John and Rachel Webster
| The property on Foulk Road outside of Wilmington,
Delaware, was purchased in 1832, by Clark Webster, John Webster's
great-grandfather. In 1835, Clark's son, Isaac, began clearing the
ground of the multitude of rocks, and thus began the Webster farming
of this land. In 1940, the farm was officially named Highland Orchards,
when John registered his Guernsey milking herd, but most still referred
to the farm as "Webster's". In 1941, John purchased the Pennsylvania farm outside of West Chester, which was also named Highland Orchards. As the father of five daughters, John Webster used to say, "All my boys are girls!" So, when his daughter Elizabeth married Robert Hodge, they became managers and then owners of the Pennsylvania farm. They and their six children expanded the plantings, buildings, and property to the prosperous, efficient business of today. Elizabeth and Bob have now turned over the farm to their children. Meanwhile, John's daughter Elaine had married Jack Linton and they enjoyed six children. By 1970, John, Elaine, and the Linton grandchildren were working the remaining five acres of the Delaware homestead. Now in 2000, Elaine and her daughter Ruth plant, harvest and sell their produce, including some peaches from trees planted by John Webster thirty years ago. |