Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1908-06-12
Places and People of Milford Neck
From 1910 to 1908.

NV eSiOS VI n4UIb tAltAuluk lIOul lul
southern arm of Fishing Creek to tn,
State road. This was one time the prop
erty OF Joseph Houston, a coored man
who for many years occupied it as hi
home. 1t is one of the most desirabl,
pieces of farm land in this section.
Joseph Houston was a man of more
than the average ability of his race. He
held a prominent place among the farm,
ers OF his day, and was largely influenced
by bis friend and neighbor, James Postles,
whose example he persistently tried to
initiate. He was one of the few men OF
his race whose progressive operations in
the farming business resembled those OF
the Caucasian race. He improved his
land, attended strictly to his business and
was with all law.abiding and order-lov-
ing citizen. He died in 1861 probably 20
years of age. By virtue of his will, he
left his estate to his son-in-law, Caleb
Bell, in trust for his grandchildren, with
the proviso, that Caleb should build a
school house, in a suitable place on the
farm, for the education of colOred chill
dren. This obligation Bell faithfully per-
formed, but it involved him financially
for life. The institution seemed to pros
per for a while, but after a few years it
went into decline and finally collapsed
for lack of proper support, and Houston's
life-dresm became a failure. The build
ing has long ago been removed and but
little now remains to mark the spot where
it formerly stood. That part of the farm
has become the property of DR.. James G.
Stanton who has attached it to his farm.
Only about two-thirds of the original tract
is now in possession of the heirs of Joseph
Houston. A strange fatality seems to fol-
low the accumulation of wealth by colored
men of this section.
We now come to notice the farm adj
Joining, which is one of the farms belong
ing to the Potter Estate. This estate is
supposed to be owned by the poor of Kent
county, outside of the Poor House, but
the greatest beneiciaries of this charity,
have been those who would resent the
slightest intimation that they belonged to
that class.
In order to make it apparent TO the
minds of a number Of readers. it will be
necessary to go back to the time of Col !
Potter's death, in 1913. Col. Benjamin
Potter was without doubt the wealthiest
man in Milford hundred, perhaps in Kent
county, in his day and generation. BY his
will he bequeathed to the poor of Kent
county, outside of the Poor House, large
number of farms besides other property. /
for the purpose Of establishing perpetual
fund for the benefit of that unfortunate
class. OF course so large an estate could
not be managed without a trustee, and
directly after the will was probated, Chan
cellor Johns appointed Charles 7. Flem-
ing to that position.
Much of the property at that time was
in bad condition and almost entirely failed
to prodnce any revenue. Several of the
farms were occupied by tenants who re-
fused to pay any rent, so that what little
was left after the Trustees salary was
paid. was spent in litigation. In a few
wears the condition of the farms became
so deplorabe that they failed to be self
sustaining, much less affording any in
come for the benefit of the poor. In 1859
Samuel NJ. Harrington issued a
that part OF the property should
be sold and the proceeds applied to the
improvement of the others. This action
of the Chancellor wrought great change
in the appearance and in the utility of
this property.
The year 1860 was busy one for Mr..
the trustee, rs We as for the
mechanics he empIoyel. NV and COM
Portable dwelling houses and ample barns
were erected on several OF the farms ; on
others the buildings we're put in good re-
pair and rendered comfortable. After this =,
a new system of leasing was adopted by
Mr.. Fleming which he called an improve
nent lease and was to run for twenty
years.
In the year 1867 an effort was made by
W. N. W. Dorsey, Esq, to Dust Mr..
Fleming from his position as trustee, but
t failed to materialize. Hon. Daniel NJ.
Bates then being Chancellor, was not the Il
nan to be influenced by partisan preiu-
lice and the attempt proved abortive and
Mr.. Fleming continued trustee until his !
leath, a period of about thirty eight years Il
During this time a sum equaled to about Il
line thousand dollars had accumulated in d
he fund for the poor of Kent county from "
he proceeds Of the estate. Although for Il
many years this 'knotty" question had :
,een wrestled with, by prominent mem u
,ers of the bar, it had not yet been de- st
ided who were the proper ones to receive 81
his charity. But now they went to work II
With a determination to do something az
nd they did-they succeeded in the dis "
.ta.- e Al ovt;ra ssrr1trc wit bOf1f | III