Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE LEDGER: GAFFNEY. S. C.. SEPTEMBER 30, 1897. 10 bl<» slates, whetstones, itncolumite, M«n,istones. paint muteriuls (umbers uih! ucres) tale, miinneeia, etc.-, etc. V/atcr Power. Another ^reat source of nntura!. wealth that is now attracting consid erable attention in this section, is the splendid water power of Broad river. In less than ten miles of its course, along the western boundary of t herokee township and within a rad>us of six miles from Blacksburg, this noble stream furnishes available power sufficient todrive all the ma chinery now in use in the State. The fall of the river in this distance is not far from two hundred feet, and concentrates a force at four shoals, (Gaston, Surratt, Cherokee and Nine vast water power of this locality. The mill is situated about three and a half miles south of Blacksburg, and is directly on the line of the GfTney division of ‘he R. & C. railroad. The Old Iron Works. According to tradition, the first iron makers in Cherokee township were tlx* fir;-t settlers. The ores in this vicinity being very pure and abundant, were easily converted into iron in Catalan forges, and as only a small quantity was necessary to sup ply tin* then limited demand, it was manufactured by this primitive pro cess at a very early period in the his tory of the country—some years pre vious to the Revolution. The first r gular furnace, (according to Col. < IIKKOKKK INN. ty-nine islands) capable of develop ing. without storage, an aggregate of 7,-oO horse power, which, it is esti mated, with proper storage, can be considerably more than doubled. The banks of the streams at all these sites are in every way admira bly adapted to the development of the different powers to their utmost Jimit, and furnish splendid locations for necessary buildings. They rise from fifteen to twenty feet above the level of the stream, away beyond the reach of high water. Though but two of the shoals. Cherokee and Gaston, are now being utilized, all of these powers have, in time, been developed to some extent for various purposes. Just south of the North Carolina line, and about seven miles northwest of Blacksburg, is the Surratt power, which lias a fall of 35 feet in one and three-quarter miles. The minimum power furnished at low water, with out storage. is 1,450 horse, and with storage, the maximum runs up to 4,000 horse power. About two miles south of this, the Gaston shoal, with a minimum power of 400 horse, is the site of a wheat and corn mill. The shoal lias a fail John L. Black, who furnishes us with this information) was built along about the year 1800 by Jacob Stroup, and was located near the mouth of King’s creek. After con tinuing in operation only a few years, during which time it did a most pros perous business, it was destroyed by a sudden rise in the creek, which flooding the hearth and cliilling the iron in the iron box, as the iron makers say “blew her out.” The chilled mass of iron is still to be seen j upon the spot. After this mishap. Stroup sold the property to Messrs. Wm. McGill and Jno. B. Darwin, and having in the meantime discovered a more desirable location, moved up the river and commenced the erec tion of another furnace at the site at present occupied by the Cherokee Falls factory. This was about the year 18:25. After nearly completing the new works, all but putting them in operation, lie sold out to E. Gra ham «fc Co., a firm composed of Emmor, Graham, Jacob M. Deal, James A. Black, Robert, Peter and John Bryce. These gentlemen, upon taking charge of t he enterprise, added to it on a large scale, building the first rolling mill established in the immediate future, there is little rea son to fear that this state of affairs will long continue. The most, valua ble ores have been secured by the I Magnetic Iron and Steel Ore Mining i company, which owned, controlled and directed by men of means, expe- . rience and enterprise, may be depend ed upon to develop their interests to t heir fullest capacity. Coal. A good quality of coal has recently been discovered by Rev. P. R. Elam within a few miles of Blacksburg. A vein is now being worked at King’s Mountain, within the limits of the town. It is only a question of a short while when these mines will be worked tothelr fullest extent and the I people of North and South Carolina | will burn coal from their native i mountains. Bits of History. 