Smyrna times., 1927-04-13
DEATH RECORD OF THE WEEK
w. E. Wright, Aged IS, Prominent
Citizen of MiddletOwn, Brother of
late Mrs. Joshua Arthurs, KentOn

one of the best linguists in the state,
died at o'clock Thursday morning
at the home of his brother-in-
Martin BBurris, ESQ. Middletown, af-
ter lingering illness which followed
stroke that he suffered last Fall Mr.
Wright was an uncle of Stanley M.
Arthurs, the artist, Of Wilmington,
formerly of Kenton. Mr.. Wright was
the son of the late John NJ. and Mar
garet NJ. Wright, and was born in
Hackettstown, Pa, N 1852. He went
to the public schools of that town, and
when he was Is years old, entered
Dickinson College, where he gradual
ed in law. After his graduation he
went to Washington, where he enter
ed law firm and practiced for few
years. It was then that there was
the greatest exodus to the West, so
Mr.. Wright set out for Bismarck,
North Dakota, where he practiced law
for while. He went from Bismarck
to Duluth, Mimi, where he entered
another law firm and practiced About
25 years ago, Mr.. Wright tired of the
West and returned to the East. Hav-
ing made study Of theology he was
admitted as a minister of the Will
mington Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. For about five
years he held two charges, one at
Leipsic in Delaware, and the other in
Maryland. 1t was during this period
Of his life that he took the chemistry
course in the University of Pennsyl-
vania. About IA years ago Mr. Wright
went to the home of his sister, Mrs.
Burris in Middletown, to make his
home. During his latter years in Mid
dletown Mr.. Wright has been contrib
uting editor of the Middletown Tran
script. His editorials, and articles of
science, politics and other subjects
have been widely quoted in magazines
and newspapers all over the country.
While Mr.. Wright took no part in
politics in Delaware, he was an ar
dent student of politics and equally an
ardent Republican. Mr. Wright was
a bachelor. He is survived by one
sister, Mrs. Burris. The late Mrs.
Nancy Nj. Arthurs, Of Kenton, was his
sister. Funeral took place in Middle
town.
Death Of j. Harry Gibbons, Townsend
J. Harry Gibbons, a prominent
farmer of near Townsend, died in the
Delaware Hospital, Monday night,
April 11th, from injuries received in
falling when in the act of alighting
from his car, his head striking the
concrete road which caused fracture
Of the skull He was born in Black
bird Hundred near Friendship Church
Sc years ago. He joined church when
a boy of ten years and has ever since
been active in Church work. Being
one of those who helped build Black
bird NJ. E. Church and for many years
an active member, at the time Of his
death he was one of the officials of
Townsend NJ Z. Church. He was a
good man and devoted to his family,
esteemed by all who knew him, his
death is deeply mourned. He is sur
vived by his wife, who was Miss Lola
Ford Of Smyrna, and three children,
daughter and two sons, also one sis
ter, Mrs. Harry Deakyne Of Town
send Funeral services will be held
from his late residence near Town
send, Friday, April IS, at 2 o'clock
p. M, interment at Townsend Gem
etery.
Thomas n Short, WeIl-knOwn Farmer
Thomas n. Short, aged 70, we'll
known Smyrna farmer, died of pneu
monia Sunday morning after five
days illness. He had been an indus
trious farmer all his life and hardly
ever knew what it was to be sick. His
death is the first break in the family
since he was married Sc years ago. He
was son Of the late James and Re-
becca (Jacobs) Short and is survived
by his widow and nine children as fol-
lows. Mrs. o. B. HAZEL, Cheswold;
Mrs. J. T. Jones, Harvey Short and
George NJ. Short, Smyrna; Mrs. War
ner CHM, of Odessa; Floyd Short, Will
mington, and Misses Florence, Bertha
and Jemima Short, who lived at the
homestead, near Smyrna. Funeral
services will be held from his late res
idence tomorrow, Thursday afternoon
at 2 o'clock with interment in Odd
Fellows cemetery. Rev. R. K. Steph-
enson, pastor Of Asbury M. E. Church
of which Mr.. Short was a member
nearly all his life, will have charge Of
the services, assisted by the Rev. w.
L. Matthews.
Charles F. Harper Dies at Leipsic
Charles F. Harper, aged SO, grand
father Of Mrs. Harry p. Jones of this
town, died at his home in Leipsic, Fri
day, after a brief illness. He is sur
vived by ten children, seven daughters
and three sons, as follows: Mrs. Noble |
T. Jerman, Leipsic; Mrs. Edward
Clothier, Lansdowne, Pa; Mrs. John
Slaughter, Wilmington; Mrs. D. II.
Boyce, Cheswold; Miss Ella Harper,
Ieipsic; Mrs. John Wright, of Mary |