Smyrna times., 1926-12-15
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
Mrs. Maria F. Smith, Aged 20, Passed
Away After a Long Ilness-Con-
Quoted Chester House for Years

Quoted Chester House for Years
| Mrs. Maria F. Smith, aged 70, one
of Smy1na's best known women, who
for years conducted The Chester
House on East Mt. Vernon stret, died
at her home on South Main street at
6.45 Saturday morning after a long
illness. Twenty-Five or thirty years
ago she became blind and was obliged
to relinquish The Chester House and
give up all activities. She was taken
i'll a year ago, the last six months of
which she had been bedfast. Mrs.
Smith was daughter of the late John
F. and Elizabeth (Ford) Goldsborough
and was born, raised and spent her
whole life in this town. In early life
she married Charles Smith, a native
of Denmark, who during the civil war
was in the United States Navy, seeing
service on some of the big battle ships
of that time. He was a prominent
Mason and hotel man and after the
war he conducted The Chester House,
which he owned, on east Mt. Vernon
street. He died October 1, 1898, af-
NCI n1l1SIl MIS- AOullIl Icll IIle lIOLCl
until her eyesight failed after which
she and her only daughter Miss Lottie
Smith, whose devotion and atten-
tion was ever constant, moved to
south Main street, where they had
been making their home. Besides her
daughter she is survived by two broth
ers, John P. Goldsborough, proprietor
Of The Colonial Hotel, this town, and
Presley Goldsborough Of Woodland
Beach. Funeral services were held at
her late residence yesterday, Tuesday
afternoon, at 2 o'clock, with interment
in st. Peters Cemetery Rev. r. K.
Stephenson, pastor Of Asbury NJ. E.
Church, had charge Of the services.
Charles Schreffler Dies Near Delaneys
Charles Schreffler, aged 85, we'll
known Blackbird Hundred farmer, re-
siding at Powell's Corner, near De
laneys, and the last surviving mem
Der Of General w. S. Hancock Post,
No. 29, Grand Army of the Republic,
Of Smyrna, died at GAS Saturday
morning after ten days illness of
Brights disease. Mr.. Schreffler was
born and raised in Venango County
Pa, and in his early life learned and
followed the trade Of shoe-making.
When the Civil War broke out he es--
poused the cause Of the Union and en-
listed in the Eleventh Pennsylvania
Volunteer Cavalry. He fought in a
number Of battles and served his en-
hstment without a wound. After the
war. or some 43 years ago, he came
to Delaware and settled near De
laney's over in Blackbird Hundred,
New Castle County, where he became
useful and respected farmer and
lived to the fulness Of years on the
farm which he bought and owned.
He was a staunch Republican and was
active in the G. a. r. Post Of Smyrna.
He lived to see his Comrades" Of this
once flourishing post, answer "the last
roll call" He is survived by his widow
and six daughters as follows: Mrs.
Frances Lorah, who lived at home;
Mrs. James Pryor Of near Delaneys;
Mrs. William Hurlock, Philadelphia;
Mrs. Samuel Mcconnell, Chicago;
Mrs. Harmonson Robinson, Chadd
Ford, Pa; and Mrs William Barnes
Of Emporium, Pa. He Is also sur
vived by 21 grand children and II
great grand children. Funeral ser
vices took place yesterday, Tuesday
with interment at Odd Eel
lows cemetery.
John T. Sweeney, Retired r. r. Man
John T. Sweeney, SO years old,
retired Delaware road employe of the
railroad and we'll known
throughout this section, died at his
home in Clayton Wednesday morning,
of paralysis, after a short illness. Mr..
Sweeney was born at Sudlersville, Nd.
January 6, 1859. He entered the SER
vice of the Delaware railroad as a
track man on December %, 1875. He
left the service in July, 1876, to work
for the Baltimore and Delaware Bay
railroad. He returned to the service
of the Delaware railroad in Septem-
Der, 1888, as freight brakeman. He
was promoted to freight flagman in
July, 1889, and freight conductor,
May, 1891. In February of 1917 he
was promoted to inspector of train
service, which position he held until
his retirement, March /, 1924. He is
by one son. His wife died
several years ago, since which time
he had resided at Clayton.
C. H. Cook, of MiddIetown, Dead
Charles Howell Cook, we'll known
to many farmers of the Middletown
vicinity as a creamery proprietor, died |
at the home of his daughter Mrs.
Carter Harrison in Chicago, ILL.,, Tues
day of last week, aged 70 years. De-
ceased had been in failing health for |
the past year. Mr.. Cook was resi-
dent of Trenton, N. j., but was we'll
Known in thic soctinn having haan