The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-09-30
OLD SLABT0WN.

TThe following sketch was contrib
ated to the Souvenir Edition by Maj.
II. H. Russell, one of Anderson Coun-
ty's oldest citizens, and one OF the
pioneer printers Of Anderson {. ii. ]
The upper region Of Anderson coun.
ty, S. c., lying on the head-waters of
the Three-aud- Twenty Greek, has.
from time immemorial, been dubbed
with the euphouious title of Slabtown.
The particular spot whence the deSlg-
nation sprang, was Ranlins Mill,
which was erected in the early settle
ment of the country on the Three-and-
twenty Creek, just below the june
tion of the three head prongs of the
stream, in the plantation now owned
by Ed. Algood, bat in the earlier his
tory of the neighborhood owned by
William Mullikin. and later on by DR..
VIM. Robinson. and at the beginning
of the war by Maj. Conners, who sold
out for Confederate monsy to Asa
Hodges, bag aud baggage, lands,
houses, stock, slaves, household and
kitchen furniture, farming utensils,
everything he owned of a tangible
character, and. of course, all was lost
The tract of land was always called
the best in the community, which Was
selected as bounty land, for its ex-
ceeding fertility.
Slabtown proper, so tradition says:
derived its name from the erection of
little store, made out Of slabs, on the
opposite side of the stream from the
mill, and where few goods, includ-
ing some liquor, were kept and sold for
the accommodation of the people.
Old Mr.. Rankin, the grandfather of
the present owner, was the original
owner of the mill and tract of land at
taehed, and has descended in long
line of genealogy from father to chill
dren, and, after hundred years, or
more, is still in the possession of the
descendants. But in the mutation
and changes consequent upon a CEN
tury of human existence, the mill and
store have been abandoned. at the
original site, and steam power has
superseded the water power, and in
stead of one little Store-room, built OF
10 by II slabs, two large store.r rooms
were put up within mile of the old
stand. one kept by j. Monroe Smith,
at Greenwood, and the other by Major
McCanu, at Equality, S. G.
And now, since the war, only one
store is kept open, where two were
kept before the war, and owned by
Messrs. 7. S. & J NJ. Glenn: with a
steam saw and grist mill and q cotton
gin at each Of the places.
The McCann store was originally
owned by James McCann, and was
kept at the old Esquire McCann place,
for long tine owned and occupied
by Ezekiel Long, sr., and now owned
by Ezekiel Loug, jr., a grandson Of
the old gentleman.
Esquire McCann, of ancient fame,
was the father Of the mother of the
Hon. Jas. l.. Orr, and her mother was
Hamilton, and by this second mar
riage, with Miss Hamilton, two chill
dren were borr-Maj. 7. Fl. McCaun
end his sister, MIS-. Christy Orr, the
mother Of the Congressman.
In the carl : settlement of this re-
gion of cou"tcy, the early emigrants
consisted q the very best families
that ever blessed AMY Countrywide
Rankins, Mctlurrays, Hamiltons.
McCanns. Pickeus, Pickles, Multi
kias, Wilson's, Orrs and others whom
we cannot cal! to mind The old
Carmel Church was started by these
old settlers. foT most of them we're
Presbyterian stock, and consisted Of
: stand f." preaching under a large,
spreading oak at Slabtowr, or Ran
A;ia $ mill sit cut soon a log house
was built OF !. piece of land donated
f0- this purEcse by a grandfather Of
the prcscn, W S pickens, and is now
cwncd and occupied by him. The
grandfather was . Presbyterian, and
probably the whole family would have
rcnainct so, hut for the refusal Of the
session to receive, rs Il member, one
of the old aUnls, because she die iot,
~ thcir iHGcrcc1t. .uiiciCntl. urtry-