The Mail-Journal, Volume 13, Number 28, Milford, Kosciusko County, 4 August 1976 — Page 8

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11th of a series —

Milford, Delaware is in the first state of the USA

The town of Milford. Del., is located in the first state. Delaware was the first state to ratify the US constitution. This was on December 7, 1787. This was the same year that the town of Milford was founded by the Rev. Mr. Sydenham Thorne and Joseph Oliver. Mr. Thorne was an Anglican clergyman who arrived in 1774 to take charge of the Christ church, Mispillion, then located about four miles to the west o( the present town In 1785 he bought the property on Silver Hill which has since been known as the Parson Thome mansion. His neighbor to the east was Joseph Oliver, a large landowner and merchant Their lands were a part of a tract called "Saw Mill Range" which was granted to Henry Bowman in 1680 The two men entered into an agreement

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whereby Thome would build a dam across the river at his mill if Oliver would lay out his land in building lots. The agreement was carried out and the town of Milford was begun in 1787. In order to encourage builders who had little capital, the founders adopted the old English system of 99 year ground leases in perpetuity rather than outright sales The town derives its name from the combination of the words “mill” and "ford." The practice of fording the Mispillion at the mill dam gave rise to the place name of Milford. Milford has been the home of five governors of the state of Delaware and the final burial place of a sixth one Governors Daniel Rogers. William Tharp. Peter F. Causey. William Burton and William T. Watson all lived there and Joseph Haslet is buried

there. The motto for the Greater Milford Chamber of Commerce is "Milford takes its historic past and converts it for a viable future.” It is the fifth largest city in the state and is proud that many of its young people have "come back home’’ to live. The business atmosphere in Milford offers a progressive tone, tempered with a concern for the community as a whole The city moves briskly, in step with the times, yet avoiding the feverish' tempo that blurs life in many cities. . . Milford stands at a crossroads which allows its citizens to enjoy the pleasures of living in a semirural region, yet all major cities along the Eastern Seaboard are within pasy driving distance. Within a radius of 100 milfs. Milford < residents can drive to

Philadelphia. Washington or Baltimore. Only another hour away is New York and its attractions while in the other direction lies Norfolk, Va. A progressive community that marches with the rest of the 20th century. Milford is yet unwilling to cut itself off from its roots that are embedded so deep into this nation's past. The 1970 census showed Milford city limits contained a population of 5.702. The Milford market area, however, includes 35,000 residents. Milford straddles the boundary lines of both Kent and Sussex counties, with the dividing line running through the very middle of the city. The 12-mile Mispillion River separates the downtown area and serves as the county marker as well. The river begins at Silver Lake in Milford and ends at Mispillion Light on the Delaware Bay. The city is located geographically in the center of the state’s economic pattern, at the junctions of routes 14. 36 and US 113. A 95 year old. third generation owned newspaper, the Milford Chronical, serves the market area of Milford and the central portion of Delaware with a circulation of more than 9,000. The town's library contains more than 18,000 volumes, with more than 2,400 registered borrowers. v After generations of bending its major efforts toward an agrarian economy, Milford is rapidly moving toward development of its industrial potential. A little more than 100 acres of prime land have been zoned for general industry by city planners in an industrial park site just west of the city limits. Agriculture is still the backbone of Delaware’s economy. It ranks as the number one industry in the county. Only in four other states in the continental United States do farmers enjoy a higher net income per farm than in Delaware, according to statistics compiled in 1972. Bicentennial Milford has joined in the nations 200th birthday party with a smashing series of events being held over a 13-month period. The new downtown Bicentennial park, along the banks of the Mispillion canal was held in June. Musical events, art shows, memorabilia exhibits, tours

through local industries and a costume ball were also planned in honor of the Bicentennial. There are 20 churches in the immediate Milford area. Most all Protestant denominations are represented plus several independent congregations, a Roman Catholic church and a Christian Science society. There is, a Jewish synagogue in Dover. 18 miles away. One of Milford's churches, Christ Episcopal, has been placed on die national register of historic sites, insuring preservation of an early 18th century landmark. Civic organizations are numerous with fraternal orders and civic organizations having active chapters in the community. Some of the groups have junior associations and ladies auxiliaries. The Milford School District has an enrollment of 4,175 pupils and a professional staff of more than 200, is comprised of the former Milford Special, Lincoln, Ellendale and Houston school district — Lulu Ross and Benjamin Banneker, the Milford middle school and the Milford high school. Vacationer's Dream Milford’s proximity to the finest of fiiast Coast beach resorts makes ’it a summertime vacationer’s dream. Residents in the area have time to enjoy those dreams, long after the summer tourists have gone for the season. Boating of all kinds —for all types of sailors — is one of the foremost activities. The Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic ocean, Delaware and Rehoboth Bays, plus the countless ponds, rivers and beaches provide hundreds of leisure activities. Sunfish and sailfish sailing is common for week end sailors who want fun without work. Sportsmen can go crabbing or clamming. Fishing when the "blues are running." Sun tanning, swimming, beachcombing and yes. girl watching . . . have their fans. Milford is nationally known for its annual Memorial Day GoKart races that attract thousands to the day-long event. American history is real in Milford. Historic sites dot the town landscape where the early 1700 s and 1800 s heritage of the community lives along today’s modem buildings.

