Smyrna times., 1930-11-12
DEATH RECORD OF WEEK
DIR. Caleb r. Layton, Former Con-
gresham and Secretary of State
of Delaware, Dies in Georgetown

DIR. CdleD N. Lay ooii, oiei O0'
eressman and Secretary of State
of Delaware, Dies in Georgetown
DR.. Caleb Rodney Layton, form
er Secretary of State in Delaware,
Congressman from Delaware for
two terms and a leader in Repub-
lican State and county politics for
MANY years, died at his home in
Georgetown at 7.15 q. m, yester-
day after a long illness. He was
seventy-nine. DR.. Layton was born
near Frankford, Del, on Septem-
ber s. 1851. He was the son of
the late Samuel Henry and Sarah
S. Layton. His early boyhood was
spent in Georgetown with his
grandfather, Judge Caleb S. Lay
ton. He received his early educa-
ton in the public and private
schools of that place. He was a
graduate of Amherst College and
received his medical degree from
the University of Pennsylvania
Upon graduation from the medical
school DR.. Layton returned to
Georgetown and conducted a gen
eral practice there for twenty-five
years. AS boy he became inter-
ested in politics and this was con-
tinued throughout his life. He
became leader of the Union Repub-
Iican forces in Delaware for the
late John Edward Addicks when
the latter entered Delaware poll
tics. In 1900 DR.. Layton was ap-
pointed Secretary of State of Della
ware by the late Governor John
HUM, taking Office in January,
1901 and serving four years. In
1906, he was appointed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt as Auditor for the
State and other Departments in
Washington, in which Office he
served for five years. In 1918 he
was nominated on the Republican
ticket for Representative in Con-
gress and was elected. In 1920 he
again was elected and in 1922 was
nominated for a third term, but
was defeated because he failed to
support the Dyer Anti-Lynching
bill. DR.. Layton was a member of
the Progressive State Committee
from 1912-1918, when Roosevelt
was running for President. At the
time of his death he was a mem
Der of the Inland Waterways AS
sociation, and the Sentinels of the
Republic. On several occasions he
has served as member of
Georgetown City Council and on
the Georgetown Board of Educa-
ton. He was a member of the
Delaware State Medical Associa-
ton and the Sussex County Med
ical Society. He married Annie
Elizabeth Sipple, who died in 1925.
They had three children-Daniel j.
Layton, former deputy Attorney
General of Delaware; Caleb Sipple
Layton, City Solicitor of Whining
ton, and Mrs. Rachel Layton, wife
of Robert Reese Layton of Bridge
vile. DIR. Layton married a sec
ond time. His widow was Miss
Fannie S. Harrington, who for
about thirty-five years was an as
sistant in the Office of the Secre-
tary of State of Delaware and who
in 1925 and 1926 served as Secre-
tsry of State of Delaware, being
the second woman in the country
to be named to that Office.
Death of j. Edward Beck, Dover
]. Edward Beck, aged 81, a
former Smyrnian, who for many
years has been a prominent furni-
ture merchant, head Of the firm of
]. E. Beck Company of Dover, died
at the home of his sister, Mrs.
William S. Hammond, Saturday
evening, after a long illness of
heart trouble. He had been in i'm
paired health for more than
year. Mr.. Beck in early life learn
ed his trade at paper hanging and
worked in Smyrna with the late
j. e. Carter until the latter's
death after which he formed a
partnership with ]. Frank Startling
also formerly of Smyrna, and
bought out Syphers Drug Store,
corner of Lockerman and State
streets, in Dover. When Mr.. Starl-
ing was appointed Postmaster of
Dover, Startling & Beck sold out
to James w. Wise, the present
owner. Mr.. Beck soon after, en-
tered the furniture business and
the j. E. Beck Company became
successfully established with a
thriving business. Mr.. Beck took
his nephew, ]. E. Haman, in bus
mess with him and the latter has
practically looked after the store
during Mr.. Beck's long illness.
The deceased was popular with all
who knew him and was frequent
visitor to Smyrna where he had a
number of friends. He never mar
ried. His sister and nephew above
survive him. Funeral
took place yesterday afternoon
with internnenf at lakeside Gem