News From White Oak Bottom, 1866
NEW JERSEY COURIER 27 SEP 1866 A few days since we visited this locality, which is well known for it's fertility, and fine soil. Accompanied by Mr. John H. Irons, one of the most thorough farmers in thsi vicinity, we commenced observations and taking notes at Mr. Irons' Sarghum Mill. Here is a fine establishment erected for the purpose of enabling farmers to raise their own molasses. We were shown samples of Sorghum Syrup, perfectly free from any rank taste, whatever, and fully equal to the best syrups offered in market. We also saw on Mr. Iron's farm 35 acres of peach blow potatoes averaging 100 bushels to the acres, where six years ago a dense forest grew. Six years ago, he had but eight acres cleared, and under cultivation. To-day, he has 175 acres of beautiful land grubbed, stumped, and nicely covered with grain, corn, potatoes, sorghum, fruit, and grass. This undertaking was deemed by many as a hazardous one, but they knew not their man. Mr. Iron's farm to-day is ...