Milford chronicle., 1907-07-12
Places and People Of Milford Neck From
1910 10 1907.


joining farms. They were one time tn,
property Of Michael and Isaac Lowber
Michael LoWber was a member of th'
Society of Friends, and died in Camden
Delaware. about 1861. After his deatl
the farm was bought by James POstles
who built a new dwelling house anC
barn and otherwise improved it. The
first man to occupy this farm as ten
ant since my recollection was Henry
Davis, a genial old gentleman with q
large family Of grown up boys, the re-
suit of his first marriage, all of whom
died in succession, except the oldest,
with that terrible disease, diphtheria,
/ which was theu called 'black tongue
/ fever" He had been some time mar
ried to his second wife, who was the
mother of four children. None of this
family is now living except William
E. Davis, Esq, of Frederica, and Mrs.
Major Harrington, OF Browns Neck
This farm is now occupied by one Of
Mr.. Kirby's sons. Alexander Kirby.
The other Lowher farm, known as
the Brick House Farm" has on it the
oldest dwelling house in this section,
perhaps in lower Delaware; it having
been built in 1888 its walls having stood
"Times corrOding touch" for nearly two
centuries. Traditional history describes
it as having been bHilt by a Swede by
the name OF Robinson. Sixty years
ago it was very different in appearance
from what it is now, especially the eX-
ternal architecture. 1t was built in the
reign Of George II, fifty years before
the United States became a nation.
This property, containing more than
200 acres, was bought in the decade of
the forties by Reuben Bowman, at the
nominal sum of 81 900. Here he made
considerable improvement, 1ourished
for awhile, sold out and went to Will
mingtOn. From Wilmington he emil
grated to Missouri on the eve Of the
Civil War, there espOused the Union
cause and has not been heard from
since the breaking out of hostilities
he had one redeeming
trait-he was patriotic. This farm at
present is occupied by another OF Mr..
sons, Schuyler G Kirby.
The next farm lying along the Muir.
derkill River, was owned by John w.
Hall, a young business man of Fred
erica. 1t was tenanted by Samuel Har-
ris, who died there in the early forties,
eaving a widow and two small chill.
iren. Samuel, the son, was brought
lp by his uncle, Benjamin P. Needles.
This farm at that time was not very re-
Mr.. Hall, about 1850
bought the farm of $50 acres, lying on
he opposite side Of the road, having
much valuable timber on it. This farm
lad been held by John Williams by
-irtue of his wife's dover, it being the
of her first husband When
lis children reached their majority, it
vas bought by Mr.. Hall, who cut the +
imbeT, cleared the land, and otherwise 7
improved it adding it to the other, he (
lade a large and valuable farm. 1t
yas occupied for a number of years by
oseph French, one of the most indus f,
-iOus farmers of bis time 1t is now
wned by John w. Hall, Jr., and ten y
nted by David Stevenson. Mr.. Will /,
ans with his family went West and h
titled in Michigan near Miles.
The farm next above on the river
Ow belonging to John Sipple, was the
rOperty of William T. Masten who
ived on it, with his three sons. Hes
ziah, William and Clement. Mr..
Lasten was a very industrious and Il
man, and accumulated a .
tile fortune. His brother, John r. 7. II
.aHten. (he spelled his name Masden) u
as a school teacher of that day. His
lucstion was fair, but his methods of o.
aching were antequated, and his II
ode Of discipline would not now be III
lerated and many youth Of his time u
I'd a mOurnful recollection of the way u
J taught "the young idea how to +
Oot " He was a half-brother to the u
ev. Charles P. Masden Of national
me, than whom no other members ID
the Masten family Tepudiated the &C
nily name. vi
We are now at what was known as ds
e "Cole's Shoal Farm" on the Muder-
i River, containing POO acres or more, su
med by Aaron Bowman. He was a "a
ge portly man Of fine appearance, Sc
d to some extent leading man in W,
2 community, and at the time con-
cred a man Of means. He built ex
re.house and embarked in the mer- be
ltile business in addition to his farm OF
:. He seemed successful for while, 81
finally became victim of his own
levolence sold his land to William be
rden, his brOther-in-law, and went gu
Wilmington If NOW oon1 ,,rieoe frryO l,r.