The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-01
Of the Editors Connection With the
Abbeville Press and Banner.
Some Incidents in the Long and Laborlous career OF
One of the Oldest Newspaper r1en in the State.
One of the Best Equipped Offices in South Carolina.
Net Profit in the Business Every Year.

ear.
price. Mr.. Wilson and bis father signed the
notes and then he returned to his friends for
their signatures. DR.. Bonner was called upon
TO comply with bis promise. He signed 1t on
condition that the notes be destroyed or re:
turned to him 10 case the other securities did
not sign. With DR.. Pressly. John Mathis. and
Colonel Hawthorn there was neither hitch
nor hesitation.
THE MEN WHO HAD CONFIDENCE IN MR..
WILSON.
And thus 1t was that poor boy, without In
fuential friends. by his own energy and close
attention to ousine esq had won the commence io ice
him up In business. With the exception
stated every man that he asked signed the
notes with him. These men are held In CRATE
ful remembrance, and their kindly deed Is en-
shrined in an ever thankful heart. Except
Mr.. Wilson's father, all the others have gone
to their reward. John Mathis died In the war.
Colonel Hawthorn remained with us until af.
scattered to the four winds. DR.. Bonner's
days of usefulness were prolonged, and his
good Judgment, quick perception and enlarged
vieTe him to a. handsome
Pressly, one OF the best men that Due West,
or Aobeville County, or even the State Of
South Carolina ever saw, lived but few years
after his act OF kindness to the editor OF this
paper. He was rich 10 this worlds goods,
and he was rich in the Christian graces. while
his heart was full to overdowing with the
milk OF human kindness.
TRANSFER OF THE OFFICE.
The notes were delivered, and one undivided
half interest in the Independent Press was
transferred TO Mr. Wilson on the first day of
April, 1859.
Mr. Wilson paid the s36 with which TO
make good the discount The notes were sold
Hawthorn, by his practical business methods
combined With his friendship, saved nearly
$500, or about fifty per cent. more than the
total money value OF the hand press aud type.
had for $3.50 or $40. It was The business and
goodwill of the office that gave the paper its
value.
The debt was big one for an inexperienced
boy, but Mr.. Wilson had good health, energy
and the determination to pay It.
In December, 1851, Mr.. Wilson mortgaged
his half interest In the Office to secure his
sureties against loss In the payment OF that
paid. closed the Office and volunteered Into
the Confederate army. On his return from
the war some $500 was still due on the pur.
chase money, which amount was paid before
In 1883 MIR. VIM. H. Wilson. published the
paper dividing the profits, which were In
Confederate money, perhaps something like
$3O00-or. 81, 800 to himself and 81 500 to be d.
vided between the owners OF the plant.
The paper was stopped during 1864 and
was not published again until the Sum tner Of
1855, when the publication OF the paper WAS
resumed by w. A. Lee and Hugh Wilson.
THE SMALL OUTFIT OF 1859.
Al the time OF purchase, and up to 1870, the
plant consisted Of Washington Hand
few fonts or display type-all OF the latter
contained In one ten or twelve case two
thirds cabinet-an Imposing stone, and a lead
cutter.
In those days, With hand press, IL took the
best part of day 10 strike of one side of the
paper, but now with improved machinery We
can run off both sides after supper.
Except the imposing stone, two fonts Of
the original plant. The other articles having
served their day, and ceased TO be useful,
have been sold for old metal, or otherwise
disposed of.
By constantly answering the demands for
increased facilities, the Office Of the Press and
Banner has added TO Its business, and the IA
cility for doing business has steadily grown
with the succeeding years. This growth In
business has been 30 quiet, and 80 little brag
or display has been made about It, that even
many OF the nearest neighbors may not know
the proportions TO which the business
and the plant has grown. It is one
Of the institutions OF the city, and Its pay roll
adds It's quota to the general tnrift that has
come TO the town within the last few years.
THE BETTER OUTFIT OF 1898.
Today. the plant consists in part Of
One Country Campbell Press.
One Pony Babcock Regular Press.
One l4xO Peerless Job Press.
One I3xl9 Gordon Job Press.
One 10xl5 Gordon Job Press.
Two Proof Presses.
One Bascnm Newspaper Folder.
One two.h horse Acme Steam Engine.
One 30inch Rival Paper Cutter.
One 30.ipch Howard Iron Works Cutter.
One steam power Star Paper Cutter.
One Perforator.
One Stabber.
Fix Imposing Stones.
Six Cabinets for j Job Type.
Seven Cabinets for Body Type.
NEW FONTS OF TYPE FOR PAMPHLET WORK.
600 pounds 1l-point Q. 3,
800 pounds Bourgeois.
800 pounds l0-pOlnt o. 8.
$50 pounds 7-point.
500 pounds 8-point.
THE NEWSPAPER OUTFIT.
The newspaper body type, consists In part
OF 500 pounds OF non pareil and 500 pounds
Of BREWER. and a great quantity OF display
type.
GOING IN DEBT AGAIN.
Now, as on April l, 1859, Mr.. Wilson goes In
debt.
He borrowed the money from the National
sank OF e pess ne Fhs is 's
cost of the Babcook:
Purchase money .-...-....S I5O 90
Hand-power and two chases 10 90
Freight 0I u
Setting It tup.............~....--- 81 90
Line shafting and hangers......... 1880
ss6s "A
It will be seen from this stat tement that Mr..
Wilson owes as much today as he old thlrty,
not have 10 ask his friends to sligo his note to-
day as he did on April l, 1859.
THE LIBRARY.
In the office is q library. embracing stand
ard publications. Some OF which are:
Dictionaries
The Standard,
Webster's Unabridged,
Worcester's Unabridged.
Clyclopedas-
Appleton's,
Chamberss.
Trade Journals
Newspaperdom.
Press and Printer.
Inland Printer
National Printer-Journalist.
Shakespeare. and the Shaksperian Concor-
dance; the Bible and Cruden's Concordance
Hi,chcock's New and Complete Analysis OF
the Bible; the Statutes or the State; Bryant.
Burns, and hundred other books Of more or
less value.