1 The vicinity of Blacksburg was ' long known by the people of the Cher okee section as"Stark s Folly.” The first comers to this country found this particular locality an apparent ly barren waste, which they consid ered so worthless that it was many | years before any one saw tit to build on and claim the lands, which was first done by a man named Stark, i and for want of a better name, the people of the neighborhood designa ted the locality as above. The Whitesides limestone spring and the branch which forms its outlet, are still marked Folly Springs and Folly Branch on surveyors’ plats. Whitaker mountain is said to be named in honor of .Sally Whitaker, who, with her father’s family, at one time lived in the gap in the moun tain. One afternoon, while search ing for the cows, in company with her little brother, the latter was at tacked by a large panther. .Sally carried a rifle, with which she suc ceeded in killing the brute, and the mountain has ever since been known by its present name. Blacksburg Builders. The following are sketches of ft few of the enterprising builders of the thriving city of Blacksburg: entering upon this work he found that a knowledge of telegraphy was necessary to his success, and begin ning its study at once, in thirty days mastered it sufficiently to enable him to transact all the telegraph busi ness required of his office. Continu ing in his 1 iw studies in the mean time. Mr. Hardin resigned his posi tion on the railroad in N'm and up on being admitted to the bar, set tled down to the practice of his pro fession in Blacksburg in the same vear. He at once began an aetive part in the progress of tne town, and is a contributor, directly or indi rectly, to all of its enterprises. He lias held the position of intendent. and ho holds, among other responsi ble positions, those of attorney for the Cherokee Building and Loan As sociation. and attorney and sec retary and treasurer of the Magnet'- Iron and Steel Ore Mining Co.. He is also an attorney for the Ohio River and Charleston railroad. MAJ. JOHN' K. JOKES. was born at Springfield,Mass. His first business experience was in the office of the Daily I'nion of that city. He resigned a lucrative position to take up civil and mechanical engineering, and in his profession had a valuable experience covering a dozen years, part of which time he was superin tendent of the most extensive bridge I building concern in New England. This period was followed by several years of railroad experience in an ex pert capacity—improving old and creating new properties, etc. He was next called to the Hartford and Wes tern railroad as general freight agent ' and soon after becoming superintend- : ent.was next elected a director, and j as agent of the trustees successfully | saved the property from bankruptcy, ! on the verge of which it was then '■ pending. Fpon re-organization of the company he was made managing director with t lie office of vice-presi dent, and by his application, ability The aborigines of this country were j an< ^ fertility of resources, won a dis- i.ooKorr place. of ten feet in one mile of distance, and is capable, with storage, of de veloping 1,150 horse power. Next in oruer comes tlie Cherokee aboa: with a fall of fifty feet in two miles of distance. The available mo tive force at this place is estimated at 2,700 horse power at low water with out storage, and 0,900 with storage. The furnaces and works of the King’s Mountain Iron company were located at this shoal, and three hundred horse power were obtained from an old fashioned breast wheel with ten feet of fall. Sixteen feet fall arc easily available within twj hundred yards of distance. About a mile and a half further down the river is the Ninety-nine Is lands shoal, with a fall of fifty feet in three miles, and capable of develop ing the same power as Cherokee. Building stone of very good quality and abundant in quantity, is to be had immediately on the banks of the river at all of these shoals, and all necessary building material can be gotten in the immediate vicinity. Besides the water power of the river, this section is traversed by two creeks, (King’sand Buffalo) both of which have considerable volume South, and commenced an extensive manufacturing business. About the year 1837 they in turn sold out the works to a joint stock organization, chartered and incorporated under the name of the King’s Mountain Iron company, which, with $100,000 capi tal, continued to make iron up to the dose of the war in 1805. Long before shutting down, however, the product of these works had gained a world wide reputation, having stood every test required of a superior quality of iron, and comnignded a high price even in England, where it was in great demand for the purpose of mak ing fine cutlery. Neither was the iron of this locality held in any less appreciation in this country. It found a market as far north as Rich mond, Va., was hauled in wagons to different points in North Carolina and Tennessee, and was extensively used by the United States Govern ment in the manufacture of ordinance at Harper’s Ferry. One of the last orders filled by the King’s Mountain Iron company was for 1,400 car wheels, which were furnished to the Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta railroad, and are still remembered as being superior to any wheels ever UPPEU STATION* OK THE O. K. * C. AT BLACKSBURG. and are capable of furnishing much additional power. Buffalo creek has a drainage area of one hundred and aeventy-two square miles, and a rapid fall, which is capable of developing from 5J to 15 horse power per foot. The power of King’s creek is little more than one-third