Delaware, U.S., Marriage Records, 1750-1954
Past In Review from 02-06-2003
100 years ago
Feb. 7, 1903
Platt Captured
William Platt, the insane Negro, who escaped from the Emergency Hospital at Farnhurst Sunday evening, was returned to that institution Monday night. Platt was captured about two miles north of Middletown Monday afternoon by Constable John W. Dickinson of this town.
After Platt had escaped from the Emergency Hospital, Superintendent Hancker of the State Hospital, having a clue that he had come down the Delaware railroad, sent word to different stations to look out for him. It was not very long before Dr. Hancker got news that he had been seen.
The Negro had talked to the station agent at Kirkwood and told him he was going to Dover and no one would stop him. Word was received he and Constable Dickinson started to meet him with a shotgun and held him prisoner.
Dr. Hancker’s men, who had started on the trail, got possession of Platt. At 5:35 o’clock they started to drive with their prisoner back to Farnhurst. On reaching there Platt was retuned to the Emergency Hospital.
Temperance Rally
The local option people invaded the state capital Thursday to the number of about 500 and were given a hearing by the Senate and House in the Hall of Representatives. Men and women were there from all parts of the state, and they were primed with speakers and several fat petitions on the subject of submitting to the voters the right of license or no license.
The temperance people had previously held a meeting and decided to ask for a law for the submission of the question throughout the state, and not for a single district. They hold that it is within the power of the Legislature to pass such a law. Among those in attendance from Middletown were: Rev. C.T. Wyatt, Rev. F.H. Moore, Messrs. Joseph C. Parker, J.H. Emerson, E.G. Allee, George F. Wilson, Manlove D. Wilson and A.G. Cox.
St. Georges Items
J. Cleaver Bryan was in Philadelphia on Thursday.
Robert Stevens, of Wilmington, was in town on Tuesday.
Mrs. Mary Roberts is spending sometime in Middletown.
Mrs. Joseph G. Crossland spent Saturday in Wilmington.
Mrs. H.C. Gray is entertaining her sister from near Dover.
Misses Harriet Carrow and Effie White spent Saturday with friends in Odessa.
C.M. Riley is spending this week with William Hudson and family, near Smyrna.
Mrs. J.R. Crossland, of Biddle’s Corner, spent part of last week with relatives here.
Mrs. Abbie Buckson, of Stanton, is the guest of her son, Harry Buckson and family.
H.C. Dolson and wife and T. J. Lewis and wife were visitors at Townsend on Friday.
Mrs. J.H. Geoghegan and her guest, Mrs. Adams, were Wilmington visitors on Tuesday.
Quite a number of ladies from town attended a matinee euchre given by Mrs. J.C. McCoy on Thursday.
Mrs. A.N. Sutton attended the matinee of the “Wilmingtonians,” in Wilmington Saturday afternoon.
A violent electrical storm visited our town on Wednesday evening accompanied by very heavy wind and hail.
Misses Irene Davidson and Lizzie Cleaver, of Delaware City, were guests of A.J. Davidson and family last week.
Miss Effie White entertained Miss Maggie Cann, of Kirkwood, and Miss Della Moore, of near town, on Friday.
Miss Harriett Roberts has returned from Middletown where she has been spending several weeks with her sister, Mrs. William Edwards.
50 years ago
Feb. 12, 1953
Local Personal Column
Those Who Entertained And Have Been Away
Mr. and Mrs. Marill Elliott, of Laurel were guests of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Joseph on Saturday.
Mrs. Mary C. Shockley spent Sunday and Monday with her sister Mrs. Elizabeth Walton, in Elkton.
Mrs. Mary A. Dugan has been visiting her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Toner in Wilmington.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hoeren, of West Orange, N.J., were week-end guests of Mr. and Mrs. A.I. Stafford.
Mrs. Martha Rasberry and Mrs. Levi Rhodacker were week-end guests of relatives and friends in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mr. and Mrs. Archie Maslin and son, Billy, of Philadelphia, spent Saturday with Mr. and Mrs. O.A. Husfelt and family.
Mr. and Mrs. L. Wilmer Williams and son Larry of Wilmington spent the weekend with her mother Mrs. Laura Trelaevan.
Mr. and Mrs. Elton Johnson, of Sioux Falls, S. Dakota, were guests of Mr. and Mrs. George Schreppler, Jr., and son, last week.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel H. Buckworth and daughter, Miss Louise D. Buckworth, left on Sunday for several weeks visit in Miami, Fla.
Mrs. Francis T. Sullivan, of this town, Mrs. James Quinn and Mr. Bradford Sullivan, of near town, are spending this week in Miami, Fla.
Mrs. Henry Price and Mrs. Richard Price , of Smyrna, spent last Thursday afternoon with Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Richardson and family.
Mr. and Mrs. C. Denton Speek and son, Ronnie, of Leedom Estates visited Mr. and Mrs. D. Gilbert Pleasanton and Mr. J.C. Hopkins on Saturday.
Mrs. Walter T. Hopkins was the weekend guest of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Bowen and daughter Terry Lynn, in Silver Spring, Md.
TEN-TON-TOMATO WINNERS
Fredrick W. Haas and his son William, of Middletown, are two time top winners in the Delaware ten top Tomato Club. With yields just as high, Franklin J. Roe, of Magnolia, was the other first place winner. The 1952 winners were announced at the University of Delaware Farm and Home Week last Tuesday, and Governor J. Caleb Boggs presented the awards.
Mr. Haas had a yield of 16.6 tons per acre, to place first in the eight acres above class, on 39.6 acres. Mr. Roe had a yield of 17.5 tons per acre on 7 acres, and was the winner of the three to eight acre class. Young Haas is the winner of the junior division, with a yield of 17.7 tons per acre on eight acres.
Other top winners are: Class I (8 acres or more) – B. Irvin Armstrong, Middletown, second; John and Lee Wright, Delmar, third. Class II (3 to 8 ares) – Carl Tucker, Greenwood, second. Junior Division – Louis Palmatory, Felton, second; Fred Fifer, Wyoming, third.
25 years ago
Feb. 9, 1978
Police to Continue with License Check
Although the state Supreme Court ruled last week that random stopping of motorists by police is unconstitutional, a little-known Delaware State Police crime prevention program may enable them to continue to check motorists’ licenses and registrations.
State Police, anticipating the court’s ruling, last May ordered police to stop motorists for checks of licenses and registrations only when there is “cause.”
“Cause” includes anything from a car weaving on the highway to a burned-out headlight or a “suspicious vehicle,” according to police superintendent Col. Irwin B. Smith.
Personal Notes
Those Who Entertained and Have Been Away
Mrs. George Hardy entertained Mr. and Mrs. Jay Worth and daughters, Michele and Alicia, of Willingboro, N.J., at dinner on Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. James Fulks, of Gordon Heights, were Sunday dinner guests of her sister, Mrs. George H. Fisher.
Mrs. Anne Dougherty, of Claymont, visited Mr. and Mrs. Alec Berkman Wednesday of last week.
Mr. and Mrs. B.J. MacCahery, Jr., and family, of Woodbury Heights, N.J., spent last Friday evening here with his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth B. MacCahery.
Miss Myrna Wheelock, of McHenry, Illinois, has been the guest of Mr. and Mrs. John N. Sparks, Jr., and Mrs. Jeffrey T. Sparks.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen Wilds, of this town, and Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Middleton, of Smyrna, visited Mrs. Helen J. Wilds, and Mr. and Mrs. John Wilds in Newark on Sunday.
