The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-05-26
s. N. M|LUKEN COMMUNITY BUILDING
DEDICATED MAY %, 1922.
ADDRESS OF VIM GREENE, GIVING SOME FACTS Asool i1h
RluDINt OF THE MnL-TRIBUTE 10 SETH NJ MILL
KEN CALLED THE REAL BUILDER OF THE MILL
The address follows:


fury since the Abbeville Cotton Mil
was organized. We meet at the enc
of that period, in the heyday of the
mills progress and prosperity to turn
over to the operatives, to- the en-
ployees, and to the officers OF the
mill, and to the people of this mill
village, this beautiful building, erect
ed by the mill authorities for the
comfort and convenience, for the
social and educational advantage of
the people who live here and from
year to year make the village for
better or for worse. All of US owe
much to those directors of the mill
who reside away from Abbeville for
this evidence of their benevolent pur-
poses towards US and our city, as we'll
as for many other evidences of their
goodwill. Especially are we indebted
to Mr.. Hatch, the president of the
mill, for his constant and earnest de-
sire to promote at all times the best
interests of the people who help to
make this corporation.
But while we owe much to him and
TO the others who are more largely
interested in the mill from financial
standpoint, it has seemed to US that
, It would not be out of place today
to speak for little while of the men
who built the Abbeville Cotton Mill,
who made it a going concern, who
guided it over it's financial breakers
md finally developed it into one of
the best equipped mills in the state,
rs you have made it one of the best
manned mills in the state.
The mill was incorporated in 1896,
with capital stock of $65,0OO. The
mcorporators were G.. A. Visanska,
W. C. MCGOWAN, w. A. Templetpn,
Frank B. Gary, J. Fuller Lyon, R. NJ.
Haddon, J. R. Blake, Jr., ]. Hayne
NcDill and'J. C. Klugh. All of these
but three have gone, we trust, to a
better country. On their application
the charter was granted Feb. "a,
. I896, with the following directors
J. C. Klugh, who was made the first
president of the mill, w. H. Parker,
who was secretary, G. A. Visanska,
P. l.. Grier, w. A. Templeton, Hugh
Wilson, B. F. Bailey, G. A. Neuffer,
and C. P. Hammond. All Of these er-
eept two have crossed to the other
side of the river. The other two did
not long continue as members of the
Board of Directors. The early bur-
den bearers of the mill are all of the
Silent City.
Almost from the beginning the
corporation experienced financial
difficulties. A, contract was let for
ahe building when there was not
enough money to complete even it.
In June of the same year 1896, it
became necessary to increase the cap
hal stock, the amount of authorized
capital being made 100000. On
the certificate of increase, the name
of BENZ. S. Barnwell, who became
one of the staunchest friends and sup
porters of the enterprise, occurs as a
director for the first time.
Mr.. B. F. Bailey, who had during
the summer made a considerable in
vestment in the stock of the COM
pany and on account of being at that
time the largest stockholder of the
corporation, succeeded J. C. Klugh as
president, the latter soon after being
elected Judge of the Circuit Court
Of the State. But the money contrib
uted to the corporation by the issue
of new stock was soon exhausted and
there was no visible means of carry
ing forward the project to compile
ton. The corporation had borrowed
largely on it's notes, endorsed by the
directors. I recall wildly the declara-
tions of my old law partner, Hon.
Wm> H, Parker, who always declared
waen asked to endorse another note,
rila,:: he had already endorsed to such
an extent for the mill that he fell
free and easy to make any other en-,
dorsement demanded Of him.
The point had been reached Al