Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CLINTON MILLS Vol. 14. No. 9 Not.. 1965 Clinton, S. C. (OSMT?! VOL. 14. NO. 9 | MERCER SII i In the Bailey Plant annoui Vance said the plant would be of the men who have preceded William James, Cassius Mercer This is the first in a seric these men as published in Jam LEADERS OF THE SOUTH. Mercer Silas Bailey of Clinton, South Carolina, built for himself an eminently successful career in banking and textile manufacturing. M. S. Bailey & Son, Bankers, and the Clinton Mills are prosperous testimonies to his achievement. Mr. Bailey believed that industry, frugal uy, ana nonesiy are tne keys to success, and he proved their efficacy in his own rise to prominence. Mr Rai1f?v was thr? snn nf Silas Mercer Bailey and Margaret Beasley Bailey, both descendants of prominent colonial families in America. He was born in Clinton, November 9, 1841, and spent his boyhood on his father's farm. His first job was as a clerk in a country store, for which service he received $5 a month. He resigned however, lor his employer insisted upon selling liquor, a practice which Mr. Bailey strongly opposed. He obtained a position as a clerk at the Laurens County Court House which paid twice as much. but resigned to attend school. Since a college education was out of his reach, Mr. Bailey applied himself more diligently to his work in the public schools and read as much as possible. His ability and industry helped him ob sCLo PUBLISHED BY AND FOR ,AS BAILEY | iBr v +* a icement, President Robert M. named in memory and honor him as president. Mercer Silas. , and Putsy Silas, is of biographical sketches of es R. Young's book. TEXTILE tain a position as clerk with a prominent firm in Clinton after his graduation from school. He stayed there three years, until 1862, when he entered the James Battalion of the Confederate Army. After completing military service, Mr. Bailey returned to farming, but soon decided that he would like to start a business of his own. His initial capital was obtained from four bales of cotton which he sold for 60 cents a pound. With the money he went to New York City and purchased goods from A. T. Stewart. Mr. Stewart was sufficiently impressed with this young man to offer credit, but Mr. Bailey preferred to pay cash and start >> i u iviu au v iiiLUiiiUi tlllLL'S. His mercantile business prospered, and he expanded in 1870 to include a saw, flour and grist mill. Later he added a shingle factory, one of the state's first, and in time this was expanded into a sash door and blind factory, which shipped its products to all parts of South Carolina. Recause of ill health brought on bv his strenuous life, Mr. Bailey sold his mercantile business in 1880 to his two older sons and retired. With proper rest, his health CLINTON AND LYDIA EMF Record Christmas Savings Paid November 26 A record-breaking $213,000 in Christmas Savings of Clinton Mills employees was paid out with regular payroll checks on Friday, November 26. The advantages and rewards of thrift went to 624 employees. Colorful Christmas checks prepared by M. S. Bailey & Son, Bankers ranged from relatively small amounts to considerable sums. The checks were for systematic savings begun in November _ r i a - - oi ihsi year in preparation oi Christmas '65. Thirty - three of the checks were in excess of $1,000. The Christmas Club Savings Program is available to all employees. It was begun many years ago as a convenience of employees and is entirely voluntary. Thanksgiving Is Premium Pay Day All plants operated Thanksgiving Day. Time and onehalf thf> avorann rito nf - ~ " to- Ha.v was paid to all employees performing any work. The Company recognizes and pays time and one-half for five holidays each year. improved and in a few years, he reentered the business world, first as a crop-lien merchant, and in 1886 as a banker. In 1886 he started Bailey's Bank of Clinton with a capital stock of $20,201.40, which he obtained from an inventory of cotton sold in n?-orwY?U...-.-r i 1 V?? ?_?m t;. 1 11.1 n IL'IIUft HieU to discourage him in the endeavor because thev felt the town was too small to support a bank, but Mr. Bailey persevered. and his judgment was correct. The bank grew steadilv and has since become one of the strongest in South Carolina. It has served continuously since then, and even during the financial panic of 1933, the bank did not close its doors. Mr. Bailey was the first president of the bank, and he served as its President for the next 40 years. His third son. William J., was named l i nne ' * uiMiii-r, ana in i^jo wnon nis father died, he succeeded him as president. At the time William J. was made a full partner in the bank, its name was chanced to M. S. Bailey & Son, Bankers, as it has been known since. After 10 successful years as a banker. Mr. Bailey turned to the textile manufacturing field, which was becoming established in the South. In 1000 he established the Clinton Cotton Mills with 5.000 spindles and 150 looms. Mr. (Continued on page 3) hS >LOYEES. CLINTON, S. C. Named to N< 4 f *+* R 1 jm Swetenburg John R. "Dick" Swetenbur Overseer has been appointed Si Plant No. 1. His prrmotion announced b; dent of Manufacturing, was effe Our Chicago Team r.Stf' 1 I 1^1 mm Featured on Page 6 of this issue is the Charles C. Davis end Company . . . "Clinton Mills Salesmen In Chicago." Their offices are located on the 30th floor of this building at 221 North LaSclle Street, at the north end of the Loop, fronting the Chicago R'ver. You are looking south on LaSalle Street. At the foot of the picture is the Chicago Board of Trade. The front of the building is on Wacker Drive, which parallels the Chicaoo River all the way east to Lake Michigan. CHRISTMAS VA< Notices announcing the Chris cf r?/-l r* 4 ^ _ i* jjv.cnt-u iti nit* r.muiovee lniorn Christmas Vacation will bei December 23 and extend to 12:1 ber 26. For 815 employees who ha more of continuous Company si tion. This is the second week t for five years and over emplov are but one of many fringe ben< employees. Christmas Vacation Pay Ch distributed with the regular p; ber 18. BULK RATE U. S. POSTAGE PAID Clinton, S. C. Permit N. 59 NOVEMBER. 1935 iw Pncitinnc w ww m ww ^ w m m ww mm Mm f E> > - / ^V1 V jCBMpfc JHBy Davenport g, Jr., Lydia Plant Spinning iperintendent of Clinton Mills v J. B. Templeton. Vice Presi>ctive December 1. Swetenburg, a native of Anrlorcnn ciinnDn/^p tV>n lofn . iliUVUVll, OU\.\.\.\.UO HIV. IU tv. Julian R. Reynolds. Swetenburg joined the Clinton organization in December, 1963. He is a graduate in the school of textiles at Clemson University. Thomas E. "Ted" Davenport replaced Swetenburg at Lvdia. Davenport, a Laurens County native, is a graduate of Clinton High School and holds a Mechanical Engineering Degree from Clemson. iic jumeu Liini n iviuis in November. 1962. following two >ears of military service and worked through the Lvdia Plant on the management development program. At the time of his appointment, Davenport was conducting a special study in Clinton No. 2 Plant Spinning. Previouslv he served as a Sunervj sor of Spinning at Lydia. Company Christmas Gift Selection Completed The pleasant, but difficult, chore of selecting a Christmas Gift from among 62 equally attractive and practical items has been completed. The gifts as selected have been ordered and will be presented on the job bv supervision prior to Christmas Vacation. :ation schedule ;tmas Vacation schedules were nation Centers, November 28. ?in at 12 midnight Thursday, [)1 (midnight) Sunday, Decemve five consecutive years or ervicc. it will be a paid vacahis year of vacation with pay *ees. Company paid vacations E?fits available to Clinton Mills locks totaling $73,000 will be ayroll checks. Friday, Decern