Milford chronicle., 1908-03-13
Places and People Of MiIfOrd Neck From
1910 10 1908

1910 10 1908
The farm on the opposite side OF the
road is the tract sold by Daniel Burr,
in 1870, to Blore brothers They held
it about twelve wears and sold it to
Jered Alcott who held it until his death,
which occurred in 1894. Mr.. Alcott was
native of Northern New York, who
came to Delaware in the last of the six
ties. He was a sharp, shrewd, business
man, viewed from speculative stand
point and always on the alert as TO the
''allmightv dollar" The farm we are
now descibing was in a fair state OF cul-
/ tivation when purchased by him, but I'M
der his management it deterioated in
value until when sold after his death it
/ brought only about one-halt the sum 1t
had cost him. When purchased by
William E. Maloney it WAS virtually
without buildings. In 1894 when Mr..
Malonev bought it be straightwsy began
TO build upon it. He now has comfort
able dwelling with all necessary buildings
required on farm all new and neat in
appearance. Mr.. Maloney is a practical
mechanic as well as neat and progress
sive farmer, and a very useful citizen in
the community. He has fair common
school education, such as was obtainable
in the public schools of thirty years ago.
Superadded TO this he has a large fund OF
good hard common sense, an indsspensi-
BILE commodity of success in the affairs OF
life. His home is cheerful, his farm ia
increasing in value as his crops increase
in quantity.
The farm adjoining William E. Mai
onev on the east and containing about
one hundred acres, now the property OF
BENJAMIN c. Needles and his brother,
Theodore, has been in the Needles family
for more than a century. According to
records now in possession Of the present
owners, it was owned and occupied by
their grandfather, John Needles, as far
hack as 1904 He was a blacksmith by
trade died Oh the farm in 1884. His wild
ow. with her two children that were not
grown. remained on the farm. Mrs.
/. Mary Needles is remembered by the
writer as far back as the early forties.
She was a thorough going, energetic
woman Of nearly sixty years OF age, hav'
ing been born before the close Of the
Revolutionary War. Her recollection Of
events that transpired in the early history
of the nation, was vivid and trust worthy
She could discuss the incidents OF the
Mexican War in the late forties. She
was possessed Of a strong personality that
served her well in her situation in life.
The tough, Wirey, mental fiber she pos
sessed enabled her to manage her child
rem. as well as her business affairs with
more than ordinary ability. Her family
at that time consisted of herself and two
children son and daughter nearly grown
Her older children were married and
gone to homes of their own. Her farm
was Door and like every other farm IN
the neighborhood at that time Welded
but small crops but she managed q hel
industry and perseverance, with the
assistance OF her children, to make a
support. After her son, John P. Needles
had reached his majority he married and
settled near by. He cultivated the farm
for his mother until her death in 1853,
after which time be moved to it and took
full control. John P. Needles was
man of rather more than ordinary ability
for his time and opportunity. Naturally
he was a mechanic and man OF resour-
ces he could turn hand to al most any
thing. He had an easy adoption to the
management of nearly all kinds OF ma
chinery, with which be came in contact.
He was also an inventor if he needed
an article of machinery that had not yet
been nut on the market, he invented II
and built it for himself. His disposition
was always cheerful and bright bis
spirit always buOyant as that OF boy
he enjoyed the sports-especially that oil
hunting with all the enthusiasm of the
youth. He seemed to concentrate his
whole mind on whatever he undertook.
His death occurred in 1875 OF pneumonia
at the age of about fifty years.
The Rev E. H. Miller in his funeral or
alton on the death of Mr.. Needles, made
the remark that "Nlilford Neck could not
well afford to lose such men as John p.
Nondlns :, and he was RIGHT: the place