The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-12-30
A. W. SMITH,
One of Abbeville's Most
Successful Sons.

In the years that are past Abbeville has furnished to other COM
munlties many most excellent young men, a majority of whom have
risen to influence and usefulness in the respective communities to
which they have gone.
Among the recent departures from Abbevnle we may be pardoned
for mentioning the names ola few of them: Thomas P. Cothran, who
stands 81 high in the legal profession at Greenville is a native born
citizen of AbbeVille. Lewis W. Parker and Aug. w. Smith are sue
cesful and notable captains If industry at Greenvine and Spartanburg.
Mr.. Parker and Mr. Smythe IRE acknowledged to be at the head Of the
manufacturing industry of South Carolina and MI. Smith is 30 close to
them that is difficult for one st this distance, to see the difference.
Mr. A. W. Smith went to Woodruff from Abbevile and built for that
town a 800, 600 cotton mill, issuing $35O,Ooo ofstock. TIE mill is now
out of debt, and the stock is worth a big premium. That itself would
be glory enough FOR the average successful man, but not so with Mr..
Smith. He goes on conquering and to conquer until we have lost
sight of an iemized account of his success. We really do not know
how many mills there are that claim him as Preaident-cerainly not
less than three, and when he was in Abbeviue last week we did not
like to let him know that we had not kept up with him, and so we did
ask him how many mills he hadf charge. But we did ask him ifhe
wouldn't help us to build a new mill. To this he replied that he had
his hands full. We told him that our people would take stock in a
new mill, though we bad no idea of making money out of it. He die.
agreed with that sentiment most vigorously, and said that nothing was
more sure to make money than was a cotton mill. he thinks a cotton
mill the best of all industries in the South. He favors spinning and
weaving mills, though some spinning mills have done we'll He is
afraid of knitting mills, though he is less acquainted with them.
When asked If he could not render assistance in building a new mill
he replied that with a reasonable capital to start with, a new mill or:an
old mill could get all the credit that it deserved. But he added that
the manufacturers of cotton mill machinery were not as anxious now,
as formerly, 10 put out their machinery for stock. II Abbeville could
first help herself she could get help from abroad. d" -
Mr.. Smith is a public spirited citizen. 81 was one of a very few
outside of the directors of the Abbevine Cotton Mill, who came to the
relief of the Abbevine Cotton Mil when it was in a perlous con:
diton. t".~ . '-. -"
We find in the Union Times the following article, which that pa
per credits to Spartanburg Herald: .
Mr.. Aug W. Smith, of Spartanburg, has been made president OF
the reorganized Aetna Mills, of Urion, which will be known in the
future as Ottary Mills. Aetna Mills were bought Monday by q syn.
Prssiaen nss Of saz SS Mills Mills and af D & H Gf sss sntl recently sShp PRESIDENT a. a'v "
Crescent Knitting Mills, are members of the syndicate that bought
the Aetna Mills The other members of the syndicate are Captain
Ellison A. Smyth, Lewis ". Parker, A. F. McKhsick and w. E.
Beatie. ' ....
Mr.. Aug w. Smith was out of the city last night, but MI. John A.
Law was called up over the phone snd asked about the report. Mr.
president and that Mr.. Little and himself were among the corporators
of the reorganized company. He said the name had been changed
from Aetna to Ottary, but that the amount of capital stock and such
matters as were connected with fhe financial end had not been arrang-
ed as yet. 5. .
THE CORPORAToRs OF OTTARY.
Aug. W. Smith, president of the mills, is president of the Union
Buffalo Mills and the Buffalo Cotton Mile.
John A Law is president of Saxon Mills and president ofspartan.
burg CentralNationalB Bank.
Z. D. Little is a prominent cottor broker and until recently was
president of the Crescent Knitting Mile. ...-". ~
Ellison A. Smyth is president of the Pelzer and Bolton Manufact.
urlng companies. He js director and president of number Of cotton
mills, banks and insurance companies ~
L. w. Parker the head of the syndicate which has bought the Act
ma Mills is one of the most prominent mill men in the South. He Or
ganized the Monaghan Mills in Greenviue. He lis director and presi-
dent offs number of mills, banks and Insurance companies.
He is connected with the Olympia Mills in Columbia, and other of
the largest manufacturing concerns in The State.
A +: Mckissick, of Greenwood Is president of the Grendel Mills
and the Nnety.Six Mills. . ...>0 -.I ~
On January lst the mill will be put In operation on full time and
in the intervening time all machinery any everything connected with
the plant will be gone over thoroughly 80 as to have everything In
running order by that time.
Mr.: Aug. w. Smith arrived in the oily from Abbevile shortly be.
fore midnight last night. When asked II he would confirm the rehort
that he had been made president of the Ottary Mills, he said. hNo
papers have been passed and I am not In a position to confirm the re-
port. I have no statement to make just yet!r