About Milton Watkins Dean, Sr.
Milton, Sr. - also known by the nickname "Hick" - was well known regionally for his wooden eel-pot making craft. He demonstrated his craft at various trade shows in the area. Today, there is no one left that continues the tradition of making the wooden eel pots, which have now been replaced commercially with wire pots.
In September of 1978, he was interviewed by a reporter for the Baltimore Sun. The taped recording is more than an hour and a half long and is too large to link here, but can be sent upon request.
Milton was born on August 1, 1904 to John Thomas Dean and Katie Tolley Dean. He had several brothers and sisters - Johnny Hosier Dean, Clinton Mace Dean, and Cora Dean Creighton. Sister Lola Dean died as an infant.
He married Mary Jane Parks on October 4, 1943. She lived in Wingate, Maryland and he lived at Fishing Creek, Maryland. He talked often of his mode of transportation while dating - he piloted his boat the half hour trip and docked at Wingate Wharf, then walked the mile or so to Mary's home.
He had five children - Violet Elaine, Barbara Ann, John Thomas, Mildred Gwynn and Milton Watkins, Jr.
He passed away on March 29, 1982 from a heart attack. He had stopped by a local lumber yard to purchase wood for one of his projects and was whistling as he was carrying the lumber to his vehicle. He was never able to start his car. He was driven by ambulance to the Cambridge Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.