Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1908-04-17
Places and People Of MiIfOrd Neck From
1870 10 1908.


Adjoining the school property, District
No. "A, is the home Of George Bennett,
which he has occupied for about thirty
five years and reared family OF seven
children, now all grown up. This tract
contains about two acres. His occupation
has been that Of a carpenter but he has
now nearly retired from the business.
Next to this property is the four acre
tract late the property of John Wesley
Hall but now belonging to a Mr. Ray
mond, formerly Of Brooklyn, New York.
This place in the early ffties as well as
the property of Mr.. Bennett was owned
by Mr.. Causey, who sold it to John Short
Mr.. Short. sold it to Collins Fisher, q
colored man, who built a small house
upon it and cleared the land. Fisher &C.
cupied it until his death, after which it
was bought by John E. Wooters, a veteran
of the Civil War, in 1870, who failed to
pay for it. Subsequently it became the
property OF Daniel A. Thompson, who
sold il to James H. HarringtOna young me-
chanic. Mr. Harrington built comfort
able dwelling house upon it and occupied
it as a home for several years. In 1901
he sold it to John Westly Hall and moved
to Milford. Mr.. Hall occupied it about
six years, sold out to Mr.. Raymond and
also located in Milford.
The farm situated east of Fishing Creek,
on the road leading to Herings Corner,
was one time part of the LOwery land
and also owned by Mr.. Causey. About
1S49 this tract was sold to Mr.. Slime in
trust, for the heirs of John A Bickel,
and about that time contained about
two hundred acres and embraced also
the farm of Samuel E. Bickel togather
with about forty acres Of timber on the
north side of the road. In 1917 John A.
Bickle came from Pennsylvania to Della
ware and with his wife located in Milford.
His first business venture was to rent the
Milford Mills belonging to Mr.. Causey
and engaged in the milling business. He
was not very successful in the undertaking
aud abandoned it in two years, his father
in-law having bought the farm of Mr.
Causey Mr.. Bickel moved to it and began
farming. The land was poor, the build
ings were dilapidated and Mr.. Bickel in
experienced as a farmer. But he was a
strong athletic young man of German de-
scent and struggled on against opposing
conditions, with slight success, until he
had raised a peach orchard. After his
orchard came into bearing and had proven
he further embarked in
the enterprise and also engaged in the
berry culture, which proved very profit
able. Mr.. Bickel erected new buildings
improved his land and laid up money.
He reared his family Of six children on
the farm which had at the time Of his
death increased in value ten foldf. John
A. Bickle was a good citizen, man OF
culture and was greatly re-
spected in the community. He died in
1905 aged about 81 years. His brother
William P. Bickel, was the first artist to
take daguarreotype in the town of Mil
ford, and in about twelve years after the |
discovery of the process by Louis Dag
narre, the French scene painter Of Paris.
During the life time of John A. Bickel |
this tract of land was divided into two
farms, one of which is now the property |
If his oldest son, William H. Bickel the
other the property of his second son,
Samuel E. Bickel. William H. Bickel
s thriving, prosperous farmer, in spite
If the fact that he has grown more toma-
oes for defaulting Gamers than any
)ther man in Milford Neck. 1t seems
'emarkable that be has been caught in
he swirl of every collapsing firm in the
business, but he has been very successful |
With his crops of peaches, nearly always
ealizing fair prices and receiving prompt
eturns. He is a jolly good natured man
md so cheerful in disposition that be can
augh at his own calamities.
Samuel E. Bickel owns the other farm,
where his father lived for more than
fifty years of his lifetime. It is valuable
s grain and fruit producing farm. 1t
$ nicely located in a thriving neighbor-
lood and is in a high state of cultivation.
he buildings are comparatively new and
arranged. 1t is one of the
most desirable properties in this locality.
ISAAC r. JESTER.