McCormick messenger. (McCormick, S.C.) 1902-current, June 15, 1916, Image 13
McOORMHk AND kcCDRtflCK (’OtTNTV, S. &
iiliitES
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sides the large stock of general groceries that places this house
in the front ranks of dealers in pure food table articles, special
brands of canned meats, vegetables, fruits, condements, coffee, tea,
spices, cakes, crackers and sweets, are handled in large variety.
Heavy staples are furnished to the trade demanding them.
This store is owned and operated by two brothers, O. B. and J.
L. Smith, young men of sterling qualities, both as business men and
as worthy citizens. They are natives of McCormick and are known
all through this section of the country. As business men they are a
success and as citizens they are prized highly. In addition to their
merchandising interests they operate large farm properties. They
were both deeply instrumental in furthering the interests of the
new county movement and were enthusiastic workers for the cause
They are public spirited and ever ready to support any project that
will result in the good for either town or county.
STROM-BELL DRUG CO.
No business enterprise is more essential to the health and pros
perity of a community, or that occupies a more prominent place in
the commercial activities of an industrial center, than does a high-
class, efficiently managed drug store that maintains the highest
standards of reliability. And no other drug store in this entire
section, more admirably fulfills every essential requisite, than does
that of the Strom-Bell Drug Co., of McCormick, occupying the
ground floor of the beautiful Brown-Andrews building on the cor
ner of Main and Gold streets.
This enterprising concern is equipped with heavy oak and glass
cabinets and fixtures and maintains a strictly high class prescrip
tion department that conforms, in every detail, to the most scien
tific principles for compounding pharmaceutical preparations. This
department is under the personal supervision of W. M. Strom, one
of the members of the firm, who is a pharmacist of thirteen years
of practical experience in the drug business in Edgefield with G. L.
Penn & Son, Greenwood with the Greenwtood Drug Co., and then
came to McCormick and entered the drug business with the present
firm of Strom-Bell Drug Co.
This firm has gained the confidence of the public and is recog
nized as an institution whose policy is to give the trade pure drugs,
chemicals and medicines.
In addition to a regular and complete line of drugs and drug
sundries, the Strom-Bell Drug Co., carries a large assortment of
toilet articles and beauty preparations that draws trade from far
and near. Nunnallys candies are also an important item of the
jstock handled, while the beautiful fount, from which delightful and
refreshing soft drinks of all kinds and cream in pure fruit flavors,
are dispensed, is the feature of the business that has caused this
store to become headquarters for the young folk of the town.
Dr. D. A. J. Bell is the other member of the firm of the Strom-
Bell Drug Co. He is one of the best known physicians in this sec
tion and is recognized as one of the most proficient in this territory.
He has an extensive practice and it is continuing to grow larger each
year. Dr. Bell is a native of Edgefield County. He graduated from
the Medical Department of the University of Georgia in 1889 and
Came to McCormick where he has remained to the present time.
Both Mr. Strom and Dr. Bell were enthusiastic supporters of
the new county move and were largely instrumental in bringing
about the successful termination of the cause which resulted re
cently in the formation of McCormick County.
MRS. M. P. McCAIN.
In exploiting the resources and advantages of McCormick, it
will not be amiss to mention the fact that the advantages, afforded
to those who come to McCormick to investigate or stop here for
any other reason, in finding the most homelike and hospitable ac
commodations to be had anywhere one may seek.
There are ample Hotel accommodations and also several places
where board may be obtained at very reasonable prices, but the
most popular place among the latter; a place that is comfortable,
neat and most pleasant, as well as wholesome to a degree of per
fection, is the home of that excellent lady who is dear to all who
know her, Mrs. M. P. McCain.
Born and reared only a few miles from McCormick and having
moved to this place some twelve years ago Mrs. McCain is known
by hundreds and hundreds of people throughout this part of the
country as one of those admirable ladies of a Christian and benevo
lent nature that are so scarce these days.
She has been running a boarding house for the past ten years
with the exception 6f one year spent in Greenwood, S. C. operating
a large hotel. She is one of those rare women who cares for her
boarders as a mother cares for her children, anticipating the needs
and desires of those around her and supplying them with every
comfort and choice morsel of food in her power.
Mrs. McCain is an active religious, and civic worker. She is
a member of all the ladies societies in the church of which she is a
member; an active member of the Civic League; a member of the
Ladies Aid Society; is an Eastern Star and at one time held the
office of Martha in the Grand Chapter and at another, the office of
Esther in the local chapter of that order.
No one is better liked by all who know her than is Mrs. McCain
and no place will be more like home to one who is forced to leave
his own fireside^ than is the home of this excellent woman.
Residence of Hon. E. C. Robinson.
Willington, S. C.
McCORMICK COUNTY
A prosperous town of McCormick County, situated on the C. A W.
C. R. R. between McCormick and Anderson. A spot noted for
the great number of nationally noted men who were born or
educated here.
(By J. Edwin Porter.)
Tortured by a tyrannical French Government, persecuted to an
unbearable degree, men and women who thought more of their re
ligion than their lives, men and women with ideals they were will
ing to die for, longed for freedom, happiness and prosperity.
These noble old Huguenots turned their eyes to the New World
and in 1764 France lost the best blood that ever flowed through
human veins. Two hundred and twelve of these persecuted French
protestants, suffering on account of their religion were induced by
their pastor, Rev. Mr. Pierre Gibert to emigrate. They left France
at different times, and as, it were, by stealth meeting at Plymouth
England, from which point they sailed for Charleston where they
arrived in April 1764. They spent the summer at Beaufort and re
turned to Charleston in October. They soon set out for the back
country—land having been surveyed and assigned to them in the
neighborhood of Long Cane. They called their settlement Nouvelle
Bordeaux. A part of this settlement was given the name of Will-
ington by Dr. Moses Waddell in 1813. It was one of these vener
able old Frenchmen with the milk of human kindness coursing
through his veins who gave Lethe Estate to the poor children of
this country, Dr. John De La Howe.
The monuments in Willington cemetery show forth to posterity
that our ancestors were of a patriotic dispisition. The stone that
(narks the grave of Mr. Andre Guillebeuax shows that he carried
to his grave a bullet in his thigh received in the Revolutionary
war. It was their decendents who helped win the battles of Vera
Cruz, Chapultepec, Cherbusco and others in the Mexican war. No
inconsiderable number of Company “G” of the 14th S. C. Volunteers
who defended the bloody angle at the battle of Spottsylvania were
raised in this community, some being of Huguenot descent. Some
idea of the intensity of this fight can be gained by the knowledge
that a large tree was cut down by minnie balls and fell among
Company “G”. All honor to their bravery!
From 1804 to 1816 there flourished here the greatest educational
institution in the United States under the able direction of the
famous educator Dr. Moses Waddell who founded the Willington
presbyterian church in the year 1813. It was under the supervision
that John C. Calhoun received his early training. Judge Longstreet,
Judge Wardlaw, George McDuffie, Preston Brooks, James L. Petti
grew and others of equal note here, received the training that was
destined to make them men among men and makers of history.
John Temple Graves was born here. It makes our hearts glow
with pride when we think of the many grand noble brave and illus-
trous men who owe their nativity to this section of McCormick
County. Would it be rash to think that the climate, the water,
the air, the land and the general environment of this section of the
jpountry tends to produce BRAIN.
In the year 1898 the town of Willington was incorporated with
Capt. S. S. McBride as mayor. Mr. J. A. LeRoy and Mr. J. T. Black
later served as mayor of this progressive town. Mr. R. F. Morris