Smyrna times., 1917-11-28
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
George L. Townsend, Sr., Prominent
Banker, Politician and ME- Church
Worker of Odessa Passes Away


George L. Townsend, one of the
best known residents of the State, and
former United States Marshall, died
at his home in Odessa, Friday night
of heart trouble, after an illness of a
few days. He was in his 77th year.
He had been in excellent health and
very active until he was stricken few
days ago, since which his condition
had been critical. Having taken a
prominent part in public affairs, Mr..
Townsend was as we'll known in Will
mington as he was in the rural State. |
He was man of the highest charac-
ter, who did not hesitate to stand for |
his ideals in political life and civic |
matters. In politics he was Repub- |
ilcan-a man of the old school of poll |
itics. He was a staunch Methodist,
a district steward of Easton District
and prominent official and school su-
perintendent of the Odessa M. E.
Church. He was we'll known in
Smyrna and frequent visitor. George
Lybrand Townsend was born in New
Castle Hundred, January 2, 1841,
son of Sylvester D. and Abigail
Townsend. Sylvester D. Townsend
was the son of Zadock Townsend,
native of Sussex County, who removed
to New Castle County in 1903 and
continued as a farmer until his death
in 1924. Mr.. Townsend was one of
the original stock holders of the Peo-
ple's National Bank of Middletown,
which he helped to organize and be-
came director. He was president
and director at the time of his death.
He was active in Republican politics
and had been chairman of the New
Castle County Committee. In 1892,
he was appointed by President Harri-
son as collector Of the port at Will
mington, Delaware. On March 16,
1912, he was appointed United
States Marshall by President Taft.
His terms of Office in the govern
ment service were marked by high
sense of duty and faithful execution.
He was president of the Board of Edu-
cation of Odessa at the time of his
death. Mr.. Townsend was married De-
cember u, 1866, in Appoquinimink
Hundred to Miss Cornelia James, a
} daughter of Rev. Levi Scott, Bishop
of the M. E. Church, and the cere-
mony was performed by the bishop.
He is survived by his wife and the
following named children: Levi Scott
Townsend, president of Laird and Co.,
/ and vice. president of the Security
: Trust and Safe Deposit Co.; Sylves-
ter D. Townsend, vice-president Oi
, the Wilmington Trust Co. = William
e S. Townsend, connected with the trust
department of the Wilmington Trus
f Co. Henry Scott Townsend, assis
T tant trust officer of the Security Trus
i and Safe Deposit Co. F.; George l.
t Townsend, Jr., attorney at law; Mis-
f Cornelia Townsend, Mrs. E. Ballar
Lodge, of Cleveland, Ohio; Mrs. f
G. Cook, of Wilmington. and Mrs. c
O w. Bush, of Wilmington. Funera
It services were held Monday Afternoon
!, at 1 o'clock at his late residence a
i Odessa. Interment will be made a
e Old Drawers cemetery.
!, Rev. c. W. CIapham Dies at Laurel
ID The Rev. Charles Wesley Chaplain
l. for more than go yesrs a Methods
Is minister, died at his home at Laur'
ct Saturday morning from general de
1t bility. Mr.. Clapham was born
1t Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England
le and at the age of 16 was licensed
,b preach by the Wesleyan Methodisti
le In 1872 he came to the United States
e. Three years later he moved to Dell
,e ware, joined the Wilmington M. I
Of Conference and served many appoin
il ments throughout the Delmarvia Pei
i'll insula. In 1900 he retired from q,
j. tive work in the conference 81
ia settled in Laurel. In 1901 he WI
at appointed town alderman by May
is Thomas C. Horsey and revolutioniz'
er the civic life of Laurel with u
ng slogan: lit pays to do right and is e
pensive to do wrong" Instead
the usual fine of "dollsr and cost
he began plastering on fines of fro
wv SIS to $25, grading the offences. /
was stern and inexorable. but the
ma was big human side to him.
les leaves a wife and two children, 10
Z S. Clapham and Miss Ola Chapman
eS- Laurel. The funeral was held in Ce
is- tenary M. E. Church Sunday aftt
on noon.
RS
tn William Bradford Native of Dover De
ill William Bradford of Pittsburg, "a
ere who died in Dover late Friday nigl
ian was the third child Of Rev. Thon
lde ID D..lof-d ond Iucinda Hall Brf