Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1919-11-26
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK.
John B. Book, Former Trainmaster of
the Delaware Division, Long a
Resident of Clayton, Dead.

John b. BOOK, almost II years old,
a former train master on the Della
ware division of the Pennsylvania
railroad, long a resident of CLAYTON.
was found dead in the bathroom of
his home, 9O5 Van Buren, street, Will
mington at $50 o'clock Thursday
night by his wife on her return from
Wyoming, where she had spent the
day visiting friends. Death is SUD-
posed to have occurred between 5 and
6 o'clock, as there was a light in a
front room. Mr.. Book evidently hav-
ing lighted the gas. He had been
unwell for a long time, suffering from
heart trouble. The sad intelligence of
his death was received in CLAYTON
with sorrow. Mr.. Book was born at
Salem, N. J., February "a, 1849, and
was educated in Salem's public schools
He entered the service of the Penn
sylvania' Railroad Company July 9,
1871, as a freight brakeman on the
Delaware division. He was promoted
to freight conductor July, 1873, and
was appointed passenger conductor
June 1, 1875. He became assistant
train master October 1, 1882, and
served as train master from October
l, 1898, to May 1, 1917, when he re-
tired from active service. He was
employed in the Clayton office from
July 1, 1883, to February Is, 1906,
and had resided in Wilmington almost
Ia years. He was chairman of the ex-
ecutive committee of Railroad Vet
erans' Association and was prominent
in the Masonic fraternity. He is sur
vived by his wife, Mrs. Matilda
(Stiles) Book, who was born in
Pedricktown, N. j.; a daughter, Mrs.
William H. Lodge, of Philadelphia,
whose husband is connected with the
Pennsylvania Railroad; a son, James
G. Book, who is an employee of the
Delaware Road, and lives in Clayton
and by grandson, John B. Lodge, of
Wilmington, an employee of the
Hercules Powder Company. Funeral
took place Monday, with full masonic
ceremonies, and interment being at
Brandywine Cemetery.
Charles P. Cochran, MiddIetOwn, Dead
Charles P. Cochran, one of the best
known residents of Middletown, died
at his home on South Broad street,
Tuesday afternoon of last week, in
his 81st year. Mr.. Cochran had been
confined to his bed for the past two
weeks. The deceased was the son of
the late Governor John P. Cochran
and Eliza Polk Cochran, and was born
at Cochran Grange" near Middle
town, where he lived the most of his
life. His wife, who was Miss Cor
rhine Hardcastle, died about Al years
ago, and sometime later Mr.. Cochran
retired as an active farmer. Mr..
Cochran was Democrat in politics
and had always taken an interest in
public affairs. He leaves to mourn
his death, one son, Charles Malcolm
Cochran, of Middletown and a daugh-
ter Mrs. Joseph H. Mendinhall, of
Wilmington. Of family of four sons
and two daughters, Mr.. Cochran was
the sole surviving son, and Mrs. Eliza
c.. Green, of Middletown, is the last
surviving child. The funeral services
were held at his late home, Thursday
afternoon, and were in charge of Psv
F. H. Moore, D. D. pastor of Forest
church, of which the deceased had
been a member for many years. In
terment was made in Forest Gene
terry.
A. S. Pennington, Aged 70, Dead.
Mr.. Ashbury Sutton Pennington,
died in Philadelphia on Monday, Nov.
18th, aged 70 years. Mr.. Pennington,
his wife and two daughters, were for
a number of years residents in Mid
dletown. For years he was closely
associated in Philadelphia with DIR. S.
Weir Mitchell, the noted expert in
nervous diseases, as a masseur and
nurse and become quite expert in
such matters. Funeral services were
held Thursday afternoon, at 2.30
o'clock at his late home, 4069 Spring
Garden street, Philadelphia.
Mrs. Susan A. Coverdale, Clayton,
Mrs. Susan A. Coverdale, aged II,
mother Of Charles G. Coverdale re-
corder of deeds of Kent County, died
at her home in Clayton last Thursday
from a stroke of apoplexy, the third
stroke she had recently. She was
the widow of Douglas Coverdale and
had spent her whole life, PRACTICAL in
this vicinity. She is survived by four