as great. The Cherokee Falls Cotton Factory owned and operated by the Cherokee Falls Manufacturing company, and aituated at the site formerly occupied by the King’s Mountain Iron works, at the head of Ninety-nine Islands, is the only manufacturing enterprise as yet utilizing any portion of the used on that road before or since. Notwithstanding all this, in the de moralized state of affairs that suc ceeded the close of the war, the works were forced to shut down. Before being able to recuperate, the manu facture of iron was commenced in other localities possessed of the ad vantage of good transportation facili ties and an abundance of coal, and the richer ores of this vicinity, be coming more and more isolated, as compared with other iron making centres, were necessarily neglected. But the possibility of available coal now being a settled probability of the the Catawbas, to whom all of Chero kee county originally belonged, j Broad river forming the western ' boundary of their territory. The ! Cherokees were a remnant of a Cana- 1 dian tribe, forced south by the French 1 before the whites settled in this sec- j lion. They attempted to establish themselves along the eastern banks j of Broad river, but as the "result of a i great battle with the Catawbas, were j driven to the other side at the cross-j ing known as Cherokee ford. Num- I hers ofo'd Indian graves, marked by I heaps of stones, are still to be seen ; along the high ridges in this section, | there being probably a dozen on , Whitaker mountain, Buffalo creek is sai 1 to have been j so named on account of its valley hiving formerly been a favorite range of large herds of buffalo. Doolittle creek (corrupted from “lit41e deer”) derived its name from u similar rea son. Co!. Williams, one of the heroes oi King’s Mountain, was buried about four miles north of Blacksburg, on lands of Captain John B. Mintz, who has considerately allowed u cluster of trees to remain around the grave. Mortally wounded in the battle, the colonel was borne away by his com rades as far im this spot, where h ; re quested them to stop, and shortly af ter .vard expired. It was near here that Colonel Frederick Hambright captured a tory courier bearing the well known dispatch to Cornwallis in which Ferguson boasted that he oc cupied a strong position on King’s Mountain, and “all the rebels out of h—1 couldn’t drive him from it.” Adair's ferry, the favorite crossing place of Horseshoe Robinson, the hero of Kennedy’s famous novel, is also within a short distance of this place. Churches and School. Blacksburg rejoices in the privileges of unsurpassed religious and educa tional advantages, having Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Episco pal churches, all of which are in a most healthy spiritual and financial condition. The public and private schools of Blacksburg will compare most favor ably witii any in the state. Indeed she possesses much better educa tional advantages than would be ex pected In a town of such rapid and sudden growth. She has. besides a number of excellent private schools, one of the best conducted graded schools in the state. The Hotels Blacksburg is better supplied with hotels than any city of its size in the South. The most prominent hotels are the Cherokee Inn and the Merchants Hotel, both of which are conducted in first-class style. Be sides the hotels there are a number of private boarding houses for the convenience and comfort of the pub lic. A Valuable Prescription. Editor Morrison of Worthington, Ind , “Sun” writes: ‘‘You have a val uable prescription in Eletric Bitters, and I can cheerfully recommend it for Constipation and Sick Headache, and as a general system tonic it has no equal.” Mrs. Annie Stehle, 2025 Ceitage Grove Ave., Chicago, was all run down, could not eat nor digest food, had a backache which never left her and felt tired and weary, but six bottles of Electric Bitters restored her health and renewed her strength. Prices 50 cents and $1.00. Get a bot tle at store of DuPro Drug Co. tinguished reputation as a skillful, competent ami economical manager. Under his management the system was extended and new properties purchased, and an enterprise that had previously proven a miserable failure turned out to be a most pro fitable investment. Major Jones severed his connection with the Hartford and Western rail road in 18S5 to come South as chief engineer and superintendent of con struction of the Massachusetts and Southern Construction company, to build the Charleston, Cincirnuti and Chicago railroad, and after building that portion of the line between Blacksburg and Rutherfordton—one ! county of the most creditable pieces of rail road work to be seen in the South— organized its working features into a carrying company. He then helped to complete the Southern division, and was appointed superintendent and traffic manager of the whole com pleted portion of the line. Becoming a citizen of Blacksburg ten and a half years ago, he has thor oughly identified himself with all the interests of the