The Camden chronicle. (Camden, S.C.) 1888-1981, July 15, 1932, Image 8
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Interesting History
I Of An Old Place
South Carolina history, is not aa
^11 known In South Carolina as some
other history. Unfortunate it is that
the history of South Carolina is not
as fully written as it deserves to be.
Bits of history are from time to time
f printed by the press. We take the
following from an issue of The Sumter
Herald. It is written by a
"Wedgefteld I*dy," but who she is is
not given. So we present it without
giving the real credit it deserves;
Hundreds, of motorists proceeding
toward Columbia on highway No. 76
pass daily around the curve that leads
from the hills of Statefourg down
through a beautiful valley, across
which unfolds u picture that never
failB to call forth exclamations of admiration?green
fields studded with
cottages and cabins and in the distance
the donse forests of the Wuteree
swamp.
I Immediately after passing Hillcrest
house the road curves abruptly at the
top of u hill, and in the angle or this
curve stands u lovely old house known
locally as "the Governor Miller
home." : ,This house was one of the
numerous settlements that made up
I the village of Stateburg?a village
that once contained several stores, a
tavern, a Bhoo factory, a postoffice,
a library, an academy, an agricultural
I society, so/ne lawyers' offices, a, doctor's
office, and a goodly number of
I homes. Most of these have disappeared;
only Hillcrest and tbe two
houses between it and the bend of
the road being left to tell where once
a thriving settlement stood. The last
of th? old stores was razed to make
the curve in the road safe for motorists.
On the right of the turn the
lot is still known as "the tavern field."
Here tradition tells there once stood
I I a red brick tavern, its portico supported
by large white pillars.
Whether the house in the curve was
H built by Governor Miller or antedates
his time is not known, but that the
4> governor .lived there is substantiated
by tradition, by court records, and
> by references in Mr*. Chesnut's "A
Diary From Dixie," in which she tells
of the inter-mahriage of her father's
servants and those of Doctor Anderson
at Hillcrest. So far as neighborhood
associations are concerned, however,
this house has until very recently,
been the home of the Ellisons,
"free persons of color." the first of
whom to own the pldce bought it
from Governor Miller in lKdX.
The last of the Ellisons to live here
was a very old woman, whom every
one called "Old Mrs. Ellison" and
whom every one respected and treated
with much kindness and consideration.
The Ellisons were members of!
the Church of the Holy Cross, Stateburg,
and the rear pew was occupied
P~tt by them.
William Ellison, the first of tho
name to own thiis house and the plantation
that went with it was a muIlatto
slave who purchased his free-,
dom and that of his wife from their
owner in Fairfield county. He is
said to have been a mechanical genius
and to have learned the cotton
gin-maker's trade. He established a
gin Xactory at- his new home where
for more than fifty "y ears, gins of the j
model known as "the Ellison gin"|
were manufactured in large numbers, i
There are many people now living
who remember these gins when in
use in every part of this and other!
states. The factory buildings have,
very recently been removed from the |
premises of the old house.
I ( In those days a free Negro could j
own land and slaves but the law required
him to have a white guardian.
Ellison's guardian was Dr. William
Wallace Anderson of Hillcrest,
and after h:m, the son of Dr. Anderson,
I)r. W. W. Anderson, acted in
that capacity. Ellison owned many
slaves and several hundred acres of
land. Of the children of William Elft
lison, his son. V\ il'.iam, succeded t-o j
the owner-nip of inr nomr* and tnc- j
tory. He married first a mulatto wo-j
man bv whom he had several chil- '
dren, ami aft.r h?-r death, a widow'
]f .1' hnsot.. w ho wa? tho old woman.
C .t- who di.-d only a fi-w week- ag >. "Old
^ t Mr-- il. -or" :.o,; :.w Ntg.o b i ".ti ,
i .. <. i p,,
I el IS in.i r d t.i " .. m -.1 t a;.or
named John.-on. w.:!\ wr.<-m >V?- lived
in Canada. After r. s death, w r.i!?
visiting relatives, the .lohr.-er..- who
lived in the house next to the Ellison
house, she met and married William
Ellison, whose children were as old
as she. This explains perhaps the
story, often told, that "Old Mrs. Ellison"
was a white woman from Canada.
