Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Old Times in Hamburg, S. C. The passing away of the old town of Hamburg has recalled the recol lections of his boyhood to a friend of the Florence Times, and he has recounted some of them in the fol lowing article, which will be read with interest in this section of the State: Before the advent of the iron rail and steam locomotive, the old town of Hamburg was one of the largest cotton markets in the Southern States. Being at the head of naviga tion on the Savannah river ft was for the inland planter, the nearest point of water communication with the coast, and consequently cotton wag ons came from the up-country as far west as Alabama and Tennessee. During the winter months the town presented a lively and interesting sight. The line of wagons resting on the river extended for miles out on the plank road. The stores were filled with the sturdy, homespun clad far mers with their varied local charac teristics, while the new comers among the boys and negroes with wide-eyed wonder took in themes for many a yarn around the plantation fires. Never hefore had they seen so many people, so much cotton or such a big boat, "two stories high, run with biling water." At night the white covered wagons drawn up around the bright fires presented the appearance of an army encampment. On' the far away plantations the trip to Hamburg was the event of the year. All could not go, but everyone was interested in what the return trip would bring. A "store bought" dress for the girls, a ?un or saddle for the boys, were the subjects of many pleasing dreams and consulta tions. When the time to start arrived several farmers met and traveled to gether for mutual assistance in time of accident or trouble. The outfit consisted of a large wooden axle wagon on which the bales of cotton were piled and secur ed by a long pole fastened to front and rear of the wagon. A good 'pos sum dog was tied to the hind axle, for when camp was fixed for the night "old Tige" would often add to the fare as well as the pleasure of the journey/The canvas covered frame was placed on *op of the cotton and beneath it were stored the provisions for men and team. From four to six mules were hitch ed to each wagon and there was much good-natured banter or rivalry as to who hr.d the best team. In these sal lies the negro drivers always took a zealous and amusing part. A poetic feature of the equipment was a chime of musical bells attached to the harness of the lead mules, . and this was especially true of the Ten nesseeans, who as a rule, had the finest teams, and they no doubt as cribed the high heads and proud step of their "noble leaders" to the in spiring music of the little bells. The driver was the most important member of the party, for on him de pended the care of the team and the safety of the top heavy wagon over hundreds of miles of roads often in bad condition. It required no little skill and care to guide his team with a single line over the difficult places and make, them all pull true and steady with but little use of whip or voice. Such men were usually select ed from the best of the plantation hands, and as a rule were faithful to the owners' interests, and he repre sented a type of the old South and numbered in proportion to the kind and considerate masters. Now, alas! like the prestige of old Hamburg, they have gone "where the wood bine twineth." Some of the boys of the family usually attended the wagons on horse back, and many Southern youths thus had taste of life in the saddle and around the camp fire which they were afterwards to experience in a long and desperate war. The purchases made in Hamburg were confined to such things as could not be produced at home. These were chiefly iron, salt, sugar, coffee and a few pieces of calico andy other dress goods for the ladies. The limited out lay for dry goods does not indicate that anyone at home was neglected. In every "household there was a spin ning -wheel and loom, cotton and wool were plentiful, and the womer were kept busy spinning, weaving and sewing until all were supplied with clothing. There were tan yards and shoe makers in every communitj and many, perhaps the majority ol farmers could boast that everj piece of clothing was made on the farm. This was true of the men; the girls they would nave for their adornmenl the .fine artistic work of the f oreigr loom. Some of the ladies, liowever were independent of the storekeeper We have at nome a piece of silk mad< about sixty years ago by my grand mother. She conducted the variou: processes of manufacture from th? care of the worms to weaving th? cloth. Hamburg was not only the favor tte market of the up-country, Tmt i was the mecca of the ambitious youfl who longed for a wider sphere thai the farm. One of this character cam? down from Anderson with a caravan of wagons early iii the last century and applied for work in the town. Finding no opening, and being a strong and lusty fellow, he hired to strike in the blacksmith shop. An old merchant to whom he applied saw him there and said if he was willing to work1 he could come down to the store. He did so, and when the town was at its best that youth was the largest merchant and cotton buyer in the place. Hamburg, being located on the flat land near the river wis subject to overflow, and some of the merchants had homes about three miles from town on a ridge called Summer Hill. Near here was some of the kaolin de posits which are now of so great commercial importance. We