Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-04-29
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YORK DISTRICT.
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about the year 1850, principally from Penn
sylvania and Virginia. Its name may be
traced to York in Pennsylvania, from
whence some of the first settlers came.
The situation of this district is on the
northern boundary line of the State, which
divides it from North Carolina. The Broad
river bounds the district on the west, the
Catawba on the east, and Chester district
on the south. Its average length from east
to west is about thirty-three miles; from
south to north twenty-one miles, and it
contains 443,52O square acres.
The soil is mostly clay, and we'll adapted
to agricultural purposes, being equally suit
ed to the culture of the grains, or grasses, as
to cotton.
The attention ofsthe planters has been
devoted chiefly to the cultivation of cotton ;
this being most lucrative. Fine wheat,
corn, rye, and sometimes tobacco are also
raised. The average quantity to the acre
is, of cotton $50 weight of wheat y bushels
of corn 20; rye ~.
York district embraces fine tract of
country undulating, healthy, and interest
ing, from the circumstances of the locality
of the Catawba Indian settlement; which
lies mostly within its bounds.
The district town is called Yorkville, and
is the seat of justice. tits situated centrally
to the district, on the dividing ridge be-
tween the waters of Broad and Catawba
rivers. The village is regularly laid out in
squares; and contains, by the census taken
in 1923, 292 whites, and 159 blacks: total
451. Of these there are 50 mechanics, 8
lawyers, 2 physicians, and l clergyman.
There stores, 5 taverns, a male and female
academy, post Office, and printing Office,
which issues papers weekly; one devoted
to agricultural subjects. The number of
houses is about 80.
The new court house just finished is an
elegant structure, built of stone and brick
the offices in the basement story are made
fre-proof. The court and jury rooms, on
the principal floor are communicated with,
by double flight of granite steps, ascend
ing to portico of the Doric order; through
which you pass into vestibule, and from
thence into the court room. This room
is spacious, convenient and airy; amphi-
theatrical in its form, with segmentspher-
ical ceiling. The jury rooms are so arrang-
ed, that the space above them, and the ves-
tibule, serve the purposes of roomy gal
lery for spectators. The building, including
the portico, is 1GO feet long and 43 feet wide.
The Jail is plain brick building. There
are several neat private houses in and near
the village; one formerly belonging to
Judge Smith, now the female academy, has
handsome appearance. The academies
are in tourishing state. The same branch
es of useful education are taught here as in
in the State. The increasing prosperity of
this village, its salubrious site, interesting
scenery, contiguity to the mountains, and
cheapness OF living will have tendency to
give it preference in the minds Of those
seeking a residence in the upper country.
There are no other settlements; as vi! !
lagos in the district, except the Indian set
Elements on Catawba river. These Indi-
ans have two towns; the most important is
called Newtown, situated immediately on
the river; the other is on the opposite side,
and is called Turkey head The Indian
lands occupy an extent of country on both
sides of the river, equal to 1SO square miles,
or 115, 200 square acres. The most OF this
has been disposed of by them to the whites,
in leases for ninety-nine years-renewable.
The rent of each plantation is from $40 to
$40 per annum. The annual income from
this source must be at least $1,000; which,
if prudently managed, would soon place
the Indians in a state of comfort; for the
whole number Of families does not exceed
80, or about 10 individuals. These wretch
ed Indians, though they live in the midst of
an industrious people, and in an improved
state of society, will be Indians still. They
often dun for their rent before it due; and
the ten or twenty dollars received are spent
in debauch; poverty, beggary, and mis-
cry, then follow for year. Their lands are
rich; but they will not work; they receive
large sums as rent but they cannot save
money. Though the plan of civilizing the
adult Indians, is almost hopeless, yet the
favorable result, in other places, of endeav-
ors to civilze the children, encourages us to
anticipate equal success in pursuit of the
same object here. Let us trust that there
will be found disposition in our Legisa-
ture to give this subject serious consdera-
tion and to take early measures to save
from ruin the remnant Of this interesting
people. The CataWba nation could, at the
first settlement of the State, muster 300
fighting men; at present their warriors do
not exceed 80.
With all their imprudence, these Indians
have had sense enough to reserve for their
children rich tract of land on the river,
called Kings bottom.
York district is bounded on both sides by
navigable streams; namely, the Broad riv-
er, up to the 80 islands, and the Catawba.
This circumstance is of great Importance to
the agricultural interests of the district, af-
fording it several advantages over some of
the adjacent districts. These will be in
creased when the distractions of Rocky
mount are overcome (Which is now carry
ing into execution by the State.) The land
carriage from the court house, or any other
point of the district, to a navigabe stream,
does not exceed l3 miles. The produce may
then be conveyed in boats carrying 10 or 30
bales Of cotton, even to the city of Charleston.
The value of land varies from So to $40;
and for choice spots, as high as $40 per acre.
Property is pretty much divided. The
price of grain and cotton is as follows: !:
wheat 81 per bushel; corn so cents; and
cotton about 10 cents per pound. Columbia
is the only market of the district.
The timber trees are chiefly the various
kinds of oak, poplar, hickory, chestnut, and
q little short leaf pine. Some spots are very