The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-03-06
LEXINGTON AND ITS PEOPLE.
How This Editor Was Received While
on His Tour.

to have risen to greet the rising sun.
We left the cheerfulness of our fire.
side, in bitter cold weather to resume
our journey through the county.
Our road led in the direction OF
Edmunds, a new town which has
found place on the map since the
completion of the Perry extension OF
the Southern railway. And, by the
way, since this road has been built it is
really surprising how the section
through which it passes has improv-
ed. The town is building up by
degrees and new dwellings are going
mp and new inhabitants are moving
in. There are two stores there now
one kept by Mr.. George W. Reader,
who has nice line of general mer-
chandise suitable for the demands of
the people of that community; the
other BY G. 4 Shealy & Co, who
also have we'll selected line of goods
and both stores seem to have been
doing good business. These
people are deserving of success and if
close attention to their farm work
and turpentine and lumber industry
viii bring it success is assured.
Early evening found US in the little
town of Castor, on the Florida Gen.
trail and Peninsulsr railroad. On all
sides we noticed with pleasure and
qualification the many evidences OF
progress which have transpired since
Last we saw it. This section contains
some of Lexington county's best and
foremost citizens and is the scene of
many historical incidents connected
with the Revolutionary war. Messrs
D. B. Sphaler and W. Addison
Goodwin, are the merchants OF
this place and are doing much
toward the development of the county
and the upbuilding of the town.
Their names viii certainly go down
upon the pages of the future history
of the county as public benefactors.
A great many of the sturdy sons of
Lexington met the Auditor and this
ofiaer was kept busy until nearly
dark receiving the returns of the tax
payers
That night by special invitation
we spent with NJ. W. A Derrick,
who is substantial farmer and has
nice, comfortable home and is sur
rounded by plenty. He has an
interesting family of handsome girls
who will make some men good wives
and hard working and Industrious
boys who will make excellent hus-
bands. Here We had the pleasure of
meeting his father iu-law, Mr. John
Brooker, who is one of ths pioneers
Of that ssttlemsnt and is a we'll in
formed, genial and iovial old gentle
man. His talk of the earlier settle
ment of that portion of The county
was very interesting and instructive
and we really erjoyed The evening
spent with him.
ALI OF the next day we were in the
growing and enterprising town OF
Swansea. Here business was on
hum. The merchants were happy
in supplying the wants of the Gus
toners and the jingle of the coins as
they rang upon the counter were as
music to their ears. A great many
of the people of the vicinity met the
Auditor and be had just about as
much as be could do to "keep up
with the procession" At one time
he was fearful that he would miss
the good dinner that awaited US at
Gantt's Hotel where We dined. This
is an excellent hotel, is well kept and
provides abundsntly for its guests,
and it is the headquarters for com
mercial tourists. Swansea has a
bright future before it and is one of
the best openings for all kinds OF
business that We know of anywhere.
Night found US at the comfortable
and hospitable home of Mr. j. West
Grim. He is one of those men who
believes in the doctrine of self govern
ment, IN so lar as 1t applies to pro
viding we'll for his own househould
and surrounding those dependant
upon him with such comforts as lays
within his means to provide and right
royalty does he practice this doctrine
West ia a host within himself and is
one of the best Entertainers in the
county. We found him athis bestand
his droll humor, wise sayings and
brilliant wit were button peppers, he
has pleasant and sociable family
and our soiourn there will be a
memento of the trip.
In one Of old Parson Dunwoody's
drizzie drt Zzles we started tie next