Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1914-02-12
AN HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF THE TOWN OF FORT MILL,

(EDIToR'S NOTE. The following ar
ticle is taken from an old scrap book
loaned The Times by Miss Azilee Har-
ris. The article was prepared and
printed in Fort Mill by j. S. Drakeford
about the year 1889
The brief historical sketch of some
of the earliest settlers in this town
ship and in the town of Fort Mill
given herewith is confessedly incom-
plete in detail. This is owing to the
fact that we have not had time at our
command in which to gather up some
interesting. though otherwise unim-
portant, facts incidentally connected
with her history. We are L.uch in
debted to Mr.. j. NJ. Spratt, Rev. j. Fl.
Thornwell. Capt. S. Il. White and Mr..
T. G. Culp and others for valuable in
formation and aid in its preparation.
Indeed, without their help we would
be unable to present it in as concise
and correct form.
The first settler in this part of York
District was Thomas Spratt, known by
the Indian name of "Kanawha." who
was born on the ocean while his IA
ther was emigrating to this country
from County Down, ireland. in the
year 1880. He settled here about
1765, near the "Spratt Homestead"
where w. Il. Spratt, of the 4th genera
tion now resides. Indians gave him
large section of land around him
extending from Catawba River across
Steel to Sugar Creek, for a normal
yearly rent, and in order to get neigh
bors, he gave to the first settlers large
tracts of it and required them to pay
the rent to the Indians, which &C
counts for the Indian Leases to set
tiers coming in after.
The second settler was William En-
win, who came here from Virginia. He
obtained, by the influence of Thomas
Spratt, from the Indians. three miles
square north of Steel Creek bridge.
Shortly after disease broke out among
his cattle and proved fatal to them
all. He bought q second and a third
time. and as many times they sickened
and died. Thoroughly disgusted, he
traded his land for an Indian pony a
silver watch, still, and an old wagon,
shook the dust off his feet and
moved to the headwaters of Turkey
Creek. near the spot where YorkviIle
now stands.
The third settler was Isaac Garri-
son, to whom Thomas Spratt gave a
mill site on Steel Creek, where Whites
old mill is now located. for the erec-
tion of grist mill
Then followed others, among whom
may be mentioned the Elliotts,
Springs, Barnetts, McKees Whites
and Harrses. Prominent among
them was William Elliott (whose wife
was daughter of Thomas Barnett,
who married a sister of Thomas
SpratD. who came a few years after
and settled on the east side of
"Spratts Spring" and afterwards near
where his great grandson, Samuel E.
White, now resides.
The Whites emigrated from Scot
! land to County Derry, in the north of
ireland, about the time of Cromwells s
usurpation. From Ireland the family
emigrated to Lancaster County, Pa
and thence to Waxhaw, Lancaster
County, S. c.. about the year 1850 or
earlier. From Lancaster Joseph moved
to Fort Mill, married daughter OF Viii
liam Elliott. mentioned above. He
died. leaving one son, William +
White, father of Capt. S. h. White and
David White.
The Springs family came to this
country from Holland about the be
ginning of the 18th century. The name
was originally "Springstein." but by
Legislative enactment the "Stein" was
dropped. and that OF Springs assumed
and retained. After the Revolution
Richard Springs moved to the planta
tion OF the late Turner Barber. His
son, John, settled on the plantation
still known as the Springs place,
about miles above town. He left
five children, the youngest of whom
was the late Andrew Baxter Springs
father of Brevard Springs.
The Harris family came to this coun