then called them the chalk hills, and it was a favorite pastime to carve the snow white cakes into various shapes; when dry it could be pulverized into v.jry fine powder. We did not dream that it would one day become of great value and that we would be eat ing some of it in our "strictly pure, high grade flour" and choicest can dies. When the iron pathways were push ed towards the mountains of Caro lina and Georgia, the steam whistles sounded the doom of old Hamburg. The planters then shipped their cot ton to Charleston or sold it to the lo cal buyers in the railway towns. Some of the Hamburg merchants then folded their tents and moved away to meet their old customers in the "city by'the sea." A traveler now passing the old town on the Savannah river could never realize the great extent of country which sought a market there or what an important factor it once was in handling the great staple which is now of world-wide interest. LOMBARD Foundry, Machine, Boiler Works and Mill Supply House AUGUSTA GEORGIA Cotton Oil, Gin, Saw, Grist, Cane, Shingle Mill, Machinery Supplies and Repairs, Shafting, Pulleys, Hangers, Grate Bars, Pumps, Pipe, Valves and Fittings, Injectors, Belting, Packing Hose, etc. Cast every day. GASOLINE AND KEROSENE ENGINES Pumping, Wood Sawing and Feed Grinding Outfits. jTfTcANTELOU Attorney at Law Will Practice in All Court?. Office Over Store of REYNOLDS & PADGETT Telephone No- 103. "Outside Scrubbing bef< Inside Scrubbing soli or 1 insi aga: Inside Rinsing pres both New Year Resoultions for Far mers. 1. Resolved, that I will spend much of last year's profits in permanent improvement of farm and home and not in wasteful luxuries. 2. Resolved, that I will start a bank account, pay bills with checks, and keep a more business-like record of my farm business. 3. Resolved, that I will provide my family with a better all-the-year gar den and with good fruit. 4. Resolved, that I will not he caught by the boll weevil in staking everything on that "one more big crop of cotton." 5. Resolved, that I will raise home supplies to the fullest extent consist ent with my land and conditions. 6. Resolved, that I will market as much of my farm produce as possi ble in the form of livestock. 7. Resolved, that I will not rob my farm of its fertility. 8. ResolVed, that I will get my ni trates more and more each year, from the air through legumes rather than from Chili. 9. Resolved, that if I swear at alb I will swear at scrubs and swear by purebreds. 10. Resolved, that I wil lterrace all of my land that needs terracing, and will build up the waste places. 11. Resolved, that I will read more agricultural literature and study closely farming as a business. 12. Resolved, that I will make more and better use of my agricul tural agent and my agricultural col lege. 13. Resolved, that I will pass on good farming ideas to my neighbors. 14. Resolved, that I will take and make opportunities to cooperate with others to improve agricultural and economic conditions in my commu nity. 15. Resolved, that I will provide more conveniences and comforts for the farm and the home. 16. Resolved, that I will make the home more beautiful hy paint, shrub bery, shade trees and flowers. FOR QUICK SALE: 342 ?/2 acres of land 2 miles from Trenton on the Trenton-Aiken road. Known as part of the old Padgett place formerly owned by the late S. T Hughes. One dwelling, two tenant houses, three barns and other out-buildings. Very low price. South Atlantic Realty Co., Inc., "Servie? of Guaranteed Satisfaction" Home Office, Greenwood, S. C. Attorney at Law V Office in the ADDISON LAW BUILDING BITTERS Family Medicine. Ev??jy Chero-Cola 1 Dre being refilled. The empty bottles ition of caustic-of-? race of dust. They de and outside, tl in and again. The Chero-Cola bottle th sed air and filtered water, Every precaution is tai i wholesome and delight! This is ONE reason for Hudsc Maxwe We carry a take pleasure of these cari the people o about them. We have 01 Come in whei We carry "Di "Norwalk" cs Our corps kinds of repai anteed servie kind. Hamil tumber for Sale My saw mill is located on the Five Notch road near Cedar Grove church, and I have lumber to sell from the the yard or can cut it any dimensions tvhen bill is furnished. Better buy svhile you can get it. H, H. Sanders bottle is thoroughly are soaked in a b soda, destroying e\ are then thoroughly ie operation being sn is rinsed with a combim forced in and out under 1 Len to make its content hil ' Chero-Cola's remarkabl HI, Esse ll Mote ll of these cars in i in giving a demor 5 are increasing in f Edgefield count} Ask your friends i i hand a full line < i you need anything lamond/' "Kelly-Spi isings and tubes. of competent mee iring, rendering proi e. We also do we ton Au MORPHINE habit cured the easy and gentle way. Whiskey habit by gradual reduction. Also tobacco cure at KEELEY INSTITUTE, Columbia, S. C. , Box 75. BUGKLEN'S LS THE ONLY GENUINE ARNICA SAUTS ?zed sterilized oiling hot rery germ scrubbed, repeated ition of com ?gh pressure. s reach you e popularity. x and >r Cars stock and will istration. All popularity as j know more who own one. )f accessories, f for your car. ringfield" and hanics do all npt and guar ding of any to Co. BRIGHT GIRLS WANTED. The State Hospital for the Insane Columbia, S. C., need white women, preferably between - the ages og 18 and 35, to work as attendants or en ter the training school. For informa tion apply to the Superintendent. Dr* King's New Bisons? ?US THE COUGH. CITES THE LUNGS.