THE NEEDLES HOMESTEAD
Madison Township
The Needles Homestead--a better knowledge of our past.
Among the earliest and most prominent of the pioneer settlers of Madison Township were the Needles. Five brothers, John, George, Philemon, Andrew, and Cubbage, all natives of the state of Delaware, eventually settled in Madison township. The period of emigration was from 1802 to 1812.
Three of the brothers, John, Andrew, and Philemon, purchased the whole of section nine during the War of 1812 and during the period of that conflict received high prices for their produce. All were good farmers, applying practical methods, such as deep plowing, destruction of weeds, maintenance of livestock, rotation of crops, and application of manure. As a result their farms were among the best in the township. This fine old homestead is located in a community that is rapidly undergoing changes in types of home construction. It is a home that will give us a better knowledge of our past than a dozen textbooks.
26
