The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-08-15
BARNWELL'S FIRST GINNERY.
Col. T. ]. Counts Writes of Lewis Ma
lone Aver.

y
we'll as to man and beast, | desire to
give you the experience of an old man
Lewis Malone Aver as to the value of
cotton seed in his day and time of
businesslife. Ifmy memory serves me
correctly Mr.. Aver cam eto this State
from North Carolina early in life,
looking out for a place to locate for
business, both mercantile and agri-
cultural. True, this was all before
nv time but the history Of the story
| to which allude was handed down
from him through his son Gen. L. M.
Aver and others whom | had the
pleasure to know and can vouch for
anything that they may have said as
true beyond the shadow Of doubt.
He decided to cast his lot with the
people of Barnwell, S. c., and located
at Buford's Bridge. He began mer-
chandizing early in life and also en-
gagged in farming. He was a thorough
going business man--broad minded
and liberal in his views and far above
the average man in point of intellect.
By close attention to business and
looking after the interest of his peo-
pie he soon endeared himself to all
who knew him and he was then the
great man of the day.
The people of that section planted
but little either cotton or corn es-
pecially cotton. They made their hog
and hominy, however cotton enough
to make their clothing and buy a
little sugar, coffee, iron and salt and
money for taxes. Mr.. Aver from
time to time advised all parties to
increase their cotton crop and make
a little money to lay up for a rainy
day. Planters were very willing to
benefit by his advice but the great
difficulty in preparing the crop for
market was urged by all. In order
to remedy the trouble he proposed
to erect ginnery if they would all
agree to increase the acreage to an
amount sufficient to warrant him in
undertaking the expense of building
and buying up all the machinery nec-
cessary to accomplish the end. AS
they all had confidence in Mr.. Aver
they readily agreed and the ball was
put in motion. When the fall of
the year came on the ginnery as prom
ised by Mr.. Aver was all found to be
ready and people began hauling in ac-
cording to the understanding. The
crop was so small that some became
anxions to gin but they would have to
wait for a time before they could pick
as much as a bale. But to meet this
difficulty Mr.. Aver proposed for them
to join in a company bale, each one
furnishing so much seed cotton. The
plan worked admirably we'll and the
work went on. The cotton seed was
thrown out of the gin house in a pile
which soon grew so large that the
question came up as what was best
to do with them. Mr.. Aver was
rather put to it himself as they were
getting in his way by constant accum-
ulation. His gin house was in the
edge of a field perhaps ten to fifteen
acres. Sohis solution of the problem
was to broadcast them over that field
and then turn them under instead Of
hauling them off to the stream which
some proposed. Nextspring he plant
ed the field in corn. Soon after the
corn began to grow the whole coun-
try as they heard of it came to see
the sight. The result was that he
gathered thirty five to forty bushels
to the acre and he nor any one else
could understand this great mystery
but must attribute it to the cotton
seed turned under the previous fall.
Since that time, perhaps century or
more, cotton seed has been valued as
a benefactor to the corn crop most
especially. But never has it's true
and intrinsic value been known for
everything, man, land and beast un-
til the present day. Mr.. Aver was
whole souled Christian gentleman.
By close attention to business he ac-
cumulated large fortune and left
behind him clean and stainless rep
utation as a Christian, citizen, neigh
Dor and friend. knew him for years
before he died, but not until he re-
tired from active life. l am proud to
have the honor Of paying tribute to
the memory of such a grand old gen.
tleman. He was upward of ninety
when he died about the year 1863, as
we'll as / remember.
In closing this letter could not do
justice to my own feelings if l did
not pay tribute to the memory of
Gen. L. M. Aver also. AS friend,
true and tried, loyal as the day was
long, he was to me and to my family.
But few men ever crossed Jordan
that left behind him a more enviable
reputation as a friend and Christian
gentleman. He was in heart and
soul and body with his people To
know him was to love him.