Milford chronicle., 1907-09-06
Places and People Of Milford Neck From
1870 to 1907.

In our last article we gave a descrip
ton OF what WAS once the home o.
AbsOlem Hill il is now our duty to say
something of the man. Having previ
ously purchased this tract OF wornOuI
land, which had been turned out to q
common" he built a house upon it in
the latter part of 1858, and shortly after
with his wife, whom be had recently
married, took possession. With his land
denuded of all valuable timber, and
that part which had been arabic was
almost a barren waste and almost as
unproductive as the Desert Of Sahara,
except for the presence here and there
ofscraggy pines, cedars and scrub oaks,
it must be admitted that his prospect
for eminent success did not seem very
tiattering. But Mr.. Hill was a strong
athletic young man, possessed ofindus-
try and vast amount Of "push, " and
his wife also was equally persevering.
Fortunately, however for Mr.. Hill and
his poor land, that period was 10 the
palmy days Of Peruevian guano ; it had
revOlutionized the farming industry in
this section and by dint of hard labor
and liberal application of guano he
succeeded in clearing his land and pro-
tucing generous crops, and in less than
ten years he had paying farm, show
Ing cOnclusively what may be achieved
BY unflinchiHg industry and persever-
lnce. Early in 1850 Mr.. Hill bought the
near the NJ. E. Church, now
but did not occupy it
for several years. Finally,
le moved to his late purchase and en-
larked into he mercantile business and
vas quite successful. He died in 1883, (
ged about sixty-three years, leaving a
7idOw and three grown up children {
ne son and two daughters. He was I
n honorable, upright man, a consis- {
ant member Of the NJ. e. Church and {
by the community in which t
lived. His son, George T. Hill, is a f
lrifty, well-to.do farmer of Milford /
eek. His older daughter became the i
ife Of the late Mark q. Lohand his p
1unger daughter became the wife of y
T. James G. Stanton, of Milford. Il
That part of the Lowery tract lying b
] the opposite side of the road, and C,
yned by John H. Hall at the present, h
rs held by Mr.. Gray for a few years Ia
hen it was purchased by George c.
eriHg, Of Philadelphia, and occupied
? his brother, Abner Herring. As
rmer Mr.. Herring was not a success,
It he was a model of pOliteness and til
manner a close imitation Of Lord a
While in the possession Ie
Mr.. Gray It was but little improved. ju
? was one Of those unfortunate char. tn
ters who could not stand prosperity. pc
though he had stumbled into a bar 70
in in real estate that would have q
lde many q man independent he
led utterly to embrace the OppOrtu. O o
y. His worst besetment was his in "a
Innate thirst for that beverage "that bu
sbriates but does not cheer" Such I'M
g the life and character Of William w
Gray that after long and unsuc. bic
sful life he died in an institution of n
.rity. On the memory of this unfOr- phi
ate man let the mantle Of charity -.
spread After the death Of George e
Herring the land was sold to a Mr. chi
ipe, Pennsylvania, who in time STA
it to John w. Kirby, who held it but OO .,
tort time and sold out to Elnathan We,
it'll. Mr.. Smith occupied the prop. p
: for awhile then moved to Milford, the
ing it for twenty years to Clarence ~ ~
Dkins d Bro, who set it in peach Mar
3. After the expiration Of the lease M
'as bought by the present owner, delF
q H. Hall. I i.,l
Immediately back Of the last named MI
is the farm Of Robert q. Richards. Wei
sihing seventy EIGHT acres. 1t was Jo
ght by his father, William H. Rich cues "s
! about 1881 for two hundred and his q
: dollars. He reared family Of new
children .and died in 1909 aged Gil
than eighty-four years. He was a as Gu,
unObtrusive man, Of whom but Tor
could justly speak evil. slowl
e next place to be noticed is "Her. the {
Corner" now the property Of Eng Jug
lam G. Herring of Milford. 1t was baste
long time the home OF Samuel bask,
lg, his father. Samuel Herring was, We
'ut doubt, one Of the most perse- Ell
g and hard working men that ever
in this community. He was re.
d as a practical farmer Of his day.
as one Of those men whom Dame A fl
ne seemingly fails to reward. He front
a 1874 aged about seventy. six years ana u
ISAAC r. JESTER - "