Smyrna times., 1927-12-21
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
]. Frank Wilds, One of Dover's Best
known Citizens and Former Regis
ter of Wills of Kent County, Dead

ter of wills OF Kent county, Dead
]. Frank Wilds, aged 81, one of Do
ver's best known citizens, died at his
home on Academy Square, at 10
o'clock Monday night after long i'll
ness. While in failing health for more
than a year, he had been confined to
his bed for the last several weeks.
The death of Mr.. Wilds removes one
of Dover's most beloved and popular
citizens Though a native of KentOn
Hundred he had lived in Dover most
of his life, was we'll informed and
gave of his time and talents around
the Legislative halls and Court House
circles, in a measure that was useful.
Mr.. Wilds was born and raised in
Kenton Hundred, being the son of the
late James Denney and Lydia Ellen
(Spruance) Wilds. He followed farm
ing around Kenton in his early life,
but when he was elected to the Legis-
lature he moved to Dover, where he
has resided ever since. A man of
kindly spirit and affable manner, he
won friends readily and became active
in the Democratic party. He was
treasurer Of his party for time and
was elected Register Of Wills Of Kent
County. He became very proficient
in this Office and made good record.
He was also for time tax commits
sioner. His wife, before her marriage
was Miss Lydia Ellen Coverdale Of
Kenton. Of this union there are two
children: Mrs. Garrett S. Plowman Of
Ridley Park, p, and Miss Dora Wilds
who made her home with her father.
Four grand children also survive.
Funeral will take place tomorrow
Thursday afternoon at two o'clock
from his late home on Academy
Square and interment will take place
in the family lot in the church yard
Of Christ Protestant Episcopal Church
at Dover.
Death Of Harry Il. Douglas, Tennessee
Harry Douglas, aged 64, Of Morris
town, Tennessee, a former Smyrnian
and brother Of Mrs. Harvey Speak
man Of this town, died Tuesday night
Of last week at 8.45, at the Morris
town General Hospital. While he had
been in failing health, his illness had
been Of only about two months dur
alton. Deceased was son Of the late
Col Fl. C Douglas of Smyrna, and
was born and spent his early days il
this town. When a young man he
attended Pennington Seminary, Pen
mington, n. J. After leaving this in
stitution he became secretary for
General Forsythe, participating il
frontier warfare on the Arizona and
Texas. border Later he took job in
the Pension Department at Washing
ton, d. @. He became proficient in
his work and was soon transferred to
"feld work" for the department in
Indiana. Thirty-five years ago he
was transferred to Morristown, Ham
bin County, Tennessee, where he con
tinued in the work of the Y. S. Pen
sion Bureau as special examiner and
later became a pension attorney. He
enjoyed the confidence and esteem Of
all who became acquainted with him
and was interested in the nj. =.
Church, South, was active in the Mems
Bible Glass, was great lover Of ma
ture and was especially interested IN
mineralogy. He was gentleman Of
the old South" staunch in his loyalty
and true to its principals. He never
forgot his old home town of Smyrna,
made visits at intervals to his sister
here and kept in touch with Smyrna
/ thru the medium Of its weekly paper
/ The Smyrna Times, ever since he went
I! South. His wife, who was Miss Jen-
ME Whiteside Of Morristown, died
\ twenty-four years ago. He is sur
vived by one daughter Miss Jean
\ Douglas to whom he was sigularly de-
voted and by one sister, Mrs. J. Har-
vey Speakman Of Smyrna. He is
also survived by one niece, Mrs. Ed
win C. Billeb of this town. Funeral
and interment took place at Morris
| town, Tenn, last Thursday.
Edgar L. Benson Dies in Philadelphia
Edgar L. Benson, aged 62, son of
the late Captain Joseph Benson for
many years keeper Of the Bombay
Hook Light at the mouth of Smyrna
River, died suddenly after about two
| hours illness at his home 6025 Mas
| ter street in Philadelphia last
Thursday. His remains were brought
! to Smyrna on Monday and in
TERED in the family plot in Odd Eel
lows cemetery. Deceased spent his
boyhood days on Bombay Hook Island
and before he moved to Philadelphia
he clerked in the store of the late
John B. Cooper in Smyrna. He is
survived by his wife and two sons
besides his two sisters and a
| number of brothers. He was lodge
man and esteemed highly by all who
knew him. Besides his widow, two
sons and their wives, Mrs. May Hus-
ton of Pittsburgh, Mr.. and Mrs. HUI
bert Wood of Collingswood, N. j., one