Evening journal., 1908-10-17
RECOLLECTIONS OF THEI
BLACKBIRD FARMS
Article No 60

HNAiNit ANNs Nls
We will now leave the neck at Deakyne-
willie. going westward toward smyrna
passing the old tseoe Lancaster nome on
the right and the old Squire Thomas Fen.
imore property on the left, crossing tho
long bridge and by the old Gardner prop
orty on the right which mas always been
celebrated for its fine growth OF chestnut
timber and held by the Gardner family
to my knowledge back to the early thir.
ties and now held by the descendants of
James Gardner who was elected sheriff in
1892 and sold the Chesapeake ard Delaware
Canal in the early day of It's existence.
The old Gardner homestead has ,ons.de--
able grip ON my recollection. AS well as
my admiration from tho fact that they
told mo I was born there one snowy night
on the eight Of January. 1895 Henry n.
Hukll an uncle, told me ho had good
reason 10 recolleCt it for he was boy Of
eleven years and was engaged In carrying
wood 10 keep the fires going in that im-
portant event Now we laavc the farms
Of Ayers StolSley on the left and crossing
the road leading from the Ten,
como 10 another cross roads
which derived it's namo from
having been point for n,1ster and drin
for the state militia. after 1872. and owned
by Major James Chambers. who lived
and died on the old home farm adjacent
TO the Tent in 1915 on the right of the
route TO Smnrna. and leaving the Eagles
Nest Landing ON Smyrna Greek, and sew
eral farms then owned by Presley Snru
ance ON the lett and passing more lands
OF Ayers Stokiey on the left and Enocl
spruancc on tho right. to Walkers school
house on the right and Isaac =. Walker
homestead ON the left. brings us 10 tw,
| important farms. one on the right owne.
by ID. j. Cummins' heirs now and the
other by Gideon Emery Rothwel both ol
which We're celebrated for the fine quality
of peaches which they produced.
Taking Wesley Jones of smyrna as an
thoriiy who has had quite an extondel OK
perience in handling fruit we pass the o.,
Spear farm on either side, TO the roaa
leading eastward 10 the Brick Store Land.
ing also on Smyrna Creek on which is
located the farm Of John A. Cavender and
now occupied 10y Theodore Cavender. also
distinguished for the quantity and quality
Of peaches grown thereon Then comes
the owen G.. Grow farm sndsmore farms
owned BY Presley Spruan,e down TO IN.
Brick Store Landing Now we come back
10 Tho Smyrna road where we find an OLD
! fashioned farm house owned by Jonothar
stephenson, now owned and occupied by
Lady Jones, which also has q fond mem.
ory for the writer hecalse OF move
courtshn and a romantic wedding Ia
which your humble servant was particul.
arly interested and whicn has previously
figured in the newspapers for which rea-
son we viii pass it al present This farm
and the now Massey farm. which wa.
formcHy part of the stephenson farm
was owned by jeremiah Prior
where he raised apair Of twill
boys who proved TO be two Of the iarges
men that ever grew from a pair OF tvir
babies. ono OF which served ON the police
force in this city, few years ago. an,
both Of which are living not far fron
Wilmington
Up tho road from Smyrna TO Bird
leaving Green Spring TO our left we ans,
I" lHlH lntmcflN owned by JO' a
"Nenuer who played "a very pro nenl
part In that community as a builder. d
model farmer and a successful peaci
grower
This takes us 10 two farms. formerl,
one farm, and owned by Georg,
Buchanan. who was rather remarkabl,
man In some particulars Ny hrst recol
lection OF him IS that he came 10 m,
fathers home as foot peddlcr. carrvln,
TWO large tin boxes, laden with jewelr,
and being a well read man and nuen
OF tongue was both interesting and en-
tertaning. He married Joseph Fleming
daughter Of Thoroughfare Neck. and 10
Gated on this farm which I think at tina
time belonged to Mr. Fleming. I know
nothing OF his ancestry, but think M
must have came from Yankeodom Tor M
one who understood human nature. o
the makeup of men never would buy hin
Tor fool. He had the credit Of bein
1 able 20 crowd more work on a farm be-
i tween tho rising and setting OF the sui
1 than any other man that ever engage
In the business. In that community. An
his neighbors said he was the only maj
that was ever known 10 never stav bacl
Of his team In ploWiug new ground. bu
~ was get up an the time with him
The two young Armstrong; that oc
cupy these two farms now are his granl
children on their mothers side. children
OF Samuel Armstrong, the second. an,
grand children Of Samuel Armstrong. O
Log Landing and Shading Point farm
mentioned I'm a previous letter. who los
his Log Landing farm IN defence Of hi
rights in the early sos but after
while he got on his feet again an
bought the Shading Point farm adjoin
ing. and moved to Il from old Listens 8
4 1888 The Young Armstrong; Samue
William and John. have proved thrift
and prosperous farmers
Samle strayed into Kent county, an
was elected to the Legislature I'm $50
| William Is now on the ticket for m
4 legislature from Brackbird hundred
William Andrew Hukiil.