The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-08-04
OLD PRINTERS AT DUE WEST.

DuAluS lily lfiS ia AoO' C' OO TT 1" ~
there were several printers, namely: H. D. Wray, FORE
man, who married Miss Drucilla Dowtin, and afterward
moved to Georgia, where he died. H. L.. Holland mar
ried Miss Hawthorn, daughter of A. c. Hawthorn. After
|he quit the printing office he was for a time postmaster at
Due West. He moved to Guntown, Miss, where he was
living a few years ago. C. c. Pickett, one OF the best
friends 1 ever had, came to Abbeville, bought the indie
pendent Press, studied medicine. He died in 1857. In the
Miscellany Office was Robert A. Thompson, one OF
the most highly-respected citizens that the Piedmont coun-
try ever produced. He was for a long time editor OF the
.Keowee Courier. He was a member OF the Secession
Convention in 1860, and is one of two who still survive.
He lives at Walhalla, having passed his four-score years.
Manly Darlington, brother of Hon. ]. ]. Darling
ton, of Washington, D. c., died in the war. John OAR
lington publishes a newspaper in North Carolina. M. Pink
Starnes, Frank Clerk and Adam Gervin were there. Will
liam Stansell was a printer, too. He went to Mississippi /;
commanded regiment in the war. He is dead.
In ancient DAYS printers were more economical in their
On one occasion DR.. Bonner kindly asked
me if 1 wouldn't 60 with a party of young people on a
picnic. at first accepted with delight, but after examin-
ing nv only two pairs of pants, I discovered the necessity
for declining the invitation.
Pink Starnes was somewhat similarly circumstance.
He had only two pairs of trousers, (breeches them but as
the defect in each was in a different locality, by wearing
both pairs at once he could get himself up in picnic shape.
When Pink Starnes began to learn the business
at. Due West he was not noted for his literary attain
ments, but he was a reader. He read books and ne
read newspapers. The printing office was on big lot, and
in summer he was known to sit on the shady side OF the
office after six o'clock and read sermons in the Augusta
Chronicle. To his interest in sermons may be
attributed my conviction that every newspaper should
MI CI--a. oo.&.-1o 70 roo h q
afterward turned out to be a lawyer.
lanes A. Wright was a notable parsonage among the
printers in Due West in the early sos. After the exPlra-
tion of his apprenticeship he set type for the Abbevllle
Press. In the spring of 1866 l conceived the idea OF
establishing a newspaper at Washington, Ga, and en-
ployed Mr.. Wright to conduct the business. without
money, and without endorsement which would give me
credit, l went to Augusta, to buy a secondhand outfit.
Mr.. Morse of the Chronicle had a hand-press, a lot OF
worn type, and other stuff that he would sell. l bought
$3.50 worth, giving my note for it, payable on the hrst OF
next January. Mr.. Wright made the money for me and
paid the note when due. He made for me that year about
S., zoo. sold him half interest for the cost of the plant,
which was $7oo-$35o for half. Next year my share OF
profits was S., 600, the third year it was $500, using round
numbers, not recollecting the exact figures. AT the end
of the third year 1 sold the remaining half to him for $500.
The outside, or the first and fourth pages, were printed IN
the Press Office, and sent over to Washington by the hack
line.
In the early 6fties we had no ~telegraghs and no tele-
phones. Letter postage was from five cents to eighteen
cents, the rate being regulated by both the weight and the
distance. Newspapers were sent through the mails, the
postage to be collected from the receivers-not from the
senders of the papers.
It was not until the early SOS that we had a railroad
in the Piedmont section. Even after the railroad was
built, the cost of a trip to Charleston and return was as
much in money and time as it now costs to 60 to New YORK
and return.
Due west was on the stage line from Augusta, with
Fdge6eld, Abbeville and Anderson as stopping places.
The drivers horn then, like the engines whistle today
gave notice of its approach.
The paper on which the Miscellany was printed, was
delivered from the paper milf to the printing office by a
two-horse covered wagon.
Notwithstanding all this seclusion from the out
side world, | have heard that subscriptions to the Green
Vile and Columbia railroad were made on condition that
Il did NOT come nearer than Donalds-four miles from
Due West.
But the Masons, or something else, have brought a
great change of sentiment in Due West. These good Peo-
nile have lately built a railroad with their own money.
Dailv trains connect with the G. & C. road, bringingfrelght
and passengers to one of the best towns in the State. l
believe that Mr.. R. S. Galloway was the first and only
printer in South Carolina to build and operate a railroad.
The town has grown as if by magic. Farmers now sell their