Two of Gabriella's brothers
were Episcopal ministers; one of
them Bishop Amoldust Vanderhorit
|rr
* n r< *w a
Miller of Colorado, ofton wrote to
white friendii of his aged alater in
ytateburg, a?king about her and offering
financial assistance should aho
need it, \
At the death of her husband, her
stepson, Henry Ellison, who waa married
to Amelia Shrewsbury of Charleston,
succeeded to the gin factory
and lived with Gabriell*. Another
stepson, Hilly John, being frail in
health, raised ailk worms and beea.
For some time the Ellisons4 made
silk in considerable quantity. On account
of his health, Billy John went
to Toronto and lived there for some
time where he married a cultured
white woman. He brought her to
Stateburg, but being unhappy because
of social isolation she induced him
to return to Toronto. Here her son
became a bank cashier. It waa he
who wrote to offer to come and care
for his aged step-grandmother and
to manage the plantation for her.
The children of Henry and Amelia
Ellison were all well educated and
when last heard from held responsible
positions in cities of Kansas,
North Carolina and South Carolina.
For many years the two old Ellison
women, (Jabriella and Amelia,
lived on in the old house. Amelia
then moved to Charleston to be with
her daughter who was a teacher
there, leaving Gabriella to live alone,
infirm and, later, helpless.
At her death the plantation and
house were purchased by James Simmons,
who later sold it to Mrs. Walter
C. White, of Cleveland and Hillcrest.
The house has been restored
and is now occupied by L. J. Ix>ffelman,
forester, in charge of the reforestation
project at Hillcrest.
The construction of the house bears
evidence of its having been built a
great While ago. The H-I. handwrought
hinges, the hand-made nails,
the wainscoting of very wide single
boards, the small window panes, the
general plan of the rooms all seem
to date the house some time prior
to the Revolution. Tradition says
that it was owned 'by a Doctor Baker
before Governor Miller lived there,
but the writer has not yet been able
to verify this.
However this may be, everything
about the house goes to show that it
was the home of wealthy people.
A beautiful hedge of very old dwarf
boxwood is still in splendid preservation
in front of the door.?J. P. P.
General News Notes
The plant of Asinot & Sons, Inc.,
woolen clothing manufacturers at
Chicapee, Mass., closed since May 1,
is reopening this week and giving
employment to 750 workers.
Ruth Nichols, woman Oyer, is preparing
to make her second attempt to j
fly from New York to Paris without,
a stop. She crashed and was badly
injured in a former attempt.
Miss Nannie Rowland, 18, pleaded
guilty to involuntary manslaughter in
the killing of her paramour at Richmond,
Ky. The judge fined her one
cent.
Governor William I. Sweet of Colorado,
Democrat, has notified Franklin
I). Roosevelt that he will support his
candidacy for the presidency. Four
years ago Sweet campaigned for
Hoover on the prohibition issue.
John N. Garner, Democratic vice
presidential nominee, doesn't see any
real necessity for a formal notification
of his nomination, but if it must
be done he wants it done quickly and
with little exiK'nse attached.
James W. McClung, confessed embezzler
bf funds of the Virginia Mili-j
tary Academy while treasurer of the,
institution, was sentenced at Ix-xing- j
ton. Va., on Wednesday to serve two
years in prison.
Ix'wis O'Dell, moonshiner, tried to
escape front the jail at Madisonville,
Tenn., on July 1th. He cut a hole in
the jail roof and with a blanket rope
attempted to get to the ground. Ho
slipped and fell 20 feet, breaking his
hack.
The members of the lower house of
congress gave John N. Gamer, speak-j
er and vice presidential nominee of
the Democratic party, a tremendous
ovation Tuesday when he appeared on'
the floor for the first time following
!..- nomination.