town, and is always found either as a leader, or among the most reliable followers in every enterprise calculated to promote its progress. Besides having construct ed for himself a beautiful home, the Major is largely interested in real es tate, and has built so many houses in tlie eastern part of town that the other citizens of the place have nam ed that end “Jonesville.” in his hon or. The admirable plan of the school building is a free contribution of his skill, and in different parts of the town are to he seen several other beautiful specimens of his architect ural genius, all the plans Laving been donated by him free of Cost. Major Jones generally selected us his assistants and employes in the operation of the railroad, men born in the South. He had in his service, however, several Northern men after his own pattern—capable and court eous gentlemen, who, with their fam ilies, are most desirable additions to Cherokee county’s citizenship. He is a Repulican in politiesand ran for Congress on that ticket last year, and, although defeated, he en joys the warm friendship of a vast number of Democrats. No other man has done more for Blacksburg than Major Jones. He was an ardent new county man, which was in keeping with his pro gressive nature. COI.. JNO. L. BLACK, managing director of the Magnetic Iron and s^'leel Ore Mining Company, is a native of Cherokee Township No. 1., having been born near the site of Cherokee Falls Cotton factory, in 1830, and is a son of the late Captain James A. Black, who represented this district in congress for three consecutive terms, beginning in 1842, and died in Washington while still a member of that body. The Colonel received his primary education in the old field schools of the neighborhood When about twenty years of age he entered West Point, and finishing his education there, returned to South Carolina and settled in Richland county, where ho remained until 1859, when he moved to Fairfield Rice'll Oorwe Gr«*aw Llnament. cure* all acbea atxi pain*, bold and guaranteed by Chehosec Dkcu Co. If Rice Goose Grease don'tcure your aches and pains, hums, bruises and apralns. we pay you money back. _ „ DG?ua Duto CO. and engaged in farming. When the war broke out. the Colo nel was among the first volunteers to tender his services to Governor Dick ens. which he did two days after Major Anderson moved from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter. He en tered tlie service in the First regular infantry, and in January, iSfil.was promoted to lieutenat-colonel of the First battalion of South Carolina cavalry until the close of the war. When Johnston surrendered, the Colonel left the* front, in command of his regiment, which he marched home and disbanded in the streets of Yorkville, telling his men, like Jubal Early, that he was “not sorry for what he had done, but was sorry he had not been able to do more.” After the war, Col. Black engaged in farming.and was for a number of years connected with the fertilizer business at Charleston. Always interested in Cherokee, however, and familiar with that section from boyhood, no sooner had the building of the Three C’s railroad commenced to assume definite shape, than returning to Blacksburg, he set about locating and securing the most valuable iron lands in the vicinity, and the organ ization of the Magnetic Iron and Steel Ore Mining company is the re sult of his work. K. W. HARPIN', wan born in Cherokee townnhip in 1857, and was educated in the com mon schools of that vicinity, where having the advantage of good teach ers and being a hard student, he se cured a thorough English education. After studying law under the late W. C. Black, and acquiring sufficient proficiency to secure his admission to the bar, he entered the service of the Richmond and Danville Railroad Company, taking a position ss depot agent at Cornelia, Georgia. After PR. one of the most prominent physi cians of Blacksburg, was horn in Rutherfordton, N. C., in 1847. His father, who was also a physician, came to the United States from the north of Ireland, about the year 1840. His mother is a native of Ruther- iordton. The doctor joined the army of Northern Nirginia in 1863, when only sixteen years old, as a courier for Major General Wilcox, and served until the close of the war, being paroled at Appomattox. In 1866 he attended school at Bingham. N. C., and commenced the study of medicine at his home at Rutherford- ton, in 1878. After attending a course of lectures at the university of the City of New York, and another at Charleston Medical College, he graduated from the latter institution In March, 1880, and at once com menced the practice of bis profession. In 1884 he was married to Miss Georgia Deal, of Hollidaysburg, Pa., and two years later located in Blacks burg. where he has since been en gaged in building up u large practice and contributing a most valuably in- tluence in the social and industrial progress of the town. Dr. Andean is u man of exceptionally high Chris tian character, fine intcliectuul at tainments. and a physician of tried Ability, and his practice, which con sumes nearly all of his time, ex tends among the best people of that whole section. The Business Houses of Blacksburg Arc too numerous and our space too limited to permit of a complete re* \iew. However, we take pleasure in recommending to our readers the fol- 'owing uo-to-dute business firms of that city: W. A. Whisonant & Co. Dealers in Hardware, Groceries, Faints and Oils. In making up this, our Blacksburg edition, we desire to call your special atten tion ^ to the above firm composed o' W. A. Whisonant and B. J. Gold. To people in this county, they need no introduction as they are too well ami favorably known to our people. 