The horse drawn mower shown in the yard as the scene opened is a 1920 or newer.
Lijah has been living an isolated life as a woodsman with the wild things rarely seeing people and deaf. He was able to read lips to communicate as a child but since he's not been around people he wouldn't know what they are saying or speak so well. Also how would he hear a stalking animal coming up behind him. It's dangerous to be deaf in the woods.