The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-03-05
ROSWELL MILLS ONE or
PIONEERS IN GEORGIA
Its Founders Associated With Early
History of Settlement of
This Section

| be of interest to all patriotic citizens
A short sketch of the above Mills
of Cobb county.
may be of interest to all true Geor-
gians who have watched the develop
ment of their State, as this Factory
has been in existence eighty years,
and can rightly be termed zone of
the pioneer cotton mills of Georgia."
1t was recently sold to the Easley
Cotton Mills, of Greenville, S. c., for
sum exceeding 100000.
In the latter part of the "thirties,"
Mr.. Roswell King, of Darien, Ca,
(at that time an important seaport
of the state), passing through the
country on his way to Dahlonega,
Ga, having been sent in the interest
of the Bank of Darien, to investigate
the gold mining industry of that sec
ton, discovered this beautiful part of
the state, still the home of the Chero-
kee Indian.
He was so impressed with it's
! healthful situation, and fine water
facilities that he persuaded his son,
Mr.. Darlington King, a wealthy
planter of Darien, Ca, to accompany
him upon another trip for further in
vestigation.
Mr.. Darlington King was equally
! pleased with the climate and stu
alton, and together they bought a
large tract land, naming it Roswell"
in honor of the elder Mr.. King.
1t was not long before these two
gentlemen persuaded a number of
friends to accompany them to the
"up country" and to "make assur-
ance doubly sure" they presented to
these friends large building sites,
several acres in extent.
This colony numbered thirteen
families, all from Darien, Ca,
Among the Maj James S. Bulloch,
grandfather of the late Theodore
Roosevelt.
Almost the first building erected,
was beautiful little Presbyterian
church, and the Rev. N. A. Pratt in
stalled as its pastor.
Mr.. Darlington King organized a
lcompany; and in 1910 the Roswell
Mills were built, he becoming the
President, and continued as such I'M
til they were destroyed by Sherman's
Army in 1868.
Mr.. Darlington King was man of
wonderful business ability. Of the
strictest integrity himself. he exacted
the best from his "hands," and in re-
turn he made their welfare his ear
nest concern; protecting, advising,
and controlling his people,; "a Chris
tian gentleman of the cold school,"
using his power for the good of all,
by methods found SO effective at the
present time.
His son Mr.. James Roswell King
also built large Wooden Mill on the
banks of the Chattahoochee.
Here, during the "war between the
states" was manufactured the gray
cloth used in making the Confederate
uniforms. This factory was burned
at the same time, by the Federals.
% Mr.. Darlington King and his son,
Mr.. James Roswell King, being men
of indomitable will and courage, re-
built the Roswell Mills as soon as the
War was over in 1865.
Mr.. Darlington King again became
its president, until his death, only a
short time after its erection. Soon
after Mr.. James Roswell King had
assisted his father in rebuilding the
Roswell Cotton Mills he moved with
his family to Paterson, N. j., where
he engaged in the manufacture of
cotton goods.
This move proved a great success,
establishing his family in Brooklyn,
N. Y, he continued his manufacture
ing interest at Paterson, N. j., for
several years, until the climate prov
ing too severe, he was forced to re-
linquish it, and return to his home at
Roswell, Ga.
He built other cotton mills at
various points; the last being in At
lanta, Ga, the Elsas, May & Co. fac
tory, operating it for number of
years.
Both Mr.. harrington King and his
son Mr.. James Roswell King were in
deed the pioneer cotton manufacture
ers of the state of Georgia.
Mr.. George H. Camp late of Ma
rietta, Ga. was for many years a re-
sident of Roswell and was engaged
in business as Agent for the Roswell
Mills; a valuable assistant to Mr.
King. He was made President of the
factory, after Mr.. Barrington's death.
He was succeeded by Gen. A. j.
Hansell, followed by Col. j. W. Ro-
bertson, then Mr.. F. R. Minhinnett
The assertion that Mr.. Clark Howell,
ST., chad charge of and operated the
Mills" was a mistake.
cannot close this little sketch Of
the Roswell Mills, without paying a
fitting tribute to it's last and wonder