The I#'?.it? ? ?' ntrrrers have
* \r <i v.r.r l.ahe Maze rod, ,j> '.lie
a* .o :t , 11 ii*! t.av.rg hern rr.T-.rg . >
. .? ? k. T e ire!. !<?-1 t .? :r . v
v. * o . ;> !' ' ' ' .I'ii'.im <
. l a;- N
^ v : v-.t !. v t -:ivr . ^
! 7 ' ?r* .i ,i r i.
ie 1 > r. suhmar.r.- I'r.iT.c'.
a .k ..ft" Ch. r'o. .vr hawr.ie on
. : t-.p. She - r-N - ; r.iy nuatf
ami h< cau-o was
. ' determined at e.
(i.'Vorn. i Ely ar.d Mayer ("urley ?-f
Boston, lender- <A the Massachusetts
forces hacking Alfred F. Smith at the
Chicago convention, have given their
approval of the announcement of Mr.
Smith that he would support the
t l>emocratic national ticket.
\ Arthur Hawley Scribner, since 1928
president of the Scrihner's Sons publishing
company, died Monday at Mt.
I Kisco, N. Y., aged 73 years.
? 1*1 1'i ? ' ' ?*? '*? .
" " 1 ' ."" 11 1 "**
At a recent wedding at Albion,
Mich., the bride and groom, each 77
year? old, were the youngest of the
party. Six usher? and six maids of
honor were are member? of the "Over
Three Quarter? Century club."
Petition? carrying 03,000 signature?
have been filed with the secretary of
state of Washington, asking that initiative
No. 61 to repeal the state bone
dry law oe placed oa the November
election ballot*.
t^Kiarles Smith, GaatonJa boy, lost
his fife Saturday afternoon while
swimming in the pool at Rotary Park
near that city. The boy, 18, was not
an expert swimmer and got into deep
water. V
John PosansJcy, 72, after paying his
wife aHmony for 81 years was landed
in jail. During all that time he never
missed a payment .until hard times
brought him to where he couldn't pay.
Hi? wife showed no leniency.
Mr. Hoover has signed the bill under
the terms of Which persons convicted
of kidnaping, carrying kidnaped
persons across state lines, will
be fined $5,000 or imprisoned twenty
years.
Harold Collins, of Marioh, owner
of a number of stores in that section
of the state, is in a Florence hospital
with wounds the surgeons say are,
serious, and Tom Carson former Furman
football captain, is in. the custody
of the 'sheriff of Horry county
until the result of tho injuries to Collins
is disclosed. Carson was selling
tickets at the pavilion or bath house
at Myrtle Beach, over a week ago, and
hit Collins during an altercation. Carson
is now an employee of a bath
house at Myrtle Beach. The sheriff
and officers of Horry county kept the
affair a secret and are still r?ticent?
while Collins is forbidden to talk or
see visitors by his surgeon at Florence.
The result is considerable mystery
about the case.
Joseph Parisc, 20, of New Jersey,
sentenced at New Orleans to serve 10
to 20 years for theft of an automobile,
smiled and said: "What a break,
I'll be away from women for 20
years."
Bossy Limehouse is again a candidate
for sheriff of Dorchester county,
and local politics there are beginning
to., boil over again, with three
factions in the ring this time?The
Limehouse contingent, the R. L. D.
bunch find an independent faction
fighting both of the old contenders.
The holidays saw 18 fatal accidents
in upstate New \ ork, all of them due
to automobiles except ione, a drowning.
There were no fireworks accidents.
John
I). Rockefeller Sr., celebrated
his 1)3rd birthday anniversary July 8
nnd says he is in good health and expects
to round out the century.
President Hoover on Tuesday night
signed the treasury-post office supply
hill carrying appropriations of
around $1,000,000,000.
The toll of gunfire in the stato of
Kentucky on the Fourth of July totaled
13. Most of the slayings were
caused by "fits of passion."
New'ton D. Baker of Cleveland, O.,
has announced his intention of supporting
Franklin D. Roosevelt for the
presidency.
Food shortages in the cities and
town along the western coast of Mexico
is threatened because of a strike
on the Southern Pacific system which
affects rail traffic over that area.
The Post-iDispatch building at
Houston, Texas, 22 stories high, formerly
owned by Governor Ross Sterling,
was sold Tuesday at public auction
for $750,000.
Senator Robinson of Arkansas told
the senate Friday that lengthy
speeches delivered before that body
try his patience.
Three aviators were burned to
death at Redding, Cal., Friday when
their airphine fell 200 feet and burst
into flames.
