The sad intelligence reach this town on Thursday, of the death of the Rev. J. A. B. Wilson, D. D., of typhoid fever, at his home in Grass Valley, Cal., on May 1. Dr. Wilson was born in Milton, September 4, 1848, and was 57 years, seven months, and 27 days old. More extended account of his death appears on first page of this paper.[i]
The work on the M. P. Church is completed and their reopening will take place next Sunday the 13th. Rev. W. H. Neepler of Laurel, and the Rev. W. R. Graham, D. D., Of Easton, Md., are expected to be present. Rev. R. T. Coursey, of this town, and the M. E. Congregation, are invited to be, and will be present. The M. P. Officials cordially invite the general public to “come over into Macedonia and help us,”[ii] and share the blessings of the occasion.
Housecleaning is on, and has been for a week; and people are getting used to cold dinners, dirt and dust.
Schooner Golden Rule is being repaired and recaulked at Mount Ararat Dock.
Stephen Palmer is building a porch in front of the residence of Andrew Coulter near Harbeson.
It has been reported that Andersen & Co. not operate the river cannery the coming season. We are authorized by the foreman, to state this report is untrue. The gentleman will run the cannery as usual, and buy tomatoes at the market price.
The coming Decoration Day, will be observed in Milton, with more than ordinary éclat. Captain George E. Megee, who has the matter in hand, informs us that John P. Holland, of Milford, and Captain William H. Megee, of Philadelphia, have accepted invitations to be present on that occasion; and together with Rev. Coursey will deliver orations. A band is expected. The idea of the community is to enthuse the young with patriotic desires; that they may grow up to love their country, and reserve the memory of their country’s defenders.
The grass is coming prettily outside of the tents on Lavinia as camp ground. If the committee having this ground in charge would expend a little labor, at present, in clearing off the leaves and broken limbs that have accumulated, they might make the scene around the ground very attractive. We suggest that a radius of 50 yards, or more, be cleared around the outside of the tents, and during camp meeting season a wire drawn around this to keep teams from tramping on it. Would not this be pretty? The grass is now growing spontaneously, and with a little assistance would make this place at a veritable lawn. As the camp has, long since, lost its spiritual significance it ought to be beautified as much as possible to draw the elite, and lovers of sociality, to the place. The season is approaching when those who generally take a hand will come to the front, and these persons might be utilize a little earlier than usual in this work. No doubt, they will willingly contribute their service, provided there’s anything in it.
A great part of the clover seed sown near town, contains a large percentage of turnip seed, and such fields are pictured with the yellow blossoms of this vegetable.
Jim Palmer has completed the cabin on his yacht; and the boat was launched on Wednesday of last week. A free drink was given to those who wish to indulge.
On Friday, the pump at the shirt factory got out of order, and the operatives were “laid off” one-half the day.
The class meeting, more particularly for the older ones, which had been held for a long time on Sunday mornings, in the M. E. Church, is gathering more than ordinary strength. People, who have not attended class meetings for long time are now having their breakfast early on Sunday morning, and may be found at this service.
The Broadkiln Hundred Bible society, on Sunday evening, elected Capt. G. E. Megee, and Mrs. S. J. Wilson, of the M. E. Congregation, and Thomas Jefferson and George Davidson, of the M. P. Congregation, delegates to attend the Sussex County Bible Society which meets at Georgetown on the 17th inst. The misses Elizabeth A. Conwell and W. T. Starkey, two elderly women, were made life members of the society.
Professor Raymond DuHadway, late of the Philippines, was a guest of Milton, on Sunday.[iii]
Edward Atkins and wife, former residents of this town high, but now of Philadelphia, are visiting Mr. Atkins’ parents.
Edward Clendaniel, of Milton, fell between a barge and a tug last Monday on the Cooper’s Creek, Camden, N. J. Both legs were crushed and his body injured. He was taken to the Homeopathic Hospital.
Miss Lottie Welch opened a select school in the Public School Building on Monday.
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[i] Rev. John Alfred Baynum Wilson, a native son of Milton, started his adult life as a seaman with his father on the schooner Ida Ponder. In 1867 he experienced a conversion and entered the Wilimington Conference of the M. E. Church. The Milford Chronicle does not indicate whether he attended a seminary institution, but his performance as a minister was such that he rose rapidly through the ranks and held the position of Presiding Elder in Salisbury District amd Dover District. In 1895, he transferred to the California Conference in order to be closer to his son.
[ii] Quotation from New Testament, Acts 16:9
[iii] Raymond DuHadway (1876 – 1919) was a native of Caroline County, Maryland, and in 1901 was engaged as a mathematics teacher by the U. S. Government in the Philippines during the years the U. S. Army was fighting an insurgency there. Some of his letters home were published in the Denton Journal and offer a somewhat pessimistic view of the U. S. presence there. He returned home due to illness in January of 1903, and went on to give frequent talks on his experiences there while teaching at the college level. He died in New Mexico.