Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1898-05-26
OCONEE AND HER PEOPLE.
Seneca==A Thriving Business Centre--Eer Growth and
Steady Development.
the Foremost n in

| '' Nv" hSSIlJ oilS
Her people have always been dis
tinguishcd for kindness and hospi
tality. The town is noted for com
Portable and happy homes. In not {
few elegant hospitality is dispensed.
Seneca is not devoid of those
n"bler qualities which render tho
human family great brotherhood
Religious, moral and benevolent in.
stitutions abound. -Four Protestant
churches accommodate the different
religious views Of her growing popu,
lation. There are the Methodist
Rev. J. l.. Daniel, pastor F.; Baptist
Rev. Charles Manly, D. D., pastor
Presbyterian, Rev. w. S. ITamiter,
pastor Episcopal, Rev. w. r.
Capcrs, pastor.
DO it said to the credit of Seneca,
that her educational advantages are
amply adequate to supply tho de-
mands OF an intelligent and progress
sive community. Several years ago,
by an act of the Legislature, passed
upon petition of citizens, a tax of five
mills was levied on all property in
the school district, which included
the town, for school purposes. After
remaining in force several years the
act was repealed, but not until the
district had erected and paid for a
large, commodious brick building.
In this building there is now con-
ductcd lourishing school, under the
management of Professor j. i.
Eskew, Principal. lie is a we'll
known teacher of superior ability
lie is assisted by Mrs. l.. S. Mac
Swain and Mrs. Alice Spcarman, two
ladies who have proved their capa-
bility rs teachers by many years SER
vice, giving satisfaction to the peo-
pic of the town and surrounding
community.
The benevolent orders flourish in
Seneca. Ancient Free Masons,
knights of Honor, knights of Py-
thias and Woodmen of the World,
arc represented by prosperous lodges.
The prosperity and success of a
people depend, to a great extent, on
the town in which they reside ; still
the growth of town is proportion
ate TO the enterprise Of its citizens.
Seneca is blessed! BY the presence of
large number of cntcrprising citi-
zcns who contribute much to it's pros
pcrity.
No town, of any Importance, can
well transact its business i'm these en-
lightcncd times without banking ia
cilitics. Seneca enjoys the very best
banking advantages, and well do her
citizens appreciate and sustain the
business.
The Seneca Bank was organized
and chartered on the 1st of March,
1895, with w. A. Lowcry, J. w.
Stribling, Il. M. Richardson md j.
w. Shclor as directors. w. A.
l.owcry was elected president, j. w.
Stribing, cashier, and II. Il. Alcxan-
der, assistant cashier. The Seneca
Bank is the successor to Seneca Bank,
voluntary association organized in
1888, which went into liquidation in
1898. w. A. Lowcry remained pre-
sidcnt until March, 1898, when he
sold his stock in the Bank and re-
signed as president. Mr.. r.. M.
Richardson was then elected prcsi-
dent. Il brief sketch OF the lie of
Mr.. Richardson will be given else
where il this article.
Mr.J. w. Stribling is a man of supc-
rior Judgment and financial ability.
Ills popularity is unsurpassed by that
OF any man in Oconcc county. lie is
"to the manor born," having been
reared in the village Of Fair Play, of
this county, where he was engaged
in the mercantile business, with his
father, ID. S. Stribling, from 1856 to
1861, doing an extensive business
during :!ia: :i5n0. When tho war
between the States broke out in
1861 he entered the service of the
Confederate States and fought under
Gen. X. T.. Lee, in Virginia, until
the end Of the war. In 1869, when
the first election for officers for the
new county of Oconcc was held, Mr..
Stribling was elected Clerk Of Court.
lie held this Office continuously for
sixteen years, and then voluntarily
retired and removed from Walhalla
to Seneca in 1885. lie was elected
cashier of Seneca Bank and filed
the position until that Bank went
into liquidation in 1895. ITo was
then elected cashier Of The Seneca
Bank, which Office he still holds,