The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-02-16
WALHALLA.
Tho First German Settlement i'm South
CarClina-Its Past, Present and Flu
turc.
lFrom the Keowee Courier. |

Eighteen years ago what is now Walhalla
was waste ridge, unclaimed from its native
German Colonization Society of Charleston
purchased q large area OF land from the Rev.
Joseph Grisham, and planted colony of these
enterprislng foreigners upon 1t. The first
farmers, dependent chiefly on their own exer-
tions for livelihood. Our people looked on
and wondered, and many were the speculations
as to what length Of time would be necessary
to starve them back to the coast; but nothing
daunted at the unlnvlting aspect OF the high,
dry, sandy soil, they set to work with deter
mination, which never fails Of success under
the greatest difficulties. The mechanics found
ample employment in the erection Of stores
and dwelling houses, while the farmers began
to clear and improve their little tracts OF land,
and adopting the small well-tilled, well-manur-
ed sytem OF farming, by their large crops soon
astOnished and put to the blush our ''pride
of acre" planters. Saw mills and merchant
mills sprung up to the music Of the water
falls in the nelghborhood, and the merchants
following the maxlm that quick sales and
small profits" is the true theory Of successful
merchandising, gradually monopolized the
trading custom Of the surrounding country
At Welhalla our people found cheap goods
and a ready market at fair prices for their sur
plus produce, and the private pecuniary inter
est Of the citizen drew patronage from greater
and greater distances, to build up and con-
firm the growing prosperity OF the little town
AS time passed, the grand project OF connect
ing Charleston with Cincinnati by rail be-
came fixed purpose, and the line OF the Blue
Ridge Railroad was surveyed and located to
run by Walhalla. This great project was
completed to shat point prior to. the war, and
gave 1t the Importance which always attaches
to the terminus Of q railroad. 1t became
the shipping point for all the corn, rye, oats
peas, potatoes onions, apples and every species
OF produce grown for twenty miles ON either
side, and from several counties of Georgia and
North Carolina beyond the mountains. This
immense trade soon attracted the attention Of
the country and crossroads merchants, and
anxious to share the spo1ls they moved in
and Walhalla became, and is, and ever will
be, the great commercial centre Of Pickens
District. TO the energy and enterprise of
these Germans. wo0 are indebted in great
measure tor our present prosperous condition.
They first gave us d market, and have been
the active instruments in developing it to that
extent which now affords ready cash sale
for all the surplus products Of the country.
Such is the origin and history of Walhaila in
the past. Its present condition is one of
converted the barren ridge into beautiful
town Of several hundred inhabitants, with
thlrty-two stores and business shops, besides
others process Of erection. 1t has become
one of the largest and best gram markets Ill
tne South. Chickens, eggs, butter, bacon and
other articles Of farm growth, bring from two
to four-told the prices of fifteen years ago.
Any person visiting. the town will be struck
with it's large trading business. AS he ap-
proaches it. wagons will be met for several
miles in every direction, returning loaded with
groceries and other necessaries, and as he en-
ters the 1ortn or south end of Main-street,
the sight Of horses standing at every raoL .or
mile, and from ten to fifty Wagons loading
and unloading at the various business houses
greet his eye. Everybody seems to be busy
and money c,rculates freely. Most of the
dwellings,, which adus to the beauty and at
IIrac1ive appearance Of the town. Its .educa-
honai advantages are in keeping with it's ira
ding prosperity, and presage q higher grade
OF future scholarship among us. Besides
female college is located in the town. The
former is the Newberry College, under the
charge Of DR.. Smeltzer and other able pro-
the Misses Morgan, from Sumter, ladies of ac-
knowledged educatlola abilities. The new
male college building will be completed in
short time, and we feel justified in. the asser
gether with it's healthy location, cheapness Of
boarding and ease of access by railroad, will
secure large collection of students from diff
ferent parts Of this and adjoining States.
Such is Walhalla Of the present What is
in store for it III the untried future? We an
swer, growth and prosperity. Ib is situated
in what we might term in this mountainous
country % broken valley. To the eastward
Little Rivers, with their tributaries, the sur
plus products Of which must always seek
Wahalla for a market; to the westward run
the Chauga and Tugalo, whose rich hillsides
wheat, corn and other grain, to swell the trade
Of the town; while to the northward from SIX
to twenty miles distant, in different directions,
runs the blue line Of mountains. From them
comes the onions. cabbage, Irish potatoes,
limber-twig and buff apples, which are so mucn
relished by our Columbia and Charleston
friends. The eastern slope Of these mountains
are perhaps as favorable to the growth OF the
grape as any part of Europe, and the time may
soon come when the manufacture Of wine will
be calling and occupation among us. Iu ad-
dition to these inherent sources Of wealth, the
country abounds in water powers and every
facility for manufacturing purposes; it's healthy,
bracing climate makes it o desirable summer
resort TO the valetudinarian; it's furnishing in
sttutions Of learning render it favorable
place Of residence to persons having children
10 educate, and its beautiful mountain scenery
will always attract the pleasure seeker. With
these natural advantages, who can deny that
the future prospects of Walhalla are cheering?
Since the convention OF 1853 divided Pickens
District, it has been made the county site OF
0conee, and is now as we'll the judicial as the
commercial centre Of the county"