is 10 build and give to the state. Mr.
Smithcrs seemed in excellent health
and spirits when he started homeward
About 1890 o'clock he was stricken
with angina pectoris, an affection Of
the heart, and Drs. Anderson and
O'Day were called in to attend him.
The Rev. DR.. A. W. Lightbourne, of
the Peoples Church, and a few other
friends also were summoned to the
house. Mr. Smithers sank rapidly,
however, and died about ? o'clock
Mr. Smithers was born in Frederica,
Del, ffty-eight years ago, the oldest
son of Joseph and Mary Townsend
Smithers While he was quite young
his father died, and his mother some
years afterwards married Nathaniel
b. Smithers, his fathers cousin.
His early education was obtained at
Professor Reynolds Academy, in VIII
mington, the now Chief Justice James
Pennewill also attending that school at
the same time. After graduating from
that school he went TO Stamford,
Conn. to live with the Rev. and Mrs.
Jonathan 5. Willis, Mrs. Willis being
his aunt She desired to have him
live at Stamford while he was attend-
ing the New England Conservatory
Of Music. from which he was gradu-
ated at the age Of 22.
Returning to Dover Mrs. SmitheIs
irtgisterod as a law student With Ma
thaniel b. Smithers, under whom he
studied Chief Justice Pennewill also
being "A student under Mr.. Smithers
at the same time After they finished
their legal studies and were admitted
TO the Bar. Mr.. Smithers and Mr.. Pen
newill opened a law Office together.
Mr.. Smithers was a Republican In
politics, and his first public office was
I'm 1897, when he was elected mem
ber of the Constitutional Convention
and was very active in is delibera-
Low
and men i'm public life in the state
were members of that convention.
Since then he had been mentioned for
several public Offices, but his only ap-
pointment was that of Secretary OF
State three years ago by Governor
.Pennewill. which position he held M
20 the time of his death. When Gov
crnor Pennewill appointed the present
judiciary Mr.. Smithcrs was advocated
for a place upon the bench, but the
Governor desired to retain him as Sec
retary of State. lie gave the closes,
attention TO the duties of that Office
Mr. Smithers was a student at all
times. an orator of much eloquencs
and an interesting writer. He Nas
much in demand as a public speaker
aud fulfilled many engagements
within and without the state. His
last public speech was upon THE Man
of Galilee," in the Peoples Churcn
two weeks ago. Ills estimation of Ma
thaniel B. Smithers was so strong
that he prepared a paper upon his life
and achievements and read it before
many organizations.
He IS survived by his wife and q
son, W T. Smithers, Jr., a reporter
for Every Evening. Mrs. Smithers
was Miss Elizabeth Pennewill, A
daughter of John c. Pennewill, OF
Dover.
Mr.. Smithers was a Methodist until
the Peoples Church was formed ir
Dover. no being one of the founders
and most active workers in that
church. He also was interested in the
church music and was a member oi
the choir. lie had a sweet and we'll
trained voice lie taught a large Bible
class of young men at the church
His funeral will be held on Sunday
afternoon, with services at his late
home AT I o'clock, aud with public
4 services at the Peoples Church al
$50 o'clock in charge of the Rev. Or
A. W. Lightbourne Interment will
be made at Barratt's Chapel neai
Frederica.
4 The honorary pail bearers will be
N j. Frank Wilds, General A. r. Benson
State Librarian II. Ride Didgely Har.
4 rington, Colonel A. B. Conner, Walter
Morris, James Z. Carroll, Daniel E
Jones and William NJ Hope.
Tributes 10 Deceased.
Governor Pennewili FASTENED +,
Dover this morning when informed o
Mr.. Smithers death and spent some
Il time al the Smithers residence. Busi
Continued on Page Nine.