Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-06-30
IN WESTERN YORK,

With the idea of getting glimpse
Of the country as 1t appears at the
height of the distressing drought that
has been the cause Of so much anxiety
during the past several weeks, Of see
ing the people, and taking note of
changes that may have taken place
since a previous visit, quite a while
back, a representative Of The Enqui-
rer took a short trip up the Southern
railroad last Wednesday afternoon and
returned Thursday morning after hav-
ing spent the night at the home Of
Mr.. w. S. Wilkerson and an hour or
two in the town of Hickory Grove.
Hickory Grove has the same people
1t has had for good many years past,
most of them; but It Is not exactly
the same town. There are noticeable
quite a number Of decided improve
ments in the buildings, the streets are
receiving more attention than former
ly, and the spirit Of development and
progress Is more distinctly apparent
among the people, or at least large
per cent Of them.
One of the most notable improve
ments in progress just now Is hand
some residence that Mr.. w. s. Wilker-
son is erecting, short distance from
the depot and just across the street
from the Methodist parsonage, now oc-
cupied by Rev. Mr.. Justus. This new
building Is Of frame construction, two
stories high, contains thirteen rooms,
including cook room and bath room,
has double floors panel windows, tin
shingle roof, storm sheeted walls, with
plumbing for water and wiring for
electric light. The building is painted
deep cream color with white trim
mings. Mr.. Wilkerson has had this
handsome residence under contempla-
ton for a number Of years; but has
only lately got it's construction well
under way. Mr.. Sam Kell Is the con-
tractor. When finished the house Is
to be occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. ]. s.
Wilkerson.
1t was little surprising to find quite
large tented show In Hickory Grove.
The show people came in two special
cars and had spread their canvas a
day or two before for a stay Of a
week. The exhibitions consisting of
moving pictures and specialties by a
number of performers, were being very
we'll attended by audiences from the
village and surrounding country.
There was no particular inquiry into
the matter but from what was gather
ed, it appears that the proprietors Of
the show find 1t more profitable to
stop off and make long stays In small
er villages where living is cheap and
expenses are light, rather than make
shorter stays in the larger incorporated
towns where the authorities better un-
derstand how to fix license taxes at
figures that look like a pretty liberal
division Of profits.
Among the present business concerns
of Hickory Grove are the Bank of
II g.
c. S. Moorhead, j. N. McGill & Son.,
Whiteside Bros. J. w. Castles, Hickory
Supply Co., Hickory Pharmacy, c. l..
Westmoreland, w. G. Moss, Hurley
Westmoreland and ]. M. Cobb. Ex-
cept as otherwise indicated, all the
concerns named are engaged in mer-
chandiZing, but the last three, the first
two of whom are blacksmiths and the
other, the useful old shoemaker. All
the business houses were closed when
the train arrived, in accordance with
the o'clock agreement which obtains
at Hickory Grove as in other parts Of
the county; but everything was open
yesterday morning for several hours
before the train left, and although
business was rather dull, it was hardly
duller than elsewhere at the same
season.
A pleasant quarter of an hour was
spent in the pretty and cozy little
Office of the Bank of Hickory Grove,
N. NJ. McDill, cashier This bank has
handsome quarters in the Wilkerson
building, and owns a burglar proof
safe which is kept in a roomy fireproof
vault. The testimony Of some Of the
Hickory Grove business people is that
from a commercial standpoint, the es-
tablishment of this bank Is the best
thing that has ever happened for Hick-
DRY Grove and the country Immediate
ly surrounding. Before the establish
ment of the bank, such banking as was
done at all, was with Yorkville, Rock
Hill and other points, and was natur-
ally more or less inconVenient. 1t
would not be fair to say that the home
bank has secured all of the home bus
mess, for some of the people are still
holding on to their old connections;
but nevertheless, the banking power Of
the town and community has been
developed tremendously, and the in
crease in the number of customers and
the aggregate deposits continue stead
lily. Mr.. j. s. Wilkerson, who is the
commonly accredited father of the in
stitution is president, and gives Mr..
McDill, the thoroughly efficient cashier,
such assistance as he may from time
to time require. Both of these gen.
tlemen are held in the highest esteem,
both socially and in a business way,
and there is a well defined feeling that
as much as the bank has grown, its
establishment is still only in it's in
fancy.
The crops up the railroad between
Yorkville and Hickory Grove are
spotted" There are some good look
ing fields of cotton; but some red
places that are almost bare. All the