Smyrna times., 1918-08-28
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
DIR. J. w. Messick Prominent Caorco
town Dentist And Sussex County
politician Dies Aged rs Years

prominent Mason, former menober ~
the General Assembly, and father ~
State Cannery Inspector DR.. William,
II. Messick, died early "Wednesday
morning in his apartments in Iewos
a1ter an illness of several months
several weeks ago DR.. Messick and
MS wife went to Lewes with the homo
that ne might regain his health. occn-
pylng the suite of rooms where be
maintained an Office. For manv wears
II had been custom of his to snond
certain days of the week attending to
ms practice in Lewes, his main office
beng in his home in Georgetown. DR.
Messlck was one of the best known
men IN lower Delaware. He served
with the Union Army during the Civil
war. He was a former member of
the General Assembly, and also served
as postmaster of Georgetown. For
years he took an active part in Re-
publican politics. On December 13
1865, he married Margaret ]. Boxer
at Mechanicsburg, Pa, and by that
union they had three children. now
Ivlng-Dr. William Rodney Messick
a practitioner at Lewes, and State
Cannery Inspector; George Edwin
Messick, dentistof Milford. and Mrs
Mary K. Wilgus, wife of Pemrose s
Wilgus, of MillsborO. For wears DR.
Messick was one of the active men,
bers of st. PauPs P. E. Church. BEING
vestryman. Funeral services were
conducted Friday afternoon, after
which burial was made with Masonic
rites in the adjoining churchyard.
Hon. Caleb S. pennewilI of Dover.
Caleb Simeon Pennewill, one of-the
best-knOwn citizens of lower Delaware
died at his home in Dover late We'd
nesday evening, aged sc years. His
death, while not sudden, came as a
surprise to many people. Mr.. Penne-
Will for many years was identified
with the business and political life of
Delaware. He was elected a mem
Der of the Delaware Legislature in
1858 and in 1873 was elected for four
years as member of the State Senate.
In 1904 he was the Democratic can
didate for governor and was defeated
by the late Preston Lea. For manv
years he was a director of the Farm
ers' Bank of Delaware, and in 1904 at
the death of Henry Ridgely, who had
been president of the bank for manv
years, he was elected president of the
bank. He served in that capacity un-
til January last, when he declined re-
election, and Henry Ridgely was cleo
ted to succeed him. In business life
ne was practically the head for many
years of the well-known lumber firm
of Hazel & Pennewill, of Dover. He
is survived by one child, Mrs. Dr.Beu-
lah Lewis, of Harrington. Funeral
services were held from his late resi-
tence Saturday afternoon at 1.3O
o'clock with interment in Christ P. E.
Church yard, Dover, in the Pennewill
family lot.
Untimely Death of Mrs. Earl Keith.
Mrs. Mary Thomas Keith, aged 20,
wife of F. Earl Keith junior member
If the well known automobile firm of |
W. F. Keith & Son, of Smyrna, died
1t the Delaware Hospital in Whining
on, late Friday night, after a linger-
ng illness, of a complication of dis
Eases. The sad intelligence of her
leath was received in Smyrna with
sorrow and there is much sympathy
or the young husband over the great
oss he has sustained. Mrs. Keith was
| Dover girl, the daughter of Mr.and
Mrs. John N. Thomas. She was very
popular and was married Thursday,
Nay 9th last, to +. Earl Keith, OF
smyrna. They were making their
lome with the groom's parents, Mr..
md Mrs. w. F. Keith,on Main street.
she went to the Delaware
Hospital in Wilmington, for treat
nent,where her condition grew worse,
in her death. Her remains
we're taken to the home of her par
nts in Dover, from which place fu-
eral services Wereheld Sunday after
oon, with interment in Lakeside GEM
terry.
frs. James H. HOffecker Passes Away
Mrs James Henry Hoffecker, for
ner resident of Wilmington and well
nown to number in Smyrna, died
ecently at the Presbyterian Hospital
n Philadelphia and was buried Mon
ay of last week at Meadville, Pa,
there she was born. About the first