King C. Gillette, inventor of the j
safety razor, died at his borne on a j
California ranch Sunday, aged 87
years.
Aaron Thompson, 19y died at Fayetteville,
N. C., Saturday from a broken
neck sustained when he dived into
shallow water in White lake.
David Greenfield, a neurotic young
man of 24, fatally shot himself in a !
Pullman berth on the Piedmont Limited
train between Salisbury and
i Chen loiie. lie nad an attack of com-'
| - - ?
plete loss of memory some time ago
while a member of the Cosolidated
Millinery company, of Atlanta, and
had been wandering around the east- !
fin -dates while his family searched
f ' him. lie '.us found finally n*
Wdki-ohoro. Pa., and his brother-in
trtT-?xn- !7iVTi;g ruin huaic. Ho d,c.<
:: m.:.ut?* after rea.hir.g t:.<
1 l,v-hy'er.an ho*pi: >i :n t'ha !
v he ah- tak? " f .on the : a
Siic ht l> ( arele-.i
? > i >i-i * a r. \\ :i'h. :\ '
' a head < :: r r..
\ ..;i thundered a'
"a". 10 Jh... -jj:tr:11 \ u *.i\\ \
. iv..nv d"'A n the tr*uk at
an hod-?"
"Yah." .-aid Die.
"And when you looked L'\r.:
' saw N'o. 5 coming up the : rar 1
-ixty miles an hour?."
"Yah," said Ole.
j "Well, what did you dcTjthcr?"
Aye got off track."
"Well, then what did you do1"
"Veil, aye said to myself, 'Dis bar.e
one h of a way io run a railroad.'
"
Monthly Report of
Associated Charities
Report of the Associated Charities
of Camden and Kershaw County for
June, 1032, rendered by Warren H.
Harris, treasurer;
Balance from last month .. $2,669.26
Receipt# this month 58 60
v ______ ,,
Tot.1 ?i,727.76
General Charity
Chpvis Green, groceries 6 8.80
Mr#. Rabon, for groceries .. 6.00
DePass Drug Store ........ 2.76
A. A. Holland, for milk l.*0
Willowbrook Creamery /\ 880
Camden Chronicle
C. E. Lamoy, for groceries .. 60
City Filling Station 6.69
Mrs. L. B. Russell, board .. 1.70
Incidentals 8.08
|C. E. Lamoy, for groceries .. 1.86
Lomansky, for shoes '. L&5
Holly, for groceries ........ 6.30
Government envelopes 10.00
[Mrs. Truesdale, for milk .... 8.10
Miss Kirkland, for milk ...; 6.82
Mrs. Melton, for milk ^ 1.15
Colonial Food 'Store 8.66
Mrs. Kate Gettys, salary 20.00
Mrs. L. B. Russell, iboard ... .8.55
Transportation 4.53
A. A. Holland, for milk ..... 1.40
C. E. Lamoy, for groceries . . 9.53
Colonial Food .Store, groceries 6.73
$123.97
Children's Home
Wolfe-Eichel Co., clothing: . .$ 1.05
M. Baruch, clothing 6.19
DoKalb Pharmacy, medicine .. 11.72
Mackey Hardware Company .. 3.00
DePass Drug Store, medicine 5.44
Home Furnishing Company .. 1.50
Water and Light . .. 10.47
C. E. Lamoy, groceries 9.12
Telephone 2.56
J. C. Penney 5.01
Fischel's 10c Store 5.00
Thomas & Howard, groceries 66.59
C. E. Lamoy, groceries 6.60
Mrs. Arrants, salary 18.00
Miss Moore, salary 15.00
C. C. Moore, rent 5.00
Plowing garden 1*50
T. B. Clyburn, rent for cow .. 5.00
C. E. Lamoy, groceries 2.00
Leader, clothing 2.30
C. E. Lamoy, groceries 8.33
English Barber Shop 2.40
Labor and servant hire 54.00
$246.78
Total $ 370.75
Balance $2,357.01
1 ; "
Camden Boy Honored
t The
following clipping from the
Gainesville, Florida, Sun will be read
with interest toy friends of Doug
Montgomery, Camden boy, who is attending
summer school at the University
of Florida, where he received
the honor of being named president
of the graduating class;
"At a short but spirited meeting
of the senior class Friday afternoon
Doug Montgomery was elected, president
of the graduating summer session
students. Mrs. Frank Guito was
honored with the office of vice-president
atid W. E. Edwards was elected
secretary-treasurer.
