Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-09-23
PEAOHEs.
The Land Whore They GrOw-Tho
Pioneer Rcuologisss OF the P~nin-
suia-FavOrite Fruit of the Free.

les. and tasted OF their neotArine sweet
ness Who has not heard Of the "fruit
peddlers" cry, "Hers's Ger Moe peaches,
Delaware peaches !" And the CRY is an
ever welcome one. Peaches grow in the
Middle, Western and Southers states but
attain perfection in favor, size and color
nowhere "a In the peninsula, comprising
the eastern shore counties of Maryland
and Virginia, and the whole State Of Della
ware. all laying within the embrace of
three great bodies of salt water. the Chss-
apeake bay, Delaware bay and the Atlantic
ocean, and consequently subject to pecu-
liar climatic influences. There has been
pioneers In every branch OF trade and en-.
terprize, and to Major Philip Reybold We
are indebted to the growth of the large
peach orchards that now cover this PENN.
sula, and comprise 20 large part OF the
wealth and advanced improvement to be
observed all over our section.
Major Reybold was u bluff, out spoken,
honest man, and all who knew respected
him for his many sterling qualities. The
hospitality for which the Eastern Shore il
noted, was leading feature in his nome
stead, and Henry CLAY and John NJ
Clayton were regular visitors and warm
Personal frieDds and many good old
time has Clay and Clayton spent with
their friend the Mnlor in cunning boating
and fishing, whenever occasion would
allow them.
Within about 10 miles below the city.
of Wilmington, aud one mile from, Della,
ware City on farm OF over 600 acres
Major Rey bold planted large orchards of
the finest peach trees he could procure,
aud IN few years his outlay began TO.
make such large returns that his neiRhbors
began to follow his example, until the
peach tree planting" stretched through
the country like wild fire, and swept every
thing before 1T like wave, and every
farmer who owned farm of even few
acres, WAS peach crazy.
The good old Major has been gathered
to his fathers, and yet his name lis still
here plentifully, and everywhere with
honor and respect. He was blessed with
large family, and of the sons William
Barney and Anthony now living and
residing on the old place. Philip, Jr g.,
John and Clayton manned after John
M. Clayton, are dead. OF the daughters,
Elizabeth, Susan, Marguerite and Ann are
living. Matilda and Mary grew up, but
died without marrying, and of those
living, all are married, and the great farm
of the Major is now divided up into three
and four hundred acre farms, and all are
provided with elegant and modern built
houses, surrounded with every comfort.
/ Finding that the peach orchards would
wear out in the course OF about twenty
years, by the peaches being blighted by
what the fruit men call the yeilows,
Major Reybold bought large tracts of land
! in, o,.L Al,
large acres well set with peaches along the
shores of the Elk and Ssssafras Rivers, in
Kent and Cecil counties, and the largest
shipments on the Elk, via "Errickson
Line" to Philadelphia and Baltimore
markets, are shipped from Reybold't
wharf.
The Reybold farm this season alone
shipped about ~, 900 baskets Of peaches
and this family not only raise the peach
but their farms in Delaware are now
largely producing grain and are fine dairy
farms. After u lapse Of 10 years the
Reynolds of Delaware are beginning Ia
reset their land in peaches, and the ole
orchards, having recuperated under grain
aud bay, are now producing as fine
peach AZ OF yore. Not only did Majol
Rsy bold take pride in his orchards, Blu
he imported the best breed o.
cattle and sheep. OF cattle, hi
favortes were the Short horn ant
Holstein; and Of sheep, the Cotswold
His sons have kept up the strain by fresl
importations, and their stock has taker
first premiums at state fairs whereve
presented. Major Reybold as citizei
favored every improvement and publ
enterprise. At the building of the Chesa
peake and Delaware canal he was the con
tractor who built the lower level, and al
who know of the great task he undertook
were surprised with the amount of enere
displayed, and the success which attended
1t. 1t is a great pity there are not yer
many more such euterprising people il
the peninsula.
HOW MAJOR REYBoLD CAME TO 90 INTO tn
STEAMBOAT BUSINESS.
In connection with Jacob Ridgeway h
started line of steamers from Salem, n
j., to Philadelphia, and their steamer
were used to move the immense peac
crop. The boys, who now came into III
business OF growing peaches, wanted theI
handled quickly and landed in marke
promptly, were not satisfied with the wa
the steamers did the work, and wanted
change, but Ridgeway stood in the wa,
so they determined to buy boats for then
selves, The Old Major said to Ridpwa,
Jake you had better let those boys hay
their way, for they are hard to head O
when they get started" and the result wa
AZ he predicted for "the boys" went to Ne,
York purchased of Cornelius Vanderbilt
the steamer EGpTeSS, which he called hi
I LUCKY Boat, and they moved their Gro
! just when they pleased, and by the
. management kept pretty good control {
/. the market. Ga one occasion the MaiC
= came up with fine load of peaches, an
u try rs he would, he could not get pric
! to suit, SO rather than sell and overstoc
? the then full market, he threw overboar
the whole load in the Delaware river an
p went home, and by the time he came wit
. another load the prices were ready for hin
y The Rey holds soon run TIE other line O
e the route, and have been 10 the steam
Il boat business ever since, and no
{ control one of the finest lines {
excursion and passenger steamers on IL
= Delaware. One of their boats called Il
g M0untdtneer was the fastest boat ever q
Il the river. She made the run from Philade
= phia to Cape May in four hours and thirt,
= six minutes, which is the fastest time O
record and has never been equaled. II
g 4h0lntdfheer was wrecked on Brand
wine shoals while in charter by Ne
York company, while on her way to /
% returned 10 the owners. and the Maj
1t then bnilt the MgjO ReyJ0M to repla,
u her. There is one fact which the Rey Dol,
can point TO with pride, and that is, tn,
have never last a life or a boat qohile und
their oharge.
A Their present fleet Of steamers col
u prise the Thomas Glsde, Major Reybo
10 and Perry Williams hey hold is the PREF
10 dent of the line and W. Eugene keybo
e is the agent for this city, and we take Il
f. opportunity Of saying we lave never m
more courteous and agreeable MAE
y transact business with in our life, and it
~ the expressed opinion of all who come
J, contact with him. Would there were mo
7, of these in this world.
0ne son, Anthony, owned during Il
:, war, % steamboats, under charter by Il
L Government at one time, and ever shove
y that patriotism and devotion to duty fo
,. which this whole family has been note
If BLKTOE.
ia ELKToN, Sept. lG.-The Orphans Coul
N School Commissioners and County Comm
a sioners have closed their labors for the wee
y They will be in session next week to accoi
| mOlatp pprgona ATTENDING rnurt vbt,l n,,o