Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1908-04-03
Places and People Of Milford Meek From
1870 10 1908.

1870 TO 1908.
MThe farm now the property Of George
S. Davis OF Milford, and located on the
road leading from Martins Corner to Mil
ford, was formerly part of the Lowery
homestead and belonged to Mr.. Causey.
II was then in one tract and had not been
separated from the adjoining farm which
contained about 300 acres. About the
year 1850 it was purchased by Shadrach
Raughley, who shortly afterwards sold
the part above mentioned containing
about $50 acres to John w. c. Webb.
Mr.. Webb soon after sold about 60 acres
to Thomas Lynch At that time there
was no building on it and Mr. Lynch be-
gan to build a dwelling house, pushing
the work rapidly toward completion,
when suddenly for some reason Mr..
Webb refused to make title to the prop.
erty. The work on the house was sus-
pended law suit for breach OF contract
ensued and Mr.. Lynch was awarded cost
Of building and damages. Mr.. Webb
then sold his entire purchase including
unfinished building to Robert B. Owens
in 1856, who completed the house and
moved to it. In about two years Mr.
Owns sold it to James NJ. Jester, who in !
two years more sold it to Charles Mills so
that in less than ten years it had five
different owners. Mr.. Mills, however,
settled down to business and spent the
remainder Of his life on the farm. After
his death in 1885 the farm was bought by
George S. Davis who occupied it until 1908
when he relinquished farming and moved
to Milford. Mr.. Davis during his stay on
The farm improved his buildings and in.
creased the productiveness of the land
more than five fold. He engaged in fruit {
culture in which he was very successful. Z
he has an apple orchard of the finest {
ruit of this section. Mr.. Davis is a thor (
ugh going whole soulman upright and t
type of citizenship of which
ny community may well be proud. His e
arm at the present time is in tenure Of ?
Llbert w. Short. n
The farm on the opposite side of the Fl
bad, the ole homestead of the Lowery a
lmily, also belonged to Mr.. Causey in t,
ne forties. After passing from him it be is
lme the property of John Short, who
coupled it as a home for many years. p
D 1869 Mr.. Short sold it to George H. d.
urhans of POughkepsie, New York, for hi
1000. Mr.. Burhams remodeled the ST
lildings, set out a peach orchard and
ade other improvements fourished for gr
While, ran short of means and finally sold as
1t for less than cost to E. P. Potter and pc
P. Lewis Of Waterbury, Connecticut.
lese gentlemen took possession in 1872 nc
ID began operation as farmers. They
ere successful for time, paying about mi
out $4,000 on the purchase money. In if
II Mr.. Potter died leaving Mr.. Lewis pc
nily, keep up reprisals and pay interest lik
remainder of mortgage. The mortgage on
ing foreclosed it was bought by John tai
Hudson for about $500. Mr. Hudson
de considerable outlay in the way of pli,
and finally became dissat era
ed with his bargain and sold out at a rate
ratice to Thomas Kirby. Since Mr.. den
'by's ownership he has received due
ugh in rents to reimburse him for the N
of purchase. 1t is now in tenure of asps
liam j. Trader, frst-class farmer. but
dIOining these farms is a small plot of and
Ind which time has rendered classic. redr
: is the site where once stood that old NJ
norable building the Baptist Church retu
il within a few years ago there stood duct
D this hallowed spot an old wooden NJ
cture plain and unimposing, emblem stop
OF the people who worshiped at its mate
ne. This old structure had resisted the moor
ltless tooth of time for generations carlo
ong that its early history had been later
in obscuritv. In all probability il shipl
one OF the first places of public wor. bran
erected in this vicinity and must that
antedated the American Revolution. Go
'as substantially built and without for Il
mentation; its dimensions we're defer
~ by 26 feet and about IA feet in repor
1t to the lower cornice; the roof
led its apex at an angle of about As
'es. Here in the early part of the
century the people of this neighbor- M
assembled to pay their VOWS and -
oblations to a Supreme Being. uoaI. :
ing now remains to mark the loca- 80 80
II this temple of worship except the ''''''
IDS in the church yard where rests Rel
shes of the former worshipers of a Fishe
entury ago new
ISAAC r. JESTER. range