- "Immediately following the election
of officers, President Montgomery
called the group to order and
outlined plans for the class.
"Committees will be announced
later to serve in the various capacities
under the present officers.
"The graduating class this summer
promises to be the largest in the history
of the University summer sessions."
Blacksburg is shipping game chickens
to England, as an item in modern
South Carolina diversification and
trade. A member of parliament ordered
seven fighting cocks from Captain
Albereotti. Southern railroad
conductor and breeder of fine game
cocks, nnd the birds were shipped to
London via Ottawa, Canada.
DR. LUTHER R BRIDGES
Dr. Bridges wiR preach at & series
of revival meetings at the Lyttleton
Street Methodist church of this city
Odtnmencing Sunday, July 17th.
f
Abundant Legumes
Seeded On Farms
Clemson College. July, 11.-?-Forage
and soiling crops, mostly legumes,
are being seeded in abundance < on
farms over the state, according to reports
from county farm agents, indicating
that livestock and land will be
much the better off thereby.
Typical of the good news is the
statement from S. C. Stribling, Cherokee,
who says: "A large part ofHhe
grain stubble has been, planted to
either late corn, peas, or soybeans,
and the good seasons have brought
these crops to fairly good stands."
Other Piedmont instances include
those from P. B. KteN, Newberry?
"Practically all available land has
been planted to feed crops that are
up to a good stand"; R. H* Lemmon,
Fairfield?"More cowpeae are being
planted this year than usual and the
stands thus far are good"; W. J.
Tiller, Cbesterfleld?"With a good
supply of cheap legume seed such as
velvet beans, soybeans and peas, the
acreage is apparently the largest ever
seeded in the county." , Z
From other sections come similar
statements such as those from J, R.
Clark, Richland?'The farmers have
planted more cowpCas, soybeans and
velvet beans this year than ever before,
and the feed crops look good";
from C. L, MeCaslan, Calhoun?
"Large acreages of peas and soybeans
are beipg put in this yenV-?;
and from H. i). Green, KersKaw?"All
over the county our farmers are
growing more and more legumes and
producing more feed crops."
r- _________ 7
Items From Spring Hill
Miss Grace Graham visited in
McBee last wee{c.
Mrs. Ada Bell Cheatom and daughter,
of St. Charles, have been visiting
friends and relatives here.
Mr. and Mrs. James White and
son, of Charlotte, N. C., have returned
home after visiting relatives.
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert White and
little daughter, have returned to their
home in Norfolk, Va. While here
they were guests of Mr. and Mrs.
Tom White.
Dr. and Mrs. L. A. Sowell" and
children, Misses Ethelyn Moseley and
Ethel Louise Hammond, of Camden,
were guests Sunday of Mi*, and MrsJ.
L. Moseley.
Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Graham and
Miss Joe Graham were dinner^guests
Sunday of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Lee,
of Marshall's. Miss Nora Lee returned
home with them for a short
visit.
Miss Floride. MoCathern has returned
home after visiting in North
Carolina for two weeks."
The White family held its annual
reunion last week at Pocalla Springs.
?.
The jury hearing the damage suit
of Myrtle St. Pierre, at Los Angeles,
Cal., against David L. Hutton, husband
of Aimee iSemple, woman
evangelist, in which she claimed
$200,000 damages for heart balm because
Hutton had jilted her, gave the
woman a verdict of damages in the
sum of $5,000. She claimed that
Hutton h?d betrayed her.
News, at BethunT I
Bethune, July 12,?The memben I
the Epworth League enjoyed iT I
lightful picnic at Big Spring. jS* I
day evening. n I
A daily vacation Bible echool od*.
ed Monday nKiroUfisat the fl
terian church. Children of ejPTj
nominationa are in attendance. B t
General Eben Yarbrough. 0f th?
