Milford chronicle., 1931-03-20
THE FOUNDING
OF HOUSTON
Town Named For Man
Who Built Depot.

About five miles west of Milford
on high, dry ground, lies the village
of Houston which was laid out in
the year 1866 by David Scott and
Rev. Richardson, both of whom are
now dead. The tract of land which
they bought consisted of $50 acres,
and belonged to an old distinguished
Delaware family by the name of
White. -F
The next thing to be done after
securing the land was something
that would attract people to the
town and induce them to build
homes. 1t was with this idea in view
that Ira Scott, a brother of David,
started the first industry which was
brickyard At first the business
was a decided success, but as the
clay deposit was further worked it
was found that it was an impossi-
bility to keep the springs just below
the surface from filling the clay
hole. This in a short time caused the
brickyard to close down. However,
another industry came to the front
in the form of peach evaporator,
but this was also short lived, for it
was found that Houston could not
compete with Milford in the pro-
duction of dried peaches. A short
time after the closing of the evapO-
rators David Scott and L. w. Coun-
Gilman built the first cannery in the
town, which they operated for some
years in partnership. Scott later
sold his share to George Council
man, son of l.. w. Councilman;
the plant then ran under the name
of Councilman & Son. Soon after
this the elder Councilman retired
from active participation in the bus
mess and returned to his home in
Baltimore, leaving his son in charge.
The next man to start in the can
merry business was Zack Johnson
and after time he Joined partner
ship with the late George Council
man. In February, 1914, the above
named cannery was destroyed by !
fire. The present cannery owned and |
operated by Libby, Mcneil and Lib
by, was built in 1912 by Stetson, Ell !
lison & Company, who operated it on /
a large scale for about ten years /
when it came into the possession of |
the present owners. During the last |
five years the cannery has made |
wonderful progress under the man
agement of w. j. Dufendach and this |
coming season promises to be the
greatest in its history. OF other in
dustrieS there were namely, the first
saw mill built by Clinton Pick about
1885 which was located on the south
side of Railroad avenue just west of
the depot. Mr.. Pick operated the
mill for the manufacture of board
siding, shingles, peach crate shocks
and custom planning. Later the mill
was operated by David Scott. James
Akin, hifihly respected colored man,
and John Niverson, who was the last
one to operate the mill on a scale
Of any size. About 1896 Mr.. Fred
erick moved from Pennsylvania to
Houston and built mill Gust above
he saw milD for the manufacture of
leg slaves. Mr.. Frederick operated
his mill for three or four years af-
.er which it became the property of
!. C. Wharton who operated il for
EN- years. He sold it to Rev. Ben
lett, a Methodist Protestant minis
er, who for several years was in
,harge of the M. P. Church in Mil
ord. Between 1899 and 1905 there
vas another keg stave mill run by
| company consisting of the John
on Brothers and the Dawson Bro
hers; both of these mills ceased to
'perate on account of the scarcity of
imber. The present -four and feed
Mill was built in 1915 by the late
theodore Thistlewood and is now
perated by his heirs.
After a resume of the Industries it
5 only just and correct that an ac-
ount be given of the educational /
nd religious activities of the town. I
he first Sunday school was estab-
shed about 1882 by Miss Clara