Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-01-31
N. 7. STERLING DEAD;
LONG LIBRARY JAN|TOR
industrious and Talented Negro
Well Liked by White and
CoIored Races.

With the death. on Sunday last. OF
Michael #. Sterling. colorcd. at his
home. 3l1 East Tenth street. follow
ing brief illness OF pneumonia there
ended n long and useful career, In
which faithfulnes and honesty were
the outstanding characteristics, ac-
cording to those who had known him
the greater part of his'lifc.
Michael" as he was always known,
had been janitor at the Wilmington
Institute Free Library for the past
IS years and this morning Arthur l..
Bailey, librarian, spoke of his death
with much regret. and OF his life as
one which had been spent in the
| faithful discharge OF the little, as well
as the large, duties with which It
came In contact. and one in which
time was found for aiding others.
Always dlgnified and businesslike,
Michael had been a familiar figure ut
| the Wilmington Free Library for
many years. The history OF the insti-
tuition was well known TO him, for he
had Witnessed the greater part OF its
| important development. One of the
important events which occurred at
| the institution while 1t was under his
care, was the change of the old
library, in 1893. from a paid institu-
ton to the present FREQ organization.
Practically everyone in the library
building was acquainted with the old
janitor and liked him, including the
tenants of the building nnd~the board
of managers. Occasionally, he would
joke with friend. for he had a
sense of humor but his usual deport-
ment was dignified and quiet.
Michael attended to his duties. as
usual, the first part of last week. but
one day complained OF feeling i'll, and
after finding someone TO look after his
work, went home. Pneumonia de-
veloped shortly, and he died Sunday
morning. He was a native Whining
tonian and was Go years old, having
been born In 1856.
In addition to his duties at tn,
| library, Michael was organist a
n Bethel A. NJ. r.. Church. Sixth and
Walnut streets. He was very font
of music and could perform on tn,
organ very well. Some time ago HI
founded class In music among tn,
colored citizens of the city, and meet
ings We're held each Monday evening
= There are about so members in th'
class.
: The funeral will be held on Thurs
: day, and II is expected that the at
: tendance will be lrage. The deceased
was very popular among the coloret
people of the city. He was membe
OF the colored Lodge of Masons.
lie is survived by his wife.
Mary A. Pyle.
The funeral of Mary a. Pyle, widow
of Isaac c. Pyle. who died in this cit.
, Saturday, will be held Thursday after
noon from the home of her son, Lesli
I w. Pyle, 1910 Madison street.
/ Thomas J.. Hitch.
Thomas J.. Hitch, so years old, al
|, employee OF the p. b. & w. Railroad
died early today at his home, So
vandever avenue. Deceased was well
!. known in this city. He was menbe
: of Liberty Bell Council No. 81, il
L o. L. A. NJ, and Ioka-. Tribe No 80.
: o. X. NJ Funeral services will be he'll
: Wednesday night. with further ser
' vices at Barratt's Chapel, near Fred
erica, Del.
Funeral OF II. l.. Zeigler.
Il The funeral of Horace l.. Zeigle
e 6S years old. who died last Thursda,
i was held yesterday afternoon, fror
e his late home, $40 East Fourth stree
e Rev. w. G. Harris of Goodman NJ.
: Church conducted the services. whic
o included singing by quartet CON
q prising Misses Grace and Eth
r. Lynch, w. j. Heats and c. NJ. Carve
h Deceased had been janitor of scho'
d No. Z for several months, and a nun
e Der of the pupils viewed the body be
" fore the funeral. 81
d Mrs. Sarah Middleton Essig.
Atlantic City, Jan. 31.--Mrs. Sara
Middleton Essig. wife of George !
# Essig, famous marine artist, died FIR
20 day and was buried yesterday in Mort
{ Laurel Hill cemetery, Philadelphia. Mr.
ne Essig was so years old and was a d
q rect descendant of Arthur Middleto
"a laration of Independence. Her hui
4, hand, who is 81 years old. surviv,
~ her. One son, Montgomery Essig, WI
- died several years ago was connectt
:, - with the Wilmington. Del. Ever
~ Evening, and her husbands brothe
:, Charles j. Essig, was at one tin
ie dean of the Dental Department of Il
University of Pennsylvania. Anoth
son survives.