Smyrna times., 1925-04-08
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
Former Congressman Henry A. HOus-
ton of MillsbOrO, Dies at the Home
of His Daughter in Milford

kidney trouble, former Congressman |
Henry A. Houston, of MillsbOro, died
early Sunday morning at the home of
his daughter, Mrs. S. P. Toadvine, at
Milford. Mr.. Houston was. II years
old, and was one of the best-knOwn
men in Sussex county. Mr.. Houston
had been i'll for the past five years,
but his condition was considered good
until a short time ago He was at
tended by DIR. Samuel Marshall and
DR.. Rowland Paynter. Mr.. Houston
was a staunch Democrat all his life,
and was elected to Congress in 1902,
serving from 1903 to 1905. In early
life he was engaged in the lumber
and merchandise business in MillsbOrO
under the firm name of Houston and
White. He was actively engaged in
banking, and was president of the
MillsbOro Trust and Safe Deposit
Company, and a director of the Farm
ers' Bank at Georgetown. For twen-
ty years he was a director of the d.
NJ. and V. Railroad. He leaves sur
viving, his wife, who was Miss Eva
Hickman, of Frankford, Delaware, and
two children, Mr.. S. P. Toadvine, of
Milford, and Harry A. Houston, Jr.,
of Pontiac, Mich. One brother also
survives, Robert L. Houston, of Mills
boro. Henry A. Houston was born in
Dagsboro hundred, Sussex county,
July 10, 1847, at the old Houston
homestead. He was of ScOtch-Irish
descent, being a descendant of one of
three brothers who came to Sussex
county in the middle of the eighteenth
century. His father, Robert B. HOus-
ton, was a member of the COnstitu-
/ tiOnal Convention of 1852, and lived
to be 80 years old. In 1882, he sue
ceeded his brother in the general
merchandise business in MillsbOro,
later taking his clerk, William J. R.
White, into partnership. Mr.. Hous-
ton never aspired to public office eX-
cept when he was named as Congress
man by the Democrats, and elected
by the people. He was, however, APP
pointed a member of the Sussex cOun-
ty School Commission by Governor
Tunnel. He always took an active
part in the councils of the Democratic
party, and possessed in an unusual de-
gree the respect and confidence OF
men of all ranks. He was one OF
( Sussex county's foremost citizens, anC
was recognized as a plain and simple
gentleman of the old school.
Sudden Death of Mrs. J. w. Roberts
Mrs. Katherine E. Roberts, widow
of John w. Roberts a prominent re
tired farmer OF this town, died whit
on a visit to her sister in Middletowl
last evening, after a short illness o
double pneumonia. The sad intelli
gence of her death was shock to he
Smyrna friends many not knowing
she was i'll. 1t was known MOnda
to a few of her friends she was in
critical condition but there was hop
she might pull through. A chang
for the worse took place and she pass
ed away, as she had lived, PEACEFUL
l and sweetly. Mrs. Roberts was tn
: daughter of the late Davis and Mar
(Frame) Wilson of MiddletOwn.
: early life she married John w. ROt
erts and moved to his farm west c
r Clayton. Some twenty years az
S they purchased and moved to the
home on South street, Mr.. Robert
+ died suddenly Of apoplexy January l
e 1924. Like her husband, she wa
U much interested in Asbury M.
g Church of which she was long a men
S Der and was a good christian wOma
: of much culture and refinement. Or
s daughter, Mrs. Mary Roberts. Asl
2. brook, wife of Dr. William B. Asl
g brook, of Wilmington, survives. Fun
t, eraI will take place Friday at 2 p. n
Il with services at the residence Of HI
u sister, Mrs. Hearn. lnterment w
1t take place at Odd Fellows Cemeter
e Smyrna.
:, Abel Taylor Dies in Tennessee
d Abel Taylor, aged 70, a former re
q ident Of Smyrna, died at Clarkvill
,r Tenn, last Friday after a sho
l. illness. The sad intelligence of h
= death was received by his old frien
3 in SMYRNA with sorrow. He had be-
i spending sometime in Florida hOpii
in the change would benefit him and hi
but recently returned when he W
taken suddenly i'll and died. His
mains were brought to Smyrna a
IL interment took place Monday at Gle
u wood cemetery after short services
nd FAIRIES Undertaking Parlors in char
ey of Rev. Thomas Getz Hill. Mr.. Tayl
re spent his early life in Smyrna, was +
e a time employed with the firm of
IN brothers, George w. and S. Tayl'
k. machinists, and for a brief ventu
lie at Milford, associated with w.
at Humes under the firm name of Hun
It's & Taylor, machinists. In the eal
it eighties he was elected by Smyr
It's Town Council the first superintendt
ge of the Smyrna Water Works, viii