Milford chronicle., 1907-06-21
Places and People Of Milford Neck From
1910 TO 1907.

The farm adjoining the Luu HOhS
stead, also the property Of Mr.. Lun'
was tenanted by Joshua MeGonigal,
an elderly gentleman with family OF
children all nearly grown. His children
were Samuel D., Robert, Rebecca, mar
ried to Thomas Pustles, Isaac, William,
Mary, Joshua and John. Robert located
in Greensborough, Md, embarked IN
the mercantile and grain trade and died
there in 1851 leaving an estate OF nearly
one hundred thousand dollars. Isaac
also opened store at Luft's Corner
now owned by James a. Martin. lie
died in 1916. William engaged IN iarn'
ing and was quite successful. He pur-
chased a farm in North MurdeTkill hun
dred upon which he lived many years.
After the death Of bis father about 1871
Samuel D. MeGODiRal, with the help
Of his brothers, Joshua and John, con-
Quoted the farm teaching school dur
ing the winter months. He had fne
education for that period, and was one
of the best penman Of his time. About
ls47 the family removed to 81. Jones
Neck and afterwards to Dover. he
died in Dover about 1889. John died IN
early manhood. Joshua MeGonigal'
now in his saith year, lives in Dover
the only surviving member Of that large
and interesting family.
The farm on which the MeGonigal
family resided is now the property OF
DR.. J. NJ. Luff, Of FELTON,, Del. During
the lifetime of his father, the late n. +.
Luff, it was improved and made one OF
the most desirable farms in Milford
Neck. It lie now in tenure Of John h.
Watkins.
On the south side Of the road and OPP
posite the Lufi farm, is tract OF land'
now the property Of William H. French
then belonging to Thomas 8. Temple,
Of Smyrna, Del. 1t was mostly in tim
Der at that time only about thirty acres
being cleared, on which stood q single
story log house that would have done
credit to the birthplaces Of Lincola and
Garfield. It was sold to Z. 5. Watson
and Brother about 1916, who worked
the timber and in 1851 sold the land to
Alfred Peet, OF Philadelphia. Mr.. Peet
died shortly after moving to it, leaving
widow, two grOwn.up sons ana
daughter as proprietOrs. The sons be-
came dissatisfied In about a year ana
returned to Philadelphia The mother
and daughter remained on the prop
erty several years, having the land cuI'
tivated and keeping house together'
Finally the daughter married MI
French and he became proprietor. by
dint Of hard labor and economy he has
made himself and family a neat and
comfortable home.
At the west end of this tract IS the
hamlet of Thompsonville. The NJ. T.
Church at this place has history. Inc
old church before described as being
used for a school room, had outlived It's
usefulness, and it was necessary to build
a new one but the people at that time
did not think themselves equal to the
task, financially.
The winter Of lS4l2 was one OF un'
usual severity. The accumulation ol
snow in the valley Of the Schuylkiil
wasimmense the breaking up Of which
almost devastated the entire valley by
a freshet. Villages were almost an
pihiliated. Mill yards and lumber
wharves were swept OF their contents
which found its way into the DelWar'
River and finally to the western shore
Of the bay. From Murderkill Cove tC
Mispillion Point was one continuous
stretch of floating lumber. White pint
and bemlock lumber Of almost any al
p mepsions was to be found in the partly
stranded, partly floating mass. Thou
sands of feet Of this lumber was carried
D ashore and piled on the beach by tn
+ natives. Everybody had lumber to con
6 tribute to the church if they had no
money. The money market at tina
I time was so limited that ten cent piece
8 were scarcer than silver dollars are to
day. Immediately after this drift o
q lumber a building committee was OF
e qanized for a new church and Ella
4 Primrose was placed at the head au'
d the work Of construction pushed so RAP
r idly that early in ls4S it was ready 10
dedication. 1t was a frame structur
e Of 26xsO feet, 1sl feet high with sid
q and end galleries and would seat al
!. audience Of go persons. The dedication
took place in June 1s43, the sermon bF
}. ing preached by the Reverand Henr
e White, D. D., Presiding Elder. Pei
hsps the success Of this enterprise wa
=. due more to the indomitsble energy c
:, Rev. William Comfy, preacher IN chaIgs
tnan to any other individual. A littl
8 previous to this he had succeeded ]