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By BONNIE BJELLA Two hundred and seventy-one children have enrolled in the summer reading chib at the Syracuse Public Library. Monday, Aug. 9, will be the last day for stickers for books read. On Wednesday, Aug. 11, the children may call for their cards and awards. Refreshments will be served between 1 pm. and 4 p m on August 11. Children are urged to call for their cards and awards that day, if at all possible. New books continue to arrive, among them being: By George. Bloomers by St. George Swim Little Duck by Miles Zoo City by Lewis Racing on the Water by Feilen Sailing by Mohn Dirt Track Speedsters by Feilen The T V Kid by Byers Gunda-Your-Din-Din- Is Ready by Doty All the Children Were Sent Away by Garrigue

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The white man in Leesburg for 174 years The Leesburg, Ohio, Bicentennial committee wanted all to know the white man has been in their community for 174 years. The committee therefore reprinted “A Short History of Leesburg" with the only addition being the front cover and an introduction page. The original book was published in the 1940’5. The first settlers in the vicinity that were recorded were Nathaniel Pope, John Walters and James Howard. It was the spring of 1802. The journey here was with difficulty, cutting the way thru dense woods* When they camped at last. Howard kindled a fire for the evening meal —it was to be the first white man’s fire in what is now Leesburg. The next morning, the three men took their axes and went forth to fell logs for houses. Pope was first to cut down a tree and Howard was the first to get his house up. Leesburg is the oldest town in the township, the older part being laid out by "Governor" James Johnson on March 2, 1814. Some say the town received its name from the creek which flows by it, but others declare it was named in honor of Leesburg, Va. H-rrison Ratcliffe is thought by some to be the first post*master in Leesburg. It is known definitely that Samuel Sanders was commissioned in 1816 and that he was obliged to keep the "office” in a drawer under a work bench in his cabinet shop. The first marriage in the township was that of Enos Baldwin and Sarah Hunt. It was on a Sunday in November of 1804 at William Lupton's. Both parties were Quakers. The first Quakers, or Friends, held meetings late in 1802. Bathsheba Lupton is accredited with being the founder of the meetings in Leesburg. Jacob Jackson was their first minister. Mildred Ratcliffe, the famous Quakerress who later traveled all over the USA, succeeded Jackson. She left, in 1816, finally dying in Brownsville. Pa. The Leesburg Friends still hold meetings today. The first child born in the township was Isaac N. Walter, son of John Walter. He later became a preacher of the New Light Faith. The second child born was William Horsman. The birth occurred under a shelter between two fallen tree trunks. Leesburg was early famous for its flouring and woolen mills. David Swain built a carding mill on Lees creek in 1822 and ran it by water and horse power. William M. Hardy began rollcarding and fulling in 1832. He used a little horse mill. Hardy later built quite a factory. In 1840 he put in a 60 spindle machine, known as "Billy & Jenny,” and a few years later changed to the "Jaw Jack.” In 1854 the old machine was replaced with a 160 "Roller Jack.” By 1855 he was making stocking yarn, satinets, flannels, blankets and had a very large business. Leesburg Today Today the population of Leesburg, Ohio is around 1,000 persons Its residents say they have a "good community.” It is largely an agricultural community with dairying, hogs, beef cattle, corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, hay and some tobacco. The United Methodist church was established in the early 1800’s with the Weslyan church started in the 1950's and the Church of Christ being established in the 1970’5. Junior high and high students study in Leesburg with grade school students attending school two miles west of Leesburg in Highland. Cubs include the PTO, Lions, many church groups. Boy Scouts, 4-H. Bar Noen Riding cluß and until December of 1976 the Bicentennial commission. Reports CB radio stolen Dean Caldwell of Swayzee reported to Kosciusko county officers last week the theft of a citizen’s band radio from his car while parked on the north shore of Lake Wawasee. Value of the radio was placed at $l4O.

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