Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-02-22
IN REMINISCENT MOOD
Van ,Wyck Citizen Writes Of Life
and Conditions Half Century Ago.
PLENTY OF Wild deer And TURKEY

Several Churches Recalled-W axhaw
Section of Lancaster County Rich in
History.
The SHOWS, rains and muddy roads Of
this February puts me in 4 reminiscent
mood aud / let memory carry me back
TO February, 1875, when l came to the
WaXhaws, writes j. NJ. Ioder, Of Van
Wyck, in the LANCASTER News. We
drove out Of Rock Hill. which was the
nearest railroad point to this part of
the country at that time. We crossed
the Catawba, .river at Cureton's ferry
and was over in Lancaster county and
found the Waxhaw mud almost impos-
sible. We were travelling in a two
horse wagon, which was about the only
vehicle that could locomotS the Wax
haw roads at that time. Twas little
surprised to see so many hills in the
Waxhaw country, as had been labor
ing under the impression that it was a
level, flat country In my observation,
1 found fertile, red soil and much
original growth forests Of heavy oak
hickory, poplar, chestnut and fine
pine timber.urThe fields were enclosed
in high rail fences and much of this
fine timber had to be cut annually to
build new fences and repair the old
ones. Razor back hogs, poor cattle,
sheep, goats and few colts had the
run of the range. The wild deer, wild
turkey, wild cat, fox and raccoon were
found in thetforest and swamps along
the, creeks and gave nimrods some fine
sport. These are all extinct on these
lands now The streams were well
stocked with fish and were the anglers
paradise. 80
No Railroads.
The crops grown on these fertile
lands were mostly cotton with some
corn and other grain and forage crops.
There was not railroad in Lancaster
county at this time and the nearest
railroad points were Rock Hill. Fort
Mill, Charlotte and Monro which the
people used as markets. The popula-
ton of this part of the WaXhaws was
largely colorGd, the negroes about ten
to one white. This was in reconstruc-
ton days, under Carpet Bag and ne
gro rule. But to the credit Of the col
ored citizens of thc"WaXhaws, they did
not give the whites much trouble. The
leaders among them generally counsel
ed wisely and regarded the whites as
their best friends. The population of
the Waxhaws has been changing all
these years-the colored decreasing
and whites increasing and stands now
about two. colored to one white. The
white citizens Of the Waxhaws were
very hospitablc and social. They had
their summer picnics and winter socia-
bles at their Fiomcs-and had music and
engaged in the old SQUARE dance in
which nearly all engaged. have seen
fathers, mothers;' sons and daughters
on the floor at the same time. Often
refreshments were served on these oc-
casions. Churches: and school houses
were not numerous, but sufficient to
meet the real needs of the people. Most
of these attended Old WaXhaw church.
Rev. D. p Robinson was pastor. lew
years later DR.. ]. E. Mack Of Fort Mill.
Some attended Six Mile and. the Mctho
dists had a small church near where
Van Wyck is located. Rev. ]. +. Eng
land was the pastor Of this church at
that time. A few years later the Pres
byterans built church on the road
leading from Cureton's ferry to Monroe
on the Joseph Crcnshaw lands about
two miles east Of Van Wyck. E. =.
Mobley, ]. L. Rodman, James Steele
ara John Porter were the prime NOV
ers in this building. It was called Bcu-
lah by request of f. p. Mobley.
During the Civil war, while Mr. Mob
Icy was stationed in Virginia, the camp
was near Il small beautiful country
church. where he attended services at
times. He was So well pleased with
the church and it's name that he re-
questcd the new church be named Beu-
lah. A few years ago this church had
served it's day and the congregation re-
organized and built beautiful little
brick church in the village Of Van
Wyck. Some years previous the Meth
odist moved their church location and
built in Van Wyck, and discontinued
the name of Waxhaw Methodist church,
and it is known now at Van Nyck
Methodist church.
Mail BY Star Route.
The people of the WaNhaws, when /
first knew tho country, received their
mail by star routes and had postoffices
ut Belair, Curcton's store, WaNhaw Of
flee at Z. z. Mobley's store and at
Lindscy's, near. Riverside station rs il
is now. Some OF the patrons had to go
five or six miles for their mail. There
were Il number Of country stores back
in those carly days and one OF the prin- !
cipal articles of merchandise was whis-
ky-in almost any quantity from the !
small glass 10 the gallon
In the fall and winter. the mule and
the horse drcver from North Carolina.
Tennessee. Virginia and kentucky and
tho hog drovcr from Tennessee would