Confederate Home, Columbia.
beed visiting relatives here. B ,
Mrs. Lawrence McDowell and ehfl. 11
dren, of Tampa, Fla., are epeafa* fl
some time with Mr, and Mrs. W 7 B
McDowell. "I
Revival services will begin at th. I
Bethune Baptist church Sunday tv?T
ing at 8:30 o'clock. The Rev, Mr I
Rogers, of Timmonevllle, will aieUt Bc
the pastor during the meeting, a flt
welcome is extended to all who ma* B <
feel like attending. \
, Fred Smith, of Columbia, has bees fl 1
.the recent guest of Neil Truesdale. B
I Miss Clarice Hyatt, of Bishopvilk B
' is spending some time with her IS I'
ter, Mrs. Gid Fowler. Miss Tresis fl1
Mae Hyatt, who has also been visit fl<
ing her eister, has returned home. -fl
, Misses Louise and Edith McDonald, flt
of Hartsville, have been the guests B
of their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. B(
.John McDonald. It
I Mrs. Love Hearon has been visiting B
friends in Columbia. fl(
Mrs. Mattie Bakor has gop* ^.1
McBee where she is spending some I
time with relatives. ? Mrs.
B. W. Best's .Sunday school fl
class gave a play at the school audi- B
torium last Wednesday evening, The B
proceeds are to be used toward help- |
ing on the .Methodist parsonage under B
construction. fl
. Misses Agnes and Mabel Shirley, I'
of Camden, were guests for several I;
days last week of tneir grandparents, r:
Mr. and Mrs. Moore. fl.
Miss Leona Smith and Bill Camp- . -fl
bell, of Columbia, w?re recent dinner fl'
guests of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Waters. B'
Miss Beth Norwood, of McBee, vis- B1
ited Miss Margaret Truesdale last, 1
I week.
j The' people of Bethune have beeni, I
suffering from the intense heat for B
the past few days. On Monday
thermometers hanging on the porches B
at different homes registered 164 de- fl
grees.
Circle number one of the Baptist, a
W. M. U. met oh Monday afternoon fl
at Mrs. W. A. Outlaw's; number two
met with Mrs. Eddie Campbell and |
number three met at Gates Hill fl
school house on (Sunday afternoon. I
The regular meeting of the mission- jfl
ary society was held at the chffrch 'fl
! Wednesday ^ftemoon. :'jH
I Food Meeting fl
Community meetings for the pur- fl
pose of causing greater production fl
land conservation of food are being fl
held this week and next week all over
Kershaw county by Miss Sadie B. fl
Craig, home agent and county agent. fl
Henry D. Green. Be sure to attend |
the meeting "nearest you. Take * I
| neighbor or two. Do your part to ' fl
help our people have a plenty of food' j
this winter.
Association To Meet
The union meeting of Kershaw fl
Baptist association will hold its quarterly
session with Cedar Creek
church Saturday, July 30th. Watch fl
the papers next week for further fl
notice. !
Two prison camp officials, charged H
j with responsibility for the death of a fl
| young convict, have been released at
I Jacksonville, Fla., on bonds of $6,000'
Iench. "I
I PENNEY'S End-of-the-Season |
I CLEARANCE
Ail our excess stock of
Men's Clothing
Repriced to sell NOW
All Wool Suits
j Year Round Weights
$9.90 $11.90
! Men's First Quality
Socks
5c Pair
Men's Neck Band I
Shirts 98c
y Guaranteed Fast Colors
These sold at much
I higher prices
Men's All Wool Worsted
Pants reduced to
$1.98 and $2.98 |
Full Fashioned
Chiffon Hose
First Quality
49c J
Bleached and Brown
Muslin
5c J
Boy's Muslin >1
. Night Shirts |
39c f.
Bed Spreads - ;j
Rayon, 80 x 105 j
98c - - Women's
Fast Color
Dresses -I
3 for 98c _ |
(MKKBBr llllllll'HMHW"
Men's Summer vM
Union Suits
38 to 46 |j
, - 25c, . jrl
^J^Ien's Fast Color
Press Shirts 49c j
")' I
J,c. PENNEY GO II
p A * T M B#f I-J
fl