Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-21
SOUTH CAROLINA NOTES.
WHATTHE RAILROAD HAS AC-
COMPILSHED.

1 COMHt4ASE1 EN-
! Sketch of woodruff-Now and Then
| When Founded-A Quaint Epltaph-
The~'Woodruff Progress''-Interest in
Georgia Politics Through Freight
| Rates Wanted and Quicker Time to
/ Savannah-Baried in WeIi-Dtsss-
trous Rains, Crops, Etc.
| Resuming his survey Of the beautiful
and fruitful region bordering upon the
Savannah river between Augusta and
7Spartanburg, the writer leaving Laurens
Court House at noon, passed on to Wood
ruff, distant twenty-five miles.
Ora, Sanford and Enoree were the inter-
Vening stations. all of them small but
pretty villages. The latter, situated on
the rapid streamfor which it was named,
is the site of the most magnificent water
power in South Carolina. Within one
mile or less there is a fall of about 40
| feet, and competent engineers affirm that
| almost any amount of motive power
| may be made available for manufacturing
| purposes. All these vast but undeVel-
| oped resources have remained unnotlced
| in the wilderness for more than CEN
tury, and ii is only now since the whole
tof that section has been galvanized into
new existence by the resOunding whistle
| OF the locomotive that capitalists are be-
| ginning to realize and appreciate their
| latent but inestimable Importance. 1t is
/ not too much to predict that ere two de-
I cadeS have elapsed the lonely banks OF
! the rapid Enoree will be transformed into
busy hiveOf industry and TEEN with
! dense population.
| SO much for what our much abused
! railroads are doing for the country.
WOODRUFF.
Albeit incorporated in 1874, but really
an ancient settlement, this town was a
| sleepy, insignificant little village of two
hundred and fifty inhabitants when the
| first train of cars invaded its solitude on
May 81, 1915.
! Now the population is seven hundred,
and the place contains three white and
one colored church, two white schools,
F0ne hotel, one lawyer and three physi-
/ clans. In single year, too, 1900
| bales of cotton have been re-
ceiyed and marketed here, and
| it is confidently asserted that not less
than 1000 packages of the great staple
Will be handled the ensuing season. In
short, the erstwhile country village in that
brief period has been transformed into a
busy commercial mart. In proof of this, it is
| only necessary to call the roll of her prin-
cipal merchants and citizens; and first
and foremost among them all should the
| name of
A. B. WOODRUFF,
the postmaster and grandson of the
founder of the town, be mentioned. He
is not only public spirited-ctizen, ever
In the van when any movement is on foot
for the good of the community, but a de-
vout Christian and cultivated gentle
man. His sketch of the Bethel Baptist
Church" published in the minutes of the
last meeting of the spartan burg Baptist
| Association" is a graceful and valuable
contribution to the religious literature of
the day. 1t may not be amiss
to devote paragraph or two
to the early history of this venerable
church organization. The earliest rec
ords extant bear date Sept. rs. 1877,
though the Church of Christ on Jamey's
creek' is known to have existed as a
place of worship for many years previous.
1t was at the period above mentioned,
however, that the distinctive denOmjna-
tional feature OF the society becomes APP
parent from list of members TO whom
was administered the rite of baptism and
the ordination of Deacon Joseph Wood
ruff.
From that time there has been no hiatus
in the records, and Bethel church has
stood las q city set upon HILL" and one
of the most prominent landmarks in South
Carolina. AS a sample of the piety OF the
people and their absolute trust in an over
| ruling Providence, We find the following
record OF a meeting held in Decemb Der,
1919:
RpsolUed, That the church travail for a dea-
con till next meeting.
Its prayers were answered by the cleo
tion and ordination OF BrOderick Mason
| and Lewis Sanford, worthy men, at the
! appointed time. No less than
FOUR HOUSES OF WORSHIP
have been erected and used within the
past century. The three first werecon-
| structed either of logs or the rudest ma
terials. The present building, a spacious
but uncouth edifce, was finished in No
vember, 1S49 Its appearance does not at
all consist with the growth and rising i'm
| portance of the town, and we learn that
ere long another and far more imposing
structure will be erected.
Bethel church has enjoyed the ministra-
tons OF thirteen pastors. The present in
cumbent, Rev. l.. 9. Eel, was chosen in
! 1873, and his labOrs have been greatly
blessed. The membership is 292, among
whom are included many of the best citi-
zens of the community.
| Two cemeteries in the immediate vlcin-
ity, crowded with tombs, have been for
century the burial place for large scope
of country embracing many miles. Some
OF Lne Inscriptions are Qudtub anu OTlgi-
nal. One of them your scribe copied, as
| follows:
"REv. WARREN DRUTMoND,
Born Nov. 4, 1895. Died oct. 3, 1873"
"Friends and physicians could not save
| MY mortal body fromthe grave;
! Nor can the grave conine me here,
| When Christ in judgment shall appear" 4:
...... observation-disclosures. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
The Woodruff family still retains ali of
| its ancient prestige and influence in the
community. Among the
PROMINENT MERCHANTS,
dealers in general merchandise, are r. A.
! Walker & Bro. and Fleming d Blakely.
Staple and Fancy Groceries-Burnett
! & Alexander, and j. ID. Epps.
Books and Contectionery--J f. Ezell Il
Co.
Millinery and Fancy Dry Goods and
Notions-Juhan, Westmoreland IL co.
Furniture-Jesse LeatherwoOd.
Undertakers and Manufacturers of
| Buggies, Wagons, etc-W. =. Burlington
DIR. b. f. Kilgore is an old practising
physician ana director Of the S. q. & l..
Il. Il. The doctor is also one OF the noted
apriculturists of the State and a gentle