Evening journal., 1904-07-15
HISTORY OF
DEAL s ISLAND
Original Name of the Fertile
Tract Was Devils
Island"
PREACHER HAD II CHANGED
Fishing and Grabbing the Main %.
eupation Of the People Who Are
industrious and lntelisent--outsido
Communication is Easy.

industrious and lntellieent--outsido
Communication is Easy.
Deals Island, July IS.
To the Editor Of The Evening Journals
The Journal comes to my home every
day, so 1 thought / would write you
letter concerning Deals Island that
may be interesting to your many read
ers. AS early as 1907 Captain Smith in
his first voyage Of exploration in the
Chesapeake bay tells us Of the discov-
cry Of certain islands which we have
no dificulty In Identifying. Among
them Is Deals Cor as they formerly
were called, Devifs) Islands. There
are two of them In number and are sit
uated TO the northeast OF Taneier
Sound, near the mainland, and not be-
tween the sound and bay like Tangier
and Smiths Islands. Though the name
/ by which they are now known is a con-
traction Of Devils yet the orthog-
raphy for years has been quite settled
In Deals" We are told that the Rev.
ID, Daily. while presiding elder Of the
district used 10 insist on spelling the
name In this way, lest there should
ing right to or property In them. Lit
tie Dears Island has about fifteen
acres OF land and considerable marsh
and Is separated from the larger is
land by a narrow strait or 'thorough-
fare" II was purchased by the Rev.
Joshua Thomas. famillarly known ss
"Parson OF the Islands" and his
brother-in-law. Aaron Bradshaw. and
divided between them. They lived on
J little Deals for many years but there
is no one living there now and no
dwellings
The larger island is about three miles
long by one wide. 1t is separated from
the mainland by a narrow strait-for-
. merly crossed by a ferry-now by a
= substantial bridge II Is in Somerset
county, twenty miles from Princess
Anne. the county seat.
n The soil Is very productive and suit
able for grain, fruit, or vegetables. But
the population-numbering about 1900
.r depends more on the water than on the
land for support. Oystering and crab
b, bing are the principal Industries. Much
y money has been made and "A few are
q Well fixed, but the grabbing industry
. this season is poor Soft crabs are
scarce and the business Is somewhat
discoura ging The people are indus
" trious, enterprising and intelligent.
From one end Of the island to the other
there is connection with mainland by
e telephone, reaching Salisbury, Princess
8 Anne, Crisheld and other points so that
u kilograms from the cities can be for
3 warded from the railroad station over
the phone any time.
There Is a good wharf about one
quarter Of a mile long and fine large
" steamers TO and from Baltimore land
" every day In the week except one.
,r These boats also run TO Seaford Del.
D. and Salisbury, Md. There is daily mail
l. by steamet and railroad. the latter be-
ing brought by hack. There are two
y postofflces ON the island. There are
- two schools, one OF which is graded and
some OF the languages are taught.
The people are patriotic and annual-
iy celebrate our national Independence,
but not always on the Fourth Of July.
A This year It was thought best to cele-
brate on the Sth. This may seem rather
late but It was not the first time our
I, independence was celebrated on that
~ date according to Christopher Marshall.
who Is authority for saying that the
first Independence Day celebration in
y Philadelphia was July S. 1776. The
y women here prepared a good supper for
twenty-five cents and ice cream and
&c other refreshments were on sale. Music
was furnished by Deals Island brass
7" band and patriotic addresses were de-
a. livered by the Rev. W. w. sharp, the
= pastor Of the NJ Il. Church, and natives
=, OF the island, and recitations by the
~ young peopi
y Methodism has had its grip on this
island for many years. The Rev. JOSH
- ua Thomas moved here from Tangier
- and settled here about 1926. He held
the first campmeeting here July II,
!, ~ 1928. They were continued for many
- years and people came from all over
7. this peninsula and from Norfolk. Bal
y. timore, Philadelphia and New York.
y, and some Of the most powerful meet
~ !, ings perhaps since Pentecost were wit
/ messed. But Of late years campmeet-
ne ings here have been comparatively
ne barren of results in the conversion OF
* sinners and strengthening the church.
es There will be no camp this year.
p. Joshua Thomas was a man of Won
ne derful influence and spiritual power
ma There are those living here now who
pe knew him and heard him preach. His
" sons wife is still living here and ons
II of the present board Of trustees OF ths
'e- church. W. w. Evans. an old man. bur.
m led Jushua. He was the first corpse II
re- his new hearse.
ay Joshua Thomas died October 8. 1858
and was buried at his request very nea
the old church built in 1850. This grav
Is bricked above the ground about twl
feet covered with a marble slab oi
l., which is this verse. said to have beel
selected and arranged by himself:
Come all my friends as you pass by
81. Behold the place where 1 do lie;
As you are now, so once was 1:
lat Remember you are born to die"
he The writer has sat in his old chat
ne and handled and read his old Bibl,
ZEN Never until the last trump shall soun
id- and the earth and sea give their dea
M and the Books are opened. will b
my known the great good accomplished b
lv. Joshua Thomas
on The main church. built in front Of n
IRE old one. is beautiful. both inside an
an, out. The old one Is used for Sunda
4 school and mid-week prayer meeting
and is kept in good condition. The
is a small chapel at the lower end
the island where services are he
H. every week.
so. A Correspondent.