Milford chronicle., 1936-02-28
GEORGETOWN


Dr. F. M. Gum, Oldest Physician
n State, Has Birthday.
Dr.. Francis IA. Gum, oldest physi-
clan in Delaware in age and point
Of service and probably the Oldest
active practitioner on the Delmarya
Peninsula, quietly observed his IS
birthday anniversary at his home at
Frankford. Tuesday Of this week.
Born on February IS. 1S48, son Of
the late Manaen and Mrs Sarah Gum
and one Of four boys and four girls.
he received his early education in
the local school, at Frankford and
read medicine under the late DR..
Joseph Sudler. then an active prac-
titiOner at FrankfOrd He graduated
from Williston Seminary. Easthamp-
ton, Mass, in the class Of 1859 He
took a medical course at the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania, graduating in
1871, and at once started to prac-
tice at FrankfOrd where he has re-
mained in his profession since that
time, thus giving him sixty-iive years
.Of service, rendering aid to the sick
in that section.
Until about two years ago, DR..
Gum used a horse and carriage to
visit his parents. His clientele ex-
tended from the FranlfOrd section
to a stretch OF territory reaching
the Atlantic Ocean. Nowadays he
only goes out on exceptional cases,
or to visit some Of his long standing
friends who for decades have been his
patients He conducts an extensive
Office practice. Many former resi-
dents of the FrankfOrd section, now
living some distance away, continue
to go to him for treatment.
He enjoys good health and is very
active. In 1873 he married Mary c.
Bennett, of near ROxana, who died
in 1923. after a marriage life Of so
years. Two children are living,
Francis NJ Gum, Jr., Of Frankford.
and Mrs Ida Sterrett Of Washington.
d. C.
Sends Out Birthday Invitations And
Asks For Presents
John Edward Wilson, one Of lower
Delaware's most noted characters
and well known to many Old-time
men in Wilmington,
Philadelphia and Baltimore, having
been newsdealer for those papers
for many years, observed his 65th
birthday anniversary at his home
near here today. John Edward as
he is familiarity called by people in
all sections of lower Delaware, has
a novel way of sending out invita-
tiOns 10 his acquaintances with the
hope that they will remember him
with some gift. He always ends his
invitations with the sentence, III
you are unable TO attend. please
send a present"
During the Spanish-American War
he was one of the biggest newsdeal-
ers in lower Delaware, selling many
hundreds of papers here each day.
In those days farmers had to drive
to Georgetown to get their daily
papers as only a few came by mail.
They always were expressed in large
bundles. So faithful was he to his
task Of getting the papers delivered
that he has been known to walk a
distance of a mile in snow knee deep
to deliver a paper which then sold
for one cent. John Edward was bet
ter known to the circulation men 35
years ago. Each year they remem-
bered him on MS birthday with a gift
OF money.
Fined For Slapping His Wife
Joseph Harmon, a Moor. and son
Of John Harmon. living here, who a
few days ago was lodged in the Sus-
sex County Jail for the fifteenth time
Tor drunkenness on the streets with
In a year, was arrested Monday on
D charge Of assault and battery on [
his wife, Elsie. Magistrate W.
Frank Sharp imposed a fine of S.
and costs.
Arrested by Highway Officer Irv-