Milford chronicle., 1907-06-07
Places and People Of Milford Neck From
1910 to 1907.

acres in a single farm. twas purchased
by the late Joshua Bennett Of Sussex
county, who with his family took pos
session in 1913. Mr.. Benefits family
consisted Of three sons and three daugh'
tiers. all nearly grown. Heand his wife
were well advanced in years After his
death in 1916 the farm became the prop
erty OF two Of his sons, John and Joshua,
who divided it as nearly equal as possi-
/ BILE. the elder brother taking the part
having the buildings. The land ac-
cepted by Joshua Bennett had no build.
iugs, except single story, one roomed
house, in which he began housekeep
ing. Mr.. Bennett was a hustler in
the full acceptation of the term he en-
gagged in farming and stock raising, and
although live stock was of q nominal
value at that time he was eminently
successful. He has the distraction Of
being the first man in Milford Neck to
sell q horse for one hundred dollars.
After a few years he divided his land
into two farms, erected new buildings
and so improved them that one would
produce more than the entire tract had
done, ten or twelve years before. He
reared family Of nine children, all of
whom are citizens of this community.
Mr.. Bennett has ehectually answered
the question "Does Farming Pay ?"
and is now at a ripe age, enjoying the
fruits of his early labors worthy ex-
ample that other young men can well
afford to follow. John Bennett also
made two farms Of his part Of the estate,
which after his death in 1862 and the
death Of his widow, " no married David
X. Watson, became the property of his
( two sons, Joshua 5. ard John w John
| w. Bennett sold his farm to William
Allen; since Aliens death it has
changed ownership repeatedly, but has
not changed in appearance The dwell
ing house, except for the wear and waste
Of time, has an exact resemblance Of
sixty-five years ago. 1t is now owned
by David w. Hall. Joshua 5. Benefits
farm has been more fortunate in its
management, and is kept abreast Of
the times in modern Improvements.
Adjoining the above tract on the
north is the "Buck" farm, now the
property Of John w. Hall Of Frederick.
It was formerly owned by James 5.
Buckmaster, who was a candidate for
Governor in 1858, and was defeated by
Dr.. William Burton. After the failure
of Mr.. Bucbmaster in 1859, it was
bought by Mr. Halls father, who af-
terward became Governor. This farm
was. for a number of years, tenanted
by William Virden, who by his indus
try and economy accumulated enough
money to buy large tract Of land
abuttiug the Murderkill River, on
which he resided. He finally located
in Frederica, where he died at an ad.
vanced age. The ''Buck" farm, under
its present ownership, has been greatly
improved both in buildings and fertil-
ity, and is now one Of the most prOduc
tive in this section. tits now occupied
by Jessie Sharp, a practical up to. da'e
farmer.
Next in order is the land of Nathaniel
Luh. 1t contained about six hundred
acres and was in two farms, but is now
in three. On one Of these Mr.. Luf and
his family lived. He was a stout, thick
set man, weight about 200 pounds avori-
dupOise, and a shrewd business man
with more than an ordinary fund Of
common sense. He was an inveterate
talker, and cared but little in what
manner his expressions were delivered.
His wife was a devout Christian lady
and one of the kindest and most moth
erly women the writer ever knew. The
Luff homestead is now the property Of
William H. Bennett. Mr. Luf7s family
consisted Of a wife, four sons and two
daughters, he also had a son and daugh-
ter, John and Margaret, by former
wife Nathaniel p. Luff his oldest SOD
ny AnG EGCunu WAlGf EubNbNA IL AAG
mercantile business, and became one
OF the most enterprising and successful
business men of his time in lower Kent
county Caleb was associated with his
brother in business for several years. !
Joshua was a cabinet maker and un-
dertaker OF the first order, but died be-
fore he reached the meridian of life. |
Joseph, the youngest, lost his life by |
drowning in an unused well when a |
boy Of less than six years Of age, Auna |
and Susan married and located in /
Chicago and Philadelphia respectively. |
After the death of Mrs. Luff, Mr.. Lufi |
married his third wife, who died in lit
tie more than year He then married |
a fourth, by whom he had three chill |
dren, Hester, Mary and Charles. Mr.. |
Lud died in Frederick at an advanced |
age his fourth wife surviving him.
ISAAC r. JESTER.