MILTON H. HORTON

BLUE HILL – Milton H. Horton passed away peacefully May 8, 2006, at the Blue Hill Memorial Hospital after celebrating his 99th birthday at The Penobscot Nursing Home, April 30, 2006. Milton was born April 30, 1907, at Millbrook Farm, Union Street, Blue Hill. He lived in the family farmhouse and managed the dairy farm, known as Millbrook Farm, with his late brother, John, for all of their lives. Milton was the last owner of the dairy farm operation which closed in the mid-1950’s, after several generations of continued family operation. Generations of young people in Blue Hill remember their good times at Millbrook Farm, helping around the farm, haying or raising animals and vegetables along with members of the Horton family. Milton lived a full life as a dairy farmer and will be remembered for his love and stewardship of Millbrook Farm, his family, his church and the Blue Hill community. He was actively involved in church, community and civic affairs with his wife, Rebecca, most notably their participation in First Baptist Church of Blue Hill activities, the local Chapter of IOOF No. 79, 60-year member, Boy Scouts, 4-H Society and other school and community activities. Following in his older brother John’s footsteps, he served for many years as the head usher of The First Baptist Church of Blue Hill and was presented with the Devoted Servant Award, Aug. 12, 2001, with the inscription “With Love and Appreciation for a Lifetime of Faithful Service to Our Lord at The First Baptist Church of Blue Hill, Maine.” At his 99th birthday celebration at The Penobscot Nursing Home, many cards, letters and personal remembrances were given as testimony to Milton’s commitment to the young people in the area. Among them was a note from Patty (Clapp) and Don Gray, who grew up in the neighborhood: “We have so many happy memories of how good you were to all of ‘us kids’ in the Union Street neighborhood during our growing up years. You set a good example for our adult lives.” Milton was very proud of his heritage in Blue Hill. One of his ancestors, Joshua Horton, was the first treasurer of the Town of Blue Hill around 1769, and the family is prominently mentioned in Annie Clough’s book, “Head of the Bay.” William Hinckley has written many articles on the Horton Family and Millbrook Farm, most notably in his May 1, 1975 article on “Bits of Local History”, which chronicled the history of Millbrook Farm on Union Street from the arrival of the Hortons in the Blue Hill area in 1768, from Falmouth, now Cape Elizabeth. Milton was predeceased by his wife, Rebecca; and infant son, William Austin; by his six brothers and sisters and their spouses, John and Cora Horton, Emma and Forrest Allen, Nina and Olney Grindall, Etta and Raymond Bowden, Alton and Olive Horton and Hattie and Leroy Gray. He is survived by Wallace E. Horton of Blue Hill, Forrest A. and wife, Janet Horton, of McLean, Va. and Horace W. and wife, Barbara Horton, of Yarmouth, along with their children and grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, many of whom continue to reside in the Blue Hill area. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at The First Baptist Church of Blue Hill with Pastor Jerry Springston officiating. A reception arranged by the church family will be held in the fellowship hall immediately after the service. Interment will be at the Seaside Cemetery in Blue Hill. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Penobscot Nursing Home, Activities Fund, Main Street, Penobscot, ME 04476 or Peninsula Ambulance Corps, Blue Hill, ME 04614 or First Baptist Church of Blue Hill, Blue Hill, ME 04614.