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McCORMICK AND McCORMICK COUNTY, S. C, THIRTEEN ment appears: “He is a sober, industrious and reliable, if you need a man of this kind get him while you can. This iB the man who is going to run for the state legislature. His announcement for the House of Representatives has already been made. He is going to make a good run and if the people of the new county of McCormick want to elect "a man of parts,” a man who is strong in body and mind and one who knows how to use his strength to the best advantages; a religious man and one who will fight and fight hard for a good cause; a man who is young and vigorous and able to weather any storm, they had best choose this young man, J. Edwin Porter, for their first Representative. WILLINGTON BRANCH OF THE BANK OF McCORMICK. The progress of development of any community is dependant upon the finances of either an individual or an institution. In all communities, where the highest state of development is attained, an institution can be found to have been of the greatest importance and to have advanced more material assistance than any individual and among all the institutions, that offer aid to a community, none have ever accomplished as much or been of more assistance than have banking institutions. Among the banks of this section of the State, no other one has been of greater value to the community in which it is located, than has The Branch of The Bank of McCormick, located at Willington. Willington has undergone more improvements and the sur rounding territory has been more highly developed since the bank opened its doors in the town than in all the years previous. The Willington Bank has been instrumental in bringing about a high state of development of the farms in this section and in de veloping the spirit of thrift in the people. It has been of unlimit ed value to every individual in the surrounding country by offer ing not only a safe place to store their surplus cash, but by teach ing the people the advaptages to be derived from even being pre pared with funds in cases of emergency and of offering its assis tance where a worthy person needs it This bank is under the direct management of R. L. Ariail, its cashier, and has shown a remarkable increase in its business each year since its inauguration. Mr. Ariail is a business man of ex ceptional ability and by his broad and liberal policy, his conserva tive methods and his knowledge of banking house ethics, has won for this institution the implicit confidence of the entire public and built up a strong and satisfactory business connection with the best citizens. Mr. Ariail took charge of the affairs of the bank in Will- 1 ington, as its cashier, when it was first opened five years ago and while he had no previous bank training, he showed marked signs of unusual ability right from the start, and it was but a short time until he had acquired a very substantial knowledge of the bank ing business which has increased as time passed, until now he is master of the situation in every essential. His early training was in railroad offices, and while he started in a clerical position of minor importance, it was not long until he reached the position of agent at an important shipping center. The Bank of McCormick, of which mention i& made elsewhere in this Journal, is the strong institution of finance that controls the Branch Bank at this point. With its capital and surplus of over $100,000 and the personnel of its officers and directors, makes the bank here one of the strongest, if not the strongest bank in any community its size in the State. Plum Branch, S. G. McCORMICK COUNTY. A thriving anij fast-growing town on the C. & W. C. R. R. six miles south of the town of McCormick. This town has an enter prising business population and the farmers surrounding it are a high order. (By J. W. Miller.) Plum Branch is located on the line of the C. & W. C. Railroad, 38 miles north of Augusta, Ga. The town is nicely laid out on the lines of the railroad with the depot near the center of its business portion. An advantage is, that Plum Branch is in the center of one of the best agricultural sections of the western portions of the state, and on the divide between the Savannah river and Big Stevens creek, being four miles east of the river, which is the line between South Carolina and Georgia, and two miles west of the creek. Besides the fine agricultural portion of South Carolina we have a large scope of Georgia, which has a first class ferry across the river opening up to us another fine farming section, that bring their produce, cotton and cotton seed to this market for sale and take back with them such articles of merchandise as they use. The territory of Georgia from which we draw trade includes one third of Lincoln county. The establishment of the ferry across the river has added much to the town as the town continues to grow in business the Georgia trade will of a natural consequence increase. The most important feature of this section is its health. The town is considered, not only considered but known to be very healthy. Malaria is not thought of in the town. We have the best of water and sanitation and the best of citizens in the State live here. We have two good church buildings with a large mem bership. Baptist and Methodist, and it can be said with no fear of contradiction that there is not two churches anywhere in the state where the two denomination work more harmoniously together than the churches here. They unite with each other in all their undertakings except in their own church of course. We have a good High School building, and the next session we will have a principal, and four assistants. The school which has just closed, was a success in every way, and gratifying both to pat rons and teachers. The town has a live and energetic set of mer chants and business men, and up to date generally. There are two good blacksmith and wagon shops, seven business houses, doing general merchantile business as follows: W. R. Freeland, General Merchandise; W. W. Banks, Groceries; G. W. Bracknell & Son, do ing an extensive general mercantile business; B. F. Bladen, a meat market and grocery business; J. B. Blackwell & Co., Drugs, soft drinks and groceries; Sturkey Bros., general merchandise and ice for town and surrounding community; Miller & Co., Furniture and Undertakers supplies, wagons and buggies; W. F. Rush & Co., large garage, both sale and repair shop and Ford agents. Our Bank the pride of our town is up to date in every respect. We also have one of the best up to date Ginnerys in the state and it has paid handsome dividends for the past five years. W. G. Wells & Son, has a garage for storage and repairing. While we are giving a detailed account of the town, let us give more about the country, “Iowana Farms,” known as J. W. Miller cow ranch, 3 miles from town which has registered Hereford stock. This cow ranch will have all full bred as soon as circumstances permit. A good portion of the pasture is in Bermuda grass, and in a short while the entire pasture of several hundred acres will be. One other thing is: that the town for the past few years has kept in lead as the cotton market of this section. The facts are: The buyers have held the price of cotton and cotton seed above all the towns along the railroad from Augusta to Greenwood, and equal to either of these two markets. Dear Reader: Don’t think we have overdrawn the picture. Prove our assertions; come and see and be convinced. THE BANK OF PLUM BRANCH. In the commercial, industrial and agricultural progress of Plum Branch, no institution has offered so much material assistance or taken a more active part than has The Bank of Plum Branch. This financial institution has been instrumental in creating the enthusiasm that has resulted in the present commercial and indus trial activities, among the business men of this fast growing and exceptionally progressive community. It has been largely identi- ed with the agricultural progressiveness prevalent among the farmers of this section, that has resulted in the high state of de- velopement that has been attained in the way of scientific agricul ture. It has been the means of teaching the people of the surround ing territory, the great benefits to be derived from adopting the im- The Bank of Plum Branch. portant policy of thrift-and using banks as safe places to store their surplus cash, and of having on hand at all times the necessary money to take care of any emmergencies that may arise. Organized in 1912 with capital stock of $10,000.00 and today with a surplus and individed profits of $2,240.00, together with the