The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1911-06-01
HIskTORY OF FAIR BI IUFF
Mr.. FEIihue Mildrow Writes Inter-
estlnsgiy of an Ancient North
CAROL lima Town.


many pl aces on the map of the Tn.
tied Sta ftes, had its beginning. and
as it ise a near neighbor TO Dillon
her ear tly history may interest those
OF YOUR readers who appreciate
looking back to the days when
buskFskin pants and gun-flints was
an indispensable essential to a we'll
regulated household.
Ifhe first settler built his cabin
In this town between l74O and
1850. His name has historical
significance that contours up a sad
STORY in connection with the Lost
{ Cause"
: Burrel Wick, the pioneer, after
several years residence here sold
his holdings to Alexander McRea
and moved TO Mississippi, and built
his home where Vicksburg now
stands, the place taking his name
with the burg added thereto. Me
kea seems to have been IA man OF
DUCK and enterprise. The founda-
on structure of the mill he built
Oh the Lumber river below the
bridge is still in existance. and
mere General Green of RevoIution-
ary fame crossed with his army a
ShortWhlle before the battle OF
hlngs Mountain in South Carolina.
Alter McRea's purchase this local
lty was called Alexander. This en-
terprlsing citizen had a fleet of
Hat boats that plyed up and down
the rivers from Georgetown TO
alexander, \. c.. McRea was
farmer and merchant and with his
boats he supplied his customers with
IRON, powder, shot. flint. coffee. SUI
gar, molasses, and jamaca rum
which brought 25 cents per gallon
peach mad apple brandy at n like
ilSure, so an abstract from his dav
book reveals.
In 1917 Gus Smith Cthe grand
iather of our OWN DR.. Flcydi
bought the McRea holdings and
built the first hotel in the newly
= named town of Fair Bluff and Mrs
Brothhehrhs had it in charge.
In the good old days before rail
roads and other new innovations
disturbed this quiet little hamlet
men were manly in those DAYS and
cowardly deeds were unknown
among those rural dwellers. Rara
Knuckles settled all indifferences.
Pistols and knives were not toIerot-
ed
Here the MALTA had their mus
Ter ground and what is now Main
street was the race race track and
on muster days speedy horses were
pltted against each other but il is
said that DR.. Williamson. the an
cestor Of many worthy people
around here, had sorrel ponev
That showed his heels to all his riv
ais for speed.
The military spirit of these peo-
pie was fully alive when the Old
North State cast in her lot with
other sister states to do or die in
freeing them from Republican op-
preston. A volunteer companv Of
~ men, Burrel Smith. CAPTAIN.
Henry Smith, 1st Lieutenant; Hen
ry Coleman, End Lieutenant; J. r.
Williams, 3rd Lieutenant. Cant
Smith. Lieut.. Coleman and eleven
OF their company returned alive.
SlXty-nine sleep where the death an
gel hovered over the bloody hills of
ola virginia and in the trenches of
FRANKLIN and Chicamauga. A glor-
lous record for the boys of Fair
Bluff that left home and sweet
heart to die for Dixie.
From lS40 TO 1850 the town took
rapid growth in population.
Among those who became residents
or the town was Absolem Powell.
who is now represented by several
Srandsons prominent in business.
church and state; James Griffin.
who later moved TO Texas: Dr.. A.
J. Drake. the first physician in the
place; DR.. JON Grant that succeed
cd DIR. Drake, Ben Williams. Stcph
en- Barnes and NJ. McGown.
In 1858 the first railroad train
pulled into Fair Bluff. This event
was the forerunner of great chang
@s in the social, political, business
and religious fabric OF the commun-
lty. The race after the dollar was
on i'll earnest, but amidst all this
strenuousness, the Rev Deem. who
years after died in New York. or
ganized the first church in the town
and the NJ. +. church on Main
street stands to-day as monu-
ment to the worth and work Of this
man of God.
In 1872 Rev. HaYnes Lennon or