Smyrna times., 1917-08-29
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
Joseph Smithers. Retired Railroad
Man. well-Known Citizen, Passes
Alvey in His 82nd Year

'' ''Ch-tNuOWH OItlZen, HdSSeS
Alvey in His 82nd Year
Joseph Smithers, aged 81, retired
railroad man and well-known citizen
of Smyrna, died at 9. 80 Friday morn
ing after lingering illness of gem
eral debility. He had been in failing
health for several years, the last few
months of which he had been sinking
rapidly. Friday morning at four
o'clock he lapsed into Inconsistencies
and gradually 'fell to Sleep" The
death of Mr.. Smithers removes one
of 1.-THE old landmarks. devoted
husband and father and one who in
his active days lead q useful life.
He was born in Philadelphia Nav 2.
1886, the son of Andrew and Martha
F. CThomas) Smithers, and moved
with his parents to Dover when
mere boy. He learned the trade of
carpentering, later farmed near Dover
and came to Smyrna when a young
man and accented position with the
Delaware Railroad. For forty-one
years and until he was retired on
the age limit, he was stationmaster
and freight agent at Clayton. He
was also interested in several oustide
organizations. Was a partner for
many years in the firm of Smithers &
Mcguire and later sole owner of the
Smyrna Gas WORKS which he sold to
the Frost Gas Company a few months
ago; was regular attendant and
actively interested in Wilmington
| Conference; was a member of the
Board of Trustees of Wilmington Con-
ference Academy; was long member
of Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church
and it's oldest member of the official
board; was one of the organizers and
long secretary of the Clayton Savings
& Loan Association; was a member
of Harmony Lodge. No. 13. A. F.
and A. M. of Smyrna, and member
of Shawnee Tribe, No. 27, l. 0. R.
M, of Clayton. Deceased is survived
by his widow who was Miss Kate E.
Wilds. daughter of Nathaniel D. and
Elizabeth (Hoffecker) Wilds and one
daughter, Miss Bertha Smithers; who
resides at home. He is also survived
by five grandchildren and by one
brother, DR.. David T. Smithers of
Smyrna. Mr.. and Mrs. Smithers
had lived married life of singular
devotion Of over 81 years. Funeral
services, largely attended, took place
from his late residence on west Com
merce street at 2. 80 Monday after
noon in charge of Rev. George c..
Williams, pastor of Asbury M. E.
Church, assisted by Rev. w. A. Wise,
Rev. Milton McCann, and Rev. c. N.
Jones, and interment was made ir
Odd Fellows cemetery.
John 2. GoIdsborough Aged 80 Deac
John F. Goldsborough, aged 81,
one of Smyrna's oldest citizens, dieC
| at the residence of his daughter, Mrs
Maria F. Smith. early Sunday morn
ing after a lingering illness. De
ceased was a son of the late John F.
and Lydia (Fleetwood) Goldsborough
In early life he took np farming fo
a vocation and resided on Bombay
, Hook Island near Woodland Beach
:, Later he farmed in the Galley" ives
: of Clayton. Some twenty years ag
: he moved and took up residence il
Smyrna and for time managed tn
Chester House. He loved sports, wa
q fond of horses and during the days o
the Dover Fair, was frequently calle
on to be one of the judges. He wa
e also interested more or less in gun
! ming, fishing and trapping. A littl
over a year ago Mr.. Goldsboroug
8 had the misfortune to have a le
9 broken by being run into by an auto
mobile. Due to his advanced year
s the bone never knit and be has bee
e cripple and confined to the hous
e ever since. His wife, who was Mis-
II Elizabeth Ford, died March A, 1916
e Four children survive him: John P
Il Goldsborough, proprietor of the Co
3 lionel Hotel; Presly Goldsborough
: near town; Mrs. Maria F. Smith
q Smyrna, and Mrs. John Price, Odessa
K He is also survived by several grand
ID children. One brother and two sister
le survive him: Jerry Goldsborougf
p Mrs. l.. P. Campbell, and Mrs
( Amanda Slaughter. Funeral service
E. were held from the residence of Mr.
't Maria F. Smith on south Main stree
le this afternoon in charge of Rev. Geore
le c. Williams and interment was in tt
rs family lot at st. Peters cemetery.
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