McCormick messenger. (McCormick, S.C.) 1902-current, June 15, 1916, Image 5
THREE
McCORMICK AND McCORMICK COIJNTY, S. C.
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made for an election, in the territory effected, which was authoriz
ed by the Governor of the State. The election carried by a large
majority, but when the bill went to the Legislature it was killed in
committee on account of lack of area to comply with the law.
The law specifies the minimum area a county can embrace. It
also states that in forming a county no territory can be taken from
a new county. McCormick County could not cut enough territory
from Edgefield and Abbeville Counties without reducing them to
below the minimum territory required by law. Greenwood county
was not many years old, so was considered a "new” county. How
ever, in order to form McCormick County, it was necessary to take
in a part of Greenwood as well as Edgefield and Abbeville to ac
quire the necessary area for McCormick County.
The people of McCormick took the matter to the Supreme Court
to determine what was an "old” and a “new” county, and if Green
wood was an "old county” in the eyes of the law.
The Supreme Court decided that Greenwood was an old county
and a part of its territory could be taken in the formation of a new
county. Application was again made to the Governor and an elec
tion ordered in 1913. The election carried, but on account of some
technical point in election laws not being complied with, it was
fought by some of the citizens who objected to the formation of the
county and carried to the supreme court and annulled.
In 1915 another election was ordered and carried. This elec
tion was also contested and carried to the supreme court, but was
upheld by that body and McCormick County became a reality on
April 19th, 1916 after a fight of twenty-one years.
LETHE ORPHANAGE AND AGRICULTURAL SEMINARY.
(By Rev. H. B. Blakely, Supt)
Dr. John DeLa Howe was a Frenchman from Abbeville, France.
He settled near the present town of Bordeau in Abbeville County.
As is said, he went to the Legislature from this section and was the
man to name Abbeville County, naming it after his home country.
At that time Abbeville included Greenville, Anderson, Pickens,
Oconee, and part of Greenwood counties. Greenville was formed in
1786, Anderson and Pickens were created in 1826 out of old Pendle-
Lethe Orphanage showing Boys Dormitory on left, Girls Dormitory
in center and Superintendents Home on right.
ton which had been created in 1789. Oconee was formed from
Pickens in 1868. Greenwood was created in 1897. •
Dr. De La Howe made a will leaving a large tract of land and
some money to found an institution to “feed clothe and educate
twelve poor boys and twelve poor girls from Abbeville eounty.”
This will was in effect in 1797 at his death and