French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1919-01-30
-" old TIMERS "
(By Patsy O'Brien)

The year 1888 marked an epoch IN
the history of the Old North Sta-c.
During that year was born new
county. Henderson County is in
debted for its name to Judge Leonard
Henderson a man Of influence in the
history Of the State. We will but
briefly touch on the before the war.
history
1t seems that in these early days
the men Of this section were as prone
to argument and dissention as they arc
now. In 1871 after much wrangiing
the legislature provided that an
election should be held to establish
the new County seat. Thus it came
about that HenGersonviIie is situate:
on the main throughflre instead Of O.:
the banks of the French Broad Rive.
Judge Mitchell King conveyed the
town lots. The first Court House was
plank building which was later de-
stroyed by fire and in its place wa
erected q building suitably decorated,
with moorish architecture, to lend dig
nifty to the growing community. This
was replaced by the present Cour;
House IL 1904.
The romance Of this era lis largely
Centered about. the stage coach which
in those days was the only mode Of
through Hendersonyille numbered
three times a week the mail coach.
This enterprise was bought in 1916 by
Col. V Ripley a large land owner, the
father of Mrs. Lila Barnwell we'll
known as a writer and public-spirit-
ed woman, and the step-father of the
late Judge Ewart. This stage line he
continued to operate between Green
vile, S. c., and Greenville, Tenn.
until 1858 when the railroad crept il
to connect the mountains with the out
side world. His run was then short
ened to Asheville.
Col. V. Ripley owned and ran the
Ripley House which stood on the cor
ner where the late St. Johns Hote
stood It was q noted tavern the
of the Oldest buildings now standing
in the town, the Old Rock Store OF
First Avenue and Main Street whicE
was erected in 1853 and now owned
by his daughter.
In 1851 was issued a charter for {
plank road running from GreenYllle
s. c.. to AsheviIle. This was th'
first step towards good roads bu
1856. after the war, found the foat
much run down, its charter was re
pealed and the road was allowed tt
run to neglect.
1855 marks the rise OF literary Ell
deayor in Hendersonville and tn
County, when Rev. James Blythe VIII
w. C. BERN and J. NJ. Bryan starte'
the first newspaper, called the caro-
lima Baptist. AS the name indicate
it was published by a Baptist for IN
RaDtists who were in a large major
ity
About three miles out from HendeT
sonviIle on what IS now known as tn
Shaws Greek Road stands the oldes
mousse III IIIS COLiiICJS P1OOS"O4J $780,
about 1929 Or so. The Johnstons oWr!
ed and built it and living still in tn
.sOld Homestead is Aunt Cute" John
ston well in her eighties, who boast
of having lived through eight wars.
Further out in the Horse Shoe ben
of the French Broad River stands tn
old brick house built by Judge Aver
one among the oldest settlers who's
original grant comprised thousands c
acres. The bricks of which the hous
is built we're made from the clay @
the place. The Horse Shoe Farm {,
it is designated has passed throug
MANY hands since then and seen niue
history. The slave quarters have Ell
tireIy disappeared and the mouse ma
heen remodeled but the age-old tree
still stand in the front yard ana %
bricks that have held out through I'd
storms of passing years still uphol
the house.
Of Flat Rock chapters could {
written. We have only time ana spd'
IN touch lightly on the subject. Jude
Mitchell King from Charleston oougl
the first land there in 1879. II
beautiful homestead later became Il
nronertv of Col. C.. C. Meminger ar
is now owned by the Smythes. II
descendants still own homes in t,
- Village. He was followed by Charlie
Barring in 1880 member Of the En'
1ish banh.qg firm of that name II
wife talented English woman, Drl
1iont and clever, was we'll known
Charleston and Henderson COUNT