Milford chronicle., 1908-02-07
Places and People Of Milford Neck From
1870 TO 1908.

VI AAbAAAeAo ~ LAa1ACA VI AANANAANNs 4
Was for long time the home of the late
Benjamin P. Needles Mr.. Needles wai
a wheelwright and blacksmith by Occupa
tiOn and at one time did thriving bust
ness. At first the dwelling house was
not a very imposing structure, but after a
few years of prosperity in his business,
he was able to build two story addition
to the one he had formerly occupied.
His family consisted of five members,
himself, wife, wife's sister and two child
ren of his wifes brother. Mr. Needles
lad his failings ''as other mortals do"
but he had redeeming traits he contri-
buted to the comfort of the "widow and
fatherless." He was SO devoted to the
church that he might with very little in
justice be called a religious bigot. His
views we're so narrow that he could
scarcely tolerate any denomination but
his own. His home was always open to
the ministers of the church he attended.
His wife was a woman with a clear
head and kind heart. By her amiable
disposition she had succeeded to a limited
extent in rounding off some the angles in
her husbands austere disposition. Mr..
Needles died about 1886 nearly eighty
years of age His widow survived him,
dying in 1898 aged eighty-two wears.
These old people died chiidless and the
property WAS bought by Mrs. Martha
Harris, sister of Mrs. Needles. Later it
was bought by Thomas 6 Frazier who
have converted it into a truck and berry
farm. 1t is nicely located in a progress
sive neighborhood and will soon be de-
sirable property.
The next place to be noticed is the
home of Andrew J. Maloney, a retired
farmer nearing the age of four score years.
It was formerly the home of Daniel Nit
ten, for more than half a century. Mr..
Mitten bought this property of Shadrach
Postles in 1845 for a nominal sum and
moved to it the following year. The i'm.
provements upon it being a single story
one roomed house. Here he spent the
one great effort of his life in building up
a comfortable home. Here he reared his
family of eight children with no other
means of support except the labor
wrought by his own hands. His home
though humble, was happy one for in
this home he dwelt in the very bosom of
his family; on this home the dove of
peace decended and took up its abode.
Mr.. Mitten was carpenter by trade and
for time the only one of importance in
this vicinity. Little by little he added to
his property in the way of Improvements
until he had q very comfortable as well
as a happy home. Here he spent his
early manhood here he passed the
meridian of his life and here he cele-
brated his golden anniversary. After his
were grown and had begun the
battle of life for themselves. he sold out
the homestead and removed to Frederica |
and died there in 1905 at the ripe age OF
S6 years. Mrs. Mitten though about "a
years of age is a well preserved lady and |
one whose lifework has been devoted to
rendering her own home happy and con-
to the comfort and happiness of
others. When the last lingering ray of
the twilight of life will have faded away
her memory will be treasured as sacred
by those who survive her.
The farm situated on the north side of
the road and opposite to the Needle and
Mitten properties, was one time the home
Of the late John Steward, and probably
the birthplace of Ex-postmaster John P.
Steward. Mr.. Steward occupied it as a
home until about 1876; he removed to
Milford. Renting his farm to Curtis
Dilahay, a very industrious man of mid
lie age with large family of boys, who
remained on it for several years. His
orce out-growing the size of the farm, he
eft it and moved to a larger one near
Dover. One of his grand-sons is now a
alesm&n in the department store of
ieoTge H. Hall. George Dennis followed
dr. Dilahay as tenant and remained
here until 1858 when Mr.. Steward sold
he farm to Joshua Tolbert, returned
california gold-hunter. Mr.. Tolbert was
quaint specimen of humanity Born on
be Island of Malta in the Mediterranean
ea, by birth Frenchman, by profession
seafaring man, by travel citizen of the
lorld. He came to his farm pretty we'll I
quipped with means but entirely desti-
ute of practical experience. His theories ,
'ere many and fine spun and his methods J
farming were amusing to his neighbors /
ut he was less a fool than philosopher 2
nd profited by his mistakes until he 7
ad gained sufficient knowledge to con- O
uct his business on a paying basis. One v
the first things he did was to inaugur- Q
te systematic and permant improve
tent of his soil. He applied barnyard F
Ianure, lime and fertilizers, with lib b