The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24

Clinton is town that exemplifes all
that is glad and beautiful, bright and
prosperous in the New South. 1t holds
most delightful position as the me-
tropolis of d land rich in many elements,
that win lead the capital of Sampson
when properly utilized to happy and
prosperous pre-eminence i'll the list of
Southland cities.
God has placed a beautiful landscape
on the tempted hills and empowered val
leys that pay tribute to one of the best
little cities in the State.
The county surrounding the city is
rich with varied fertility, blest with
thrifty and beautiful homes, and happy
in the citizenship of a people distinguish
ed for honest Intelligent and law-abiding
character. Without words of idle flat
terry, this paragraph is written in tes-
timonial to the virtues of n land that
pays homage to a charming and prosper
out North Carolina city. Let the reader
remember that these lines are written
without the spirit of fictitious boom, and
with truthful devotion to the duties of a
scribe" who is writing history that will
live long after this generation has passed
away.
LOCATION.
The city of Clinton holds the key to
a region rich in magic resources and
grand in possibilities for the coming age.
The American or European student Of
Southland growth and progress will find
his studies incomplete without glance
at the magnificent domain that casts its
riches into the lap of the classic Queen
of Eastern North Carolina Take
map and geographically peep at the
location. You will be convinced by
bristling facts that these words are not
couched in idle assertions. The town
heastern part of the
lies from the Atlantic
Imed in honor of Rich
otege ofs John Samp-
lpitai seat, as well "a
ampson county, and
i hundred inhabitants.
Nutiful plateau which
lorth mostly by Cat
Tail, and on the south by picturesque
and everrfowing Dollar Branch. The
land is gently sloping from the centrall
ridge of the town along its entire length
to the two parallel streams just men
tioAltds iHuc aIOldiHS anu tuN9
drainage The main street is a half
mile in length, and is embellished with
handsome stores and pleasant residences
Near the middle of and fronting it, is
the court house, three story building,
the varied architecture or which never
fails to attract the wondering gaze of
the visitor 1t stands on an elevation
in a small square.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Clinton and the neighboring section
was originally settled by sturdy race
of men, mostly, no doubt the immediate
descendants of English emigrants. Their
migration from their landing on our
eastern coast oyer the intervening in
hospitabie swamps and pine barrens of
Onslow, Duplin, New Hanover and
Pender into this Happy Land of
Canaan are witnesses to their courage
and energy. The names which they
bore, and which have been disseminated
over Sampson county are the Ashfords,
Bases, Boyllins, BENEFITS, CAROLS,
Chesnutts, Coopers, Fryers, Gregorys,
Herrings, Holmes, Johnsons, Kings, Kill
let's. Kirbys, Lanes, Matthis-es, Owens.
Parkers, Robinsons, Rich-es-are no less
significant of the stock to which they
belonged.
Nearly all the inhabitants of Clinton
were farmers Even the persons not
professionally devoted to agriculture
had each his farm or at least his gar
den and home lot The population may
have been seventy
In 1880 the population of Clinton may
have been an hundred At the close of
II, Il "a 4. Il
haps, fifty per cent. Between 1910 and
1850 the growth of the town was SLOW
gradual. but still showing the evidences
of greater change and Improvement than
in all the previous half century. The
general outlines of things We're the same,
it is true, but, in detail, all was trans
formed or modified. Many of the old
houses had disappeared, or had under
gone such mutations as hardly to be re-
cognized. New edifices were scattered
here and there. If you had asked who
were the proprietors you would have
been told-Dr VIM. McKoy. Dr. Robt.
Mickey, Dr. Smith, l.. c. Hubbard, K.
z Holmes, A. b. Chestnut, T. III.
Lee. Alfred johnson, j. r. Beaman,
Josiah Johnson, DIR. Micks, Isaac Boy
kin; DR.. Bizzell-but they are not with
few exceptions, those whom or our boys
and girls know to-day by these names
they are their sons, perhaps grandsons
Between 1880 and 1860 the aspect of
the town, in respect to its streets.
churches, houses, etc, showed a still
greater progress iii wealth, taste and re-
finement.
Contrasted with 1890, the year 1860
gave striking evidences of Clinton's gen
eral progress in civilization. Then IT
was the custom for the men to spend a