Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-12-29

Mrs. j. d. Gwin who has been in thu
business many years and who has Ions
enjoyed a reputation for setting fine
table and giving exceptional service
generally to her patrons.
The First Mayor.
The late w. L. Plexico was the frs
mayor, or intendent of Sharon. Ole
residents tell an amusing story in con.
nection with the first municipal cleo
tion. Mr.. Plexico was opposed by his
brother Sam Plexico. There were nc
issues, but the few settlers realizing
that it was quite the thing to have q
contest in any old election, developed
a pretty warm campaign. 1t is not OF
record that there were any stump
speeches or bonfires or fist fights in
connection with the election, but dur
ing the campaign considerable heat
was developed. About thirty votes
were cast in the first election. Ne
groes as we'll a.. whites voted, the
white voters seeing 10 it that their ne
gro servants voted the same way they
did According to DR.. ]. H. Saye, who
was one of the commissioners of cleo
ton, it was several days before the re-
suit was declared. Finally w. L. Pick
leo was declared elected mayor by a
majority Of one. Many municipal
elections have been held since that
time and there have been many con-
tests; but never since has there been
more heated campaign than that
frs. one between the Plexlco brothers.
Graves First Policeman.
Mayor Plexco appointed the late
John Graves, tone of the first settlers,
as the police force. He was chief and
fcrce and everything and he was a
good one, too. They tell story on
Chief Graves that on one occasion he
was called upon to arrest a negro who
was acting in a disorderly manner.
When placed under arrest the negro
refused to go to the village lookup.
He simply lay down on the ground and
because ne was very heavy Chief
Graves was unable to drag him.
Gazing at the obstreperous prisoner
in a disgusted manner, Graves said:
"Nigger, you just wait there until go
home and get my tricks" And leav-
ing the prisoner on the ground the po-
licelnan started for his residence.
What the tricks" referred to were,
nobody seem4 to know unless Mr..
Graves had reference to handouts or
twisting chain that he wanted.
Anyway, blythe time he had gotten
back to the spot with his tricks" the
prisoner had beaten a retreat for parts
unknown.
Liquor Selling Forbidden.
The town of Sharon was chartered
by legislative enactment in 1889. There
we're some who thought that the sale
of whisky should be allowed and 1t
was the original intention to, include
in the charter the right to conduct bar
rooms or licensed saloons. There were
many railroad workers building the
track who wanted their liquor and
their beer; and it appeared certain for
awhile that the charter would include
liuuor privileges. There was much
discussion about the matter, numbers
of people taking the position that 1t
would be better not to incorporate at
all if Sharon was to be location for
rum sellers. Finally Mrs. Eliza Ken
nedy, long since gone to her reward,
circulated a petition which requested
that the town charter be made bone
dry" and that the legal sale of whis-
ky in Sharon forever be prohibited.
This good Christian woman met with
considerable opposition at first In her
efforts. But her patience and persis-
tence finally prevailed and the result
was that q "bone dry charter was IS
sued During her life time Mrs. Ken
nedy exercised q powerful influence
for good in Sharon and the community
and the influence Of her good works
arc to be seen in many quarters until
this day. She was the mother OF
p. b., c.. L., and Sam Kennedy, all oil
them prominent and influential citi-
zens of Sharon.
The Depot.
Older residents recall some interest
ing stories in connection with the rail-
road and the depot. In the early days
the railroad authorities and the people
had their squabbles in plenty. In 1881
the people Of Broad River township
voted to issue bonds for the support
of the railroad. The amount of the IS
sue was $4,000 but the county COM
missioners Messrs. Glib Culp, Robert
Whitcsides and VIII Ross refused to
levy the tax and pay interest on the
bonds on the ground that $4,000 was
more than 8 per cent of the assessed
pruperty valuation of Broad River
township. the constitution holding
bond issues 10 s per cent. There was
n long and hard fight about the bonds
and more or less bi terness and con-
siderable bluffing on the part of the
railroad people. Commissioner VIII
Ross who lived in this section, could
oo+ ba ipduoad to sign the bonds by