The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-04-06
svMmERToN, GEM OF sANTEE-
Our Spcial Correspondent, James Cars
well, Writes Interestingly of Pros
porous and Growing Clarendon
Town and Her Energetic
Business Men.

Sumnerton, March 29.-Summerton,
in Clarendon county is IN one OF the
best farming regions i'll South Caro-
lima. as crops can be depended on
the Weld Der acre never showing much
decrease in most unfavorable seasons.
The lands, in loop shape from the
Santee river, are exceedingly rich ana
the plantations are beautiful.
Sumter has for many years been the
recipient of many favors (commer-
cially) from this region; such houses
as O'Donnell & Company, Levi Bros,
Schwartz BROS. and the Sumter Dry
Goods Company and many other firms
still receiving many orders from SUBJ
stantial customers.
Summerton was resort for planters
and is yet-hence it's happy appelia.
tion, and it is peopled by citizens OF
refinement and genial hospitality. !,
Formerly place for shade, rest and
comfort, which advantages it still
possesses, men have come who rest best
when busy and have made it one OF
the best business towns in Clarendon
county.
Summerton handled something over
6. coo bales of cotton of the 1903 crop
and shipped 80 Car loads OF cotton
seed. Sprunt of Wilmington paid out
last wear $500, 900 at this point, while
Inman also bought cotton here at the
height of the season.
The Summerton Ginning Company
ginned 1,7OO bales last year and since
The present management has increased
each yearly output by several hundred
bales. It is suggested by some OF the
go-ahead citizens that q tram road be ss
built, about s miles to Wrlght's BiuH
the only Bluff on this side of the San
tee river, and that much larger
boat than that now used could easily
steam along. The tram referred to
would lead from Summerton through
st. Paul and would load the boat with
cotton and empty it, coming with
merchandise.
Summerton is higher than the
surrounding country, and roads dlVerge
therefrom so that you can rive on
one road to town, and come back oy
another which adds to the delight OF
an outing.
Summerton is made attractive by
some beautiful homes with plenty OF
{ round between, not in regular streets,
but here and there, as if entirely IN
dependent of each other. O. Q. Scar
borough, who does everything on big
scale, has the best house in town.
Major r. R. Briggs, ''who can live
on his rents,' has beautiful place
just completed.
Mrs. Leo. NJ. Nelson and Mrs. E. A.
Tindal have each ine new two story
residences, and Mrs. r. b. Belser
has a big handsome structure, and it
is worthy of note that the lady has
several sons in Columbia who are re-
markably successful in professional
literary and commercial life.
J. J. Ragin, soliciting Agent for the
Atlantic Coast Line has here lovely
home, and commodious and inviting
residence is that built by j. r. Fruse,
planter, as an investment. Inc
Dingle estate also owns one that would
adorn q plantation or a, modern town
and Richard B. Smyth, banker. has
love of q cottage with 6 acres in
Bermuda pasture. and gardens and
orchards, while the rectory and three
passonages are indications OF snug
comfort and good taste. The D. ..
Rhame residence is one of the most
pleasant appearing homes IN the
place, and they are all enhanced IN
beauty by ample grounds, and the
trees which a-e advanced in seasonable
attire.
The citizens are very proud of their
handsome two story school house With
proportiouate tower, snd the educa
tional management. There we're SO
many buggies near that the query was
made,-sIs there an election or pro-
sracted meeting?'' ooh no the buggies
brought the children to school, was
the reply.
The Bank of Summerton opened OIL
the 9Th of August 1903, and has proven
the excellent judgment Of its organ
izers. There are few country banks
with such strong directorate-repre-
senting financial prominence and ex.
teusive landed interests. The board
of directors includes Hon. @. M.
Davis, State Senator, planter, and
manufacturer. G.. s. Gasden, 2nd
Vice President, Of the Atlantic
Coast Line Railway, j. Adger
Smyth, ex-Mayor OF Charleston, and
retired merchant, Henry ?. Williams,
Cashier of the Carolina Savings Bank
of Charleston who is also Y. P. of the
Bank of Summerton-A. L. Lesesne,
extensive planter and real estate owner
David Levi, big merchant and plant
or, and the President and Cashier is
Richard B. Smyt1, who was born in
Charleston-graduated at Princeton
On. j. University in 1897, and was
admitted to the bar of SoutE Carolina
as attorney in 1900-succeeding which
he practiced With the law firm Of
Smyth, Lee & Frost, then turned his
attention to banking and is making q
success OF it. He. is interested in g
2,oJJ acre plantation in the rich LOOP
of the Santee river, and miles from
Sammertou, and be is a young gentle
man with the education, refinement,
ability and ambition to become q
mau of mark.
The Bank of Summerton building i:
comely and admirably furnished witt
modern safe and vault and on it's owl
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