The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-02
THE CITY OF ABBEVILLE.
Some Notes Of IL Few of Her Citizens
The Growth Of the City Steady
and Onward.

Some Notes Of u Few of Her Citizens
The Growth Of the city Steady
and Onward.
4 town or City is made up OF individual cit
izens. and their history is the history of the
city.
tory Is one in which individual effort has
been abundantly rewarded, where the effort
was properly directed we have thought 1t not
amiSS to notice the names of some of those
who have been prominent factors In making
that record.
While on the shores Of Time are the wrecks
of many gallant ship that started out on
the voyage with high hopes and bright pros
poets, yet, in the main, those who obeyed
we'll known laws and regarded the errors of
others as SO many buoys and light houses.
have avoided the breakers and have come
safely into haven of prosperity, where they
have been rewarded by an abundant success.
Good business methods have never failed to
reward those of our citizens who have en-
tered fruitful fields. If energy, good business
tact and clear Judgment has failed in Abbe-
willie 1t has been because IL was misdirected.
known to everybody in Abbeville county.
and 1t is Of these OF whom we would first
speak.
About three or four years ago Abbeyile
took on a new growth, and as the result OF
that new growth many new busin ess houses
were opened. and to-day many Of them seem
to be on the high road TO prosperity.
THE OLD HOUSES.
We have many old firms, some of whom
have been with US ever since the revival Of
business after the war. All have done well
have grown rich, and are now nicely provided
for in old age.
Among the old firms is Capt. l.. w. White
who has the largest store in the up-country.
lie is one Of the best merchants in the State,
and his reputation for high integrity is only
eQualled the excellence of his goods and the
low price at which they are sold. His pres
ence is q benefaction 10 the community in
which he lives.
His next door neighbor, Mr.. w. Joel Smith
was among the very first to open store In
Abbeville after The close of the war. His eX-
cellept Judgment and superior business tact
has brought 10 him continued and uninler-
rupted prosperity ever since. During all
these years he has lived comfortably and now
has laid by enough to assure the comfort OF
himself and family for the remainder of his
years. UnasSuming in his manners, yet no
man stands higher for honesty and integrity,
and no man gives with more liberal hand,
when the occasion appeals TO his sympathy
DR.. w. T. Penney, druggist, is one Of the
Oldest, If not the very oldest merchants 10
town. No man has ever had better charac-
ty, for fair dealing, and Intelligent discharge
OF his delicate and responsible duties as drug
gist. He has saved money and has some
thing OF this worlds goods TO lean upon In his
Mr.. r. NJ. Hill, who has served so long and
so acceptably as Mayor OF the city, came 10
Aboeville more than twenty years ago as
clerk in store. He has now been q mer-
chant for many years. Independent In dis
position and honest in dealings, his excellent
judgment and tirmness OF decision has
brought success to him, and his public spirit
has won the sympathy of his townsmen, who
have so often at the ballot box attested their
Iuith in him.
Mr.. p. b. Speed came to Abbeville some fif-
teen years ago from the farm and took place
as clerk at small salary. He soon developed
into d first class business man, his salary was
increased, and he afterward established the
drug business at which he Is now the head.
he proSpered steadily for along time, It'll
ne was enabled TO marry one of Georgiu's
best young ladies. Since his marriage he has
increased his energy and doubled his fortune.
He Is now one OF our rich men, and 40 man, at
home or in the commercial world, Is more de-
Sirably situated.
Next door TO him is Mr.. w. f.. Bell who
runs a millinery and dry goods store. He
came to Abbevllle soon after the war. His
ndom table energy, his good judgment, and
excellent business methods put him AT one
time at the head of his line OF business in
this county. Misfortune crippled him at one
time, but his ambition and his determine
uon to succeed brought HIM to his feet again,
and he is now determinedly and hopefully
looking 10 the future.
That ol dest of all the establishments, ii. w.
Lawson & Co., still has It's banner on the outer
wall. 1t is now in charge OF Mr.. James NJ;
Lawson, whose fine taste, good Judgment and
Iperaf OF money has made his
store in the Fall months OF every year &
scene OF beauty and activity, while all the
year round, the most solid and the most sub.
staptal goods could always be found there.
His father set up the business In 1874, long be-
lore the present owner came into possession,
and through peace and war that door has
closed
Long may It continue open and long may its
worthy owner live and prosper.
Capt. John g. Edwards has been factor in
the business circles OF Abbeville for about
forty years. He came here in the fifties from
his fathers farm to clerk In a store. When
the war broke out he was moved by The same
patriotic spirit that took others 10 the fled
OF danger, where he performed his duty as de-
fender of the Lost Cause. He was one of the
first to volunteer and was among the lust to
return. Since the war he has been engage ed
in the mercantile business, and his success
and prosperity has been uninterrupted
through all these years. He is now among
our rich men, free OF debt. enjoying in his
old age the fruits OF labor in the younger
years of his life.
The Messrs A. NJ. ALL G. Sons have made
wonderful and phenominal success in their
business. The head Of the firm came home
from the war without dollar, and without
business training, but he had good Judg-
ment, and that good judgment enabled him
to make some money. His sons Richard Hill
and Henry Hill. were then in their "teens."
Possessing something OF their fathers good
Judgment, they took TO business from their
youth up. Neither their strength nor their
lime was spent in rlotous living. Instead Of
the dissipation, 80 common to vtIlayc.reared
boys they went 10 work, and the result was
than at Its beginning. They never Sambledin
futures Of any kind. but devoted their ener
gies to work-to hard work. They first open
I'd a store. Then they opened a sale and
foh
large tracts Of land and have for years been
extensive farmers. In the midst OF their
prosperity their younger brothers.. William
Hill and James Hill came to the front and
they added their full share OF strength to the
firm. They are all good business men and
their success has not been surpassed by any
one in this city.
G. p. Hammond d Godfather and son-C. V.
Hammond, Charles P. Hammond-is one Of
the solid and substantial firms of the town.
They at the head Of one of the most import
ant industries in the town, namely; tan
yard, shoe shop, harness shop, salesroom, etc.
After Mr.. G. V. Hammond came to town, he
was for q long time conductor on the railroad,
later he was depot-agent for many yeais.
When his, son Charles 2. Hammond had al
tanned the years of maturity the firm of G. P.
Hammond d Co. was organized Since then
the firm has prospered 'and grown larger as
the years passed. No man In Abbeville
Hammond, and this together with his good
judgment will! ensure continued prosperity.
The firm of P. Rosenberg d Co., composed
Of Messrs P. Rosenberg and &. A. Visanska,l }
has attained greater financial success than
any other firm in town. They own more bank
stock. more town bonds, more mortgages,
more farming land, more town property than
any other firm in Abbeville County. They
came to Abbeville some fifteen years ago
with no money at all, bringing only good
judgment and the ability to transact and
conduct prosperous business. They are
rich now.
The firm of r. NJ. Haddon e. Co. stands