Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-09-04
ROCK HILL.
INTERESTING SKETCH OF 4 VIDE AWAKE
TOWN.
Rev =. White I'm Rock Hill Herald.

Rev. J. ). White In RocK Hill heraiu
The Charlotte and South Carolina Rail-
road, Hon. E. G. Palmer, President, was
completed to this place thirty-two years
ago. A train with passengers arrived for
the first time in the month of June, 1852.
BY consolidation with the Columbia and
Augusta road about the year 1870, the 9. &.
g. A. R. r. Co. was formed with Col. VIM.
Johnson as president. A depot was located
at Rock HILL. The house then built for
that purpose was burned down last winter.
Where it stood there was in former times
pond of water every winter from one to
two feet deep, and wild ducks came to play
therein. The lands Immediately around
this spot were in woods. They belonged to
name of the station was derived from q
little rocky knoll where the first house
(Which is still standing) was built by Cap
tain j. H. McGinnis, now of Jacksonville,
Fla. 1t soon proved to be a business place
of considerable Importance. With good
country of substantial and reliable people
for support, it could not fail to grow.
Trade rapidly increased and men were at
tracted by the favorable prospects. A few
residences and stores were erected in a
rough style and Of small dimensions. In
1860 there were six or seven business hous-
es; several cottages occupied by families
interfered and stopped the progress. In
1866, however, the town began to en-
large and as the people become settled in
peaceful pursuits, it continued to grow and
prosper. A census taken in 1870 showed a
population of between three and four hun
dred, and large increase in stores Of va
.rious kinds. The place had became good
cotton market and enterprisng merchants
were moving forward with energy and sue
cess. The citizens have always exhibited
commendable spirit of improvement, and
of special regard for the public welfare, and
to this is to be attributed, in great meas
ure, the happy results which, to-day, are
apparent on every hand.
The town was incorporated by an act OF
the Legislature, February 26th, 1870, and
the first Council consisted Of ] ohm R. Allen
as Intendant, with T. l.. johnson, j. NJ.
Ivy, M. w. Russell and John Rattarree as
Wardens. An extensive fire in 1878 de-
stroyed a large part of the town, but it
seemed to open the way for constructing
larger and more handsome buildings. In
1880 there were over eight hundred inhabi-
tants, embracing only territory of half q
mile in each direction from the centre, and
the business had grown in proportion as the
people increased. A cotton factory with
a capital of over 100000 was built in
1SS0-81. It is large building-two stories
high-presenting fine appearance, and
is we'll adapted to the purpose in view. The
machinery is moved by steam, and the
establishment gives employment to 100
men, women and children. Laurelwood
Cemetery, covering space of six acres, is
situated a short distance west of the rail
road. The first grave, that Of Edgar Nc
Gosh, was openened in 1872. Many monu-
ments and headstOnes now stand in 1T as
silent sentinels to mark the resting place OF
the dead, and to indicate how our people
have been passing away. The Library
Association was organized June 18th, 1884,
with 33 members and the following officers:
J. S. White, President; j. NJ. Ivy, Vice
President;- W.. Roddey, Recording, Sec
retary; D. D. Moore, Librarian and Treas
urer. Directors R. London, j. B.
Traywick, j. J. Waters, w. B. Jennings
and N P. Alexander. Their reading room
was opened July 10Th, 1884. This institu.
tion is well supported by our citizens and
surrounding community. We hope that
this interest will continue, and that its in
fuence may widen and deepen into last
ing impression for the good of our people.
The cotton sold here from September 1st,
1882 to September 1st, 1888 amounted to H.
800 bales. That was very prosperous year,
but the average is about 1850 bales. In
August, 1884, the following statements can
be made in regard to our town: Popula-
kinds,) so. Churches (white and colored 8,
including Presbyterian, Episcopal, Metho-
dist and Baptist. Regular schools, g. Flour
ing mills and cotton gin l.. Lawyers, 3.
Physicians, 4. Telegraph Offices 2. Post
office, 1. Express office, 1. Town clock, l.
Hotels, g. Livery stables, 2. Lumber
Yards, l. Brass bands, 2. Library, l.
Newspaper, 1. Herald, J. NJ. Ivy, Pro-
prietor and J. J. Hull, Editor.] Trial JUS
tice, l. Public Hall, l. Tailor shop, 1.
Masonic Lodge. Odd Fellows, /. Lodge
knights of Honor, l.. Legion of Honor, l.
Cotton Factory, /, capital stock, $l16,0 900, A.
E. Hutchinson, President, D. Hutchinson,
Secretary and Treasurer, J. r. Neisler, Su-
perintendant Directors, w. L. Roddey, j.
NJ. Ivy, John r. London, A. Fl. White, j. l.
Middleton, G. A. Chisholm. Military Com
pany, L., (Catawba Rifles, Allen Jones Cap
tain.) Banks,2. Building and Loan Co., l.
Marble yard, l. The present Town Council
is composed of A. E. Smith, Intendant, J.
G. Sharpe, w. C. Hutchinson, J. w: Fewell
Miles Johnson, Wardens. G. j. Pride, Mar
shal, R. j. Hagins, Treasurer.
posted in box under the corner of the
Library building, and it may be of some
interest to those who shall come after us
when others shall occupy our places here
and when there may be an opportunity to
examine these records Of the past. 1t is
beyond our power to say what the changing
influence of time will effect before that day
arrives, but it is safe to predict that there
will be a great advancement from what is
seen here now.
nor 1nTClT NonCS