1 hey have been doing business here for the past seven years and l y working on strictly lousiness principles aim selling goods at rock bottom prices, have won for themselves a reputation that few business men attain. Mr. W hisonant is a native of this county, having been raised at Wiikinsville. and has been prominently connected with many important enterprises for Blacksburg’s good, and enjoys the good will and respect of her people. Mr. B.J. Gold.of the above firm, came here in 1893 from his farm about three miles from here. He is a native of North Carolina but has been in York county for the last 21 years. He was elected to the legislature from York county in 18.88 by »• very large majority, and ran for tlie same office again in 1890 but was defeated on oeeount of the reform movement with which he would not side. Mr. Gold is held in high esteem by all who know him. If you need anything in their line give them a call. Macon Thornton. Dealer in pure drugs, stationery, toilet articles, paints, oils, glass and fancy goods. One of the prettiest and most reliable drug stores in Cherokee county is that operated by Mr. Ma son Thornton. This institution, while a new one, is worthy of no lit tle consideration, and is destined to be a leader in the drug business of this city. Tlie building occupied is a large two story brick building with a commodious salesroom well suited to the line. He keeps everything usually found in an up-to-date drug store, all of which are sold at moder ate prices. The genial propietor is a native of Tennessee hut for some time past has been doing business in Charlotte from whence he came to this place. His shelving and coun ters are made of polished oak and would be a credit to any city. He makes a specially of filling pliysicians prescriptions and gives the same his personal attention, thereby insuring accuracy and promptness. O. A. Borne. Dealer in staple and fancy grocer ies, confectioneries fruits and fancy holiday goods. It is with pleasure in compiling a review of Blacksburg, that we especially call the attention of our readers to the attractive and inviting fancy grocery of O. A. Os borne, convenient to both local and country trade. The building he oc cupies is a nice brick structure, where he has been the eight years he has been here. Mr. Osborne came here from Salisbury, N. C., in 1889, and owing to his clever business manage ment he has won for himself an en viable reputation and controls the best trade in this line of goods in the city. Mr. Osborne has also built him a nice two story residence on main street which would do credit to a much larger city. His stock is al ways complete, his goods fresh and you would do well to spend your money with him. Cline Bros. Livery feed and sale stables. This mammoth enterprise was opened to the public about fourteen years ago and since its opening clay has enjoyed the confidence and trade of a host of cus tomers and still thej have been steadily increasing the business until now they occupy a building 40xl2<> feet, and are as well equipped in the way of stock, vehicles and etc., as any livery stable in the up country. The genial proprietors are natives of this county, having been born and raised in the corner cut off from York county and have made many friends by tbeir square and honest dealings. If you ever want to take a drive out in the country while here, you could not do better than go to them, as they know every foot of the country for miles around and can make it in teresting for you. Their ’bus meets all trains. Cali on them. D. L. Brown ft Co. Dealers in Dry Goods, Clothing, Shoes, Hats, <fcc., Ac. The spacious and handsome 2 story building occu pied by this firm is 80x112 feet, with large salesroom on first floor. It is indeed with gratification that in this special edition of The Lkoger, we chronicle the achievements of this enterprising institution, as it is one that has been the recipient of phe nomenal success since its establish ment about ten years ago. Taking into consideration Its past record, we are warranted In saying that its fu ture will be marked with reinarkablo achievements, and one that will re dound to the prosperity of the ever Increasing city of Blacksburg. The Piedmont View Co. I). A. Gold, is the proprietor, and photographs of any kind are made to order on abort notice, satisfaction fc