The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-07-20
DIX. PRESLEY
IN ABBEWLLE.
The Way He Looks at the 1own-kice
Accounts Of the Court House, the
City Hall, and the A. R. P. Glib
eraI Mission Givers.-ho Profana-
ton Of the Name in This.
A. e. PRESBYTERIAN.

II I've iSSDy Ohi"ti'
The next stop in our most delightful va
cation after leaving WinnsborO, S. c., was
at Abbcyille, 5. c., where we visited q son,
DR.. John E. Presley, and family, a new
home made in the last two years. Like so
many towns that were considered thirty
or forty years ago only as villages, Able
vile has taken on proportions that give it
q city air. II is a prosperous place, and
on every hand there are evidences of
growth and development. Having lived
in Mexico so long, the name suggests
Romish conceptions and domination. Alb
beville sounds like Villa of Abbeys, monas-
teries and converts, but this Abbeville,
section and town, was possibly founded
and named by those who knew the spirit
and absolutisn Of Rome. Note.-We haVe
always understood that Abbeville was
named for Abbeville in France.-H. WI
From such information as could be gath
cred casually, the county now known as
AbbeviIIe was settled by the French Hug
uenots, q loyal, liberty-loving and truth
loving people; and they brought the name
from France because it was home, not be-
cause of what might have made the name.
When one thinks of the noble ancestry Of
the present sons and daughters Of Able
Vile, the HuguenotS and afterwards The
Scotch Irish, the prosperity, the hospitall-
ty, the courtesy and genuine MANHOOD
and womanhood are easily accounted for.
Abbeville has two railroads, railroad
shops, water supply, an electric plant ice
excellent school, two newspapers, we'll edl-
ed, good reading matter, and filled with
local advertisements, handsome stores,
carving goods of every line, good steets,
fine residences, beautiful shade trees and
almost a dozen churches, with a popula-
ton OF some six thousand inhabitants
The public square has been converted into
an attractive center, n a Confederate
monument stands in the center, surround
ed by grass plots neatly kept. The Court
House faces the square, costing about
Div as complete as anything Of the kind in
any State. The archieves Of the county in
the several departments are all kept In
fire proof vaults and the filing of all docu-
ments is so systematically and perfectly
arranged in drawers, boxes inc roller
shelving that the custodians can easily
find any information or document wanted
and on the shortest notice. Or the court
room the county officers are justly proud,
and it is an honor to the county and conn
ty seat. The furniture is OF the latest de-
sign, all in quarted oak n very, hand
some. The Opera House stands by. the
L 1DlTL 1lOu6o LII 10 oil ClO6o ~ .
costing some $685. 900. The first floor is cut
into offices for the legal profession, and
these have all the modern improvements.
AS soon as q suitable location can be had
a Federal building will be put up for the
post office.
Abbeville is historical as being the place
where the first secession speeches were
made and as the place where the last cab
met meeting OF the Southern Confederacy
was held, and the house in which it was
held still stands.
Our church is one block from the public
square and is a pretty little church. The
auditorium will seat about n hundred
and fifty persons comfortably, and the
will add q capacity for fifty moore. Posi-
bly our church here has never been in q
more prosperous condition. 1t is made up
of a loyal, hospitable and good people;
They have an active, earnest pastor and
they love him. The only thing that seems
to be lacking is a parsonage and some one
to grace it as queen. All the assessments
on the congregations are promptly met,
and the church treasurer told me that
money for foreign missions was the east
est mony to collect and was paid more
promptly each time. [Note.-1t is our under
Standing that the congregation paid about
UWO-UIlIuS VI UlC uliooiOitStS
and that the pastor paid the balance,
though Of this we have no official informa-
tion.-H. w.. ..
On Thursday afternoon the Ladies Aid
and Missionary Society met at the church.
This Society was never more active nor in
better working order: All the members
are enthusiastic and punctual in their du=
ties obligations. They gave q reception,
the devotional part of the reception being
directed by the pastor, Rev. =. B, Kenne-
dy, and talks were made by Mrs, Presley
and the writer. At the close OF these talks
those present withdrew into the Sabbath
school room and refreshments We're serv-
ed, and an opportunity given for meeting
all the members Of the Society and others
that were present. Such an earnest, cor
dial spirit manifested in that social gath
ering was indeed refreshing and encourag-
ing. Among other things that the ladies
are interested in, with the entire congre-
cation, is the purchase and installation OF
q pipe organ. Kind memories will be had
of these good people in A~bbeVille and of
the multiplied kindness received at their
hands and in their homes.
NELL e. PRESSLY.