Milford chronicle., 1921-09-23
LETTER 81 YEARS OLD
WILL PROVE INTERESTING TO READERS
In LOWER DELAWARE.

3. Frank Potter was born 81 years
ago this month, September 16, in Ced-
ar Neck, near Milford, the son of Mr.
and Mrs. Benjamin E. Potter. At that
time the father was a soldier in the
Union Army of the United States
serving under Captain James D.
Twigg, of the Ninth Delaware, sta
toned at Fort Delaware. Since that
time the son has eaten his birthday
anniversary dinner with his father
each year-cOmmencing with his re-
turn from the services of his cOun-
try. In all he has sat at the table
with his father and family fifty-five
times-the two missing dates being
1889 and 1892. The son now resides
upon the old homestead farm where
his parents started life and the IA
ther resides in South Milford. He is
well along towards completing a cen
tury, being over 92 years old. The
following letter under date of 1864
was sent to the soldier by his brother
in-law, Thomas J. Davis, who was
we'll known to the people of Milford
twenty-five years ago. 1t recalls the
schedule of wages which prevailed
during the Civil War and is as fol-
lows:
Prime Hook
Monday, September 10th, 1864
Dear Brother
l was much pleased to receive
letter from you on Saturday last, and
especially to hear that you were well, 1
Inasmuch as you requested me to go
over to see how your people were
getting along, 1 and Mary Jane went /
on from Slaughter Neck Church yes
terday. However, heard on Saturday |
in Milford that your horse was down |
with the blind staggers, (Which is .
quite prevalent.) But when we got to .
your front gate DR.. Mitchell came up
saying your wife was only little sick
like old women will be sometimes.
And when we got to the house we
found she had had fine Boy on Fri
day night, at about z o'clock, and the
horse had died on Saturday night.
Your wife was right smart (says
Mary Jane) though she had had
chill that morning but did not seem
to have much fever to follow it. 1
found your people had a plenty of
water-melons, fine ones too; while 1
y 8
to eat. found Samuel Draper, Jr.,
there helping, or rather boss of the
whole concern. They have taken down
one cut and perhaps half of another
of fodder, but, have tied up no blades
and not all their tops. The fodder was
getting very dry. They had paid about
SIC to day hands to help in it, topers
at $125 per day and stripers at $1.00.
Samuel says he could not get either
the white men of whom you wrote, and
Wesley Steel would not go for less
than SIPS per day. He says he does
not want to stay but will do it for
$1.OO per day or $25 per month, pro-
vided he is not drafted. But he hoped
1 could get some one cheaper but that
1 cannot do, for 1 am paying a slow
negro $40 per month. Samuel says he
got off all the hay you had cut before
the tide except about loads which he
afterwards spread and made up again.
He wants to know if you will pay him
his price? l think you can not do
better under the circumstances. He
wants to know how you want your
wheat sowed, manured, and put in. 1 I
told him 1 would try and help him {
though it is a good way for me to S
90, but 1 promised to go over again $
soon, perhaps this week. think if he I
mas the manure to haul before the c
wheat is sown it will be late. Mine is 1
low up and green all over the field, ?
having been sOwn week before last Il
nd manured, too. George had to cut II
lis hand soon after commencing the o
odder but it is better, though he
trips no blades yet. Samuel wants h
o know also if you want any corn =
round put in wheat and if so, how h
luch? [ forgot to say he is done N
lrning follow. Mary Jane is filling
our jars with peaches for you to el
ave something good next winter to W
at, while perhaps, 1 shall be off in VI
our place as drafted man in the OF
rmy faring worse than you now are w
citing on and answer my questions
bout your farming land, &C, &c, &C. ce
1 forgot to say 1 am nearly done ca
king down my fodder but it is near 81
all in the hill yet. My vent hay all
damaged and have to cut more as be
te as it is because I have not got we
lough COW grass to cut. Annie
)ung was sick all last week. Better to
day. an
Your brother, 0.
Z. G. DAVIS
Write soon, both to me and to your mi
n n the