Smyrna times., 1930-12-24

Lovegrove; he was druggist, gun
smith, etc. He had passion for
frogs, and used to give me ftp
penny bit per head for big green
frogs. His wife hated the sight of
them and would not cook them.
So the old gentleman used to get
me to assist in preparing the hind
legs and to assist in eating them.
They were delicious. He had a
brother James, who was a re-
spectacle merchant in Baltimore
and a noted fireman in the days Of
the volunteer fire companies in
that city.
Next to Wrapping" on the
north side was the residence Of
Edward Price Wilmer. He was
from Kent County, Nd, married
Rachel, a daughter Of Honorable
George Wilson, who resided at the
Bank house; when he purchased
that property, the house had the
reputation of being haunted. The
ghost was most troubled on
stormy nights and when the wind
blew furiously, it groaned and
moaned most distressingly. One
night Mr.. Wilmer traced the
sounds to an end room in the gar
rett. The next morning he went
out at the trap door, on to the
roof of the house and discovered
that the under side of a limb of a
large willow tree, that stood near
the house was barked, and the
shingles of the rof much rubbed in
places. He had the limb sawed
off and the ghost departed. Many
ghost stories have been exploded
by like Investigations. After his
death his widow resided there for
many years and was well and fav-
orably known. She was a lady of
culture, refinement and christian
graces. She was a Methodist but
from conviction and choice and
was a devoted influential member
of that church. Her house was the
home of the Itinerant, and many
still live who cherish her memory
and call her blessed. She lies bur
led in the Cummins' inclosure at
the Old Church Cemetery, near
Duck Creek, and though dead, she
yet speaketh. Next to Mrs. Will
mer's was a one-story house, one
part of which was used as lock
up and the other occupied by q
colored teamster of Mr. Cummins.
His wife was shouting Methodist
and not unfrequently startled both
preacher and people, by screaming
Amen at inappropriate periods of
the sermon. Miss Ann Wilson, af-
terward Mrs. Nehemiah Stockley,
a staunch church woman, but who
attended Methodist meeting when
there was no service at the Acad-
emy, then used as place for wor-
ship, was often annoyed by this
woman whites and negroes
then worshipped together, the
whites occupied the lower floor
and the blacks the gallery. Miss
Wilson promised this old woman a
dollar if she would never again say
Amen, except at the proper time.
The next Sunday, the Rev. Henry
G. King preached one of his excit-
ing discourses. The thermometer
of religious feeling rose rapidly.
Old Aunty crammed her handker-
chief into her mouth. Soon re-
sponses and exclamations became
frequent on the part of the mem
bers. Aunty could repress no long
er and shrieked out Amen at a
venture Miss Ann
Next was the residence of DR..
Jamison, who had two beautiful
daughters. Before removing to
Smyrna he resided on a farm on
the Dover road. Next was the
Slaughter House, and then the
dwelling of Jacob Pennington His
SAl0ShlCA AlOhSG was dA dlll dCltNt
place for boys. In his yard stood
a pear tree that used to be a sub
ject of much cogitation by me.
One half bore large round pears
and the other half small sweet
pears. They told me the tree had
been grated, but it was beyond
by childish comprehension and for
years continued to be a great mys-
terry to my mind. He was, think
one of the 'Moderators" of the
Friends meeting" and was a most
upright and estimable citizen. Ad-
joining Friend Pennington, resided
one of his married daughters, then
several dwellings the names Of the
occupants not remembered, then
the father or uncle don't remem-
ber which, of Richard @. Johnson.
On the night of the Presidential
election of 1928, this house was IL
Illuminated and an entertainment
given to the members of a musical
band from New Jersey, that had
been employed to play on election
day. That was the Jackson and
Adams contest. Many old FEEDER
alists became Jackson men. "Old
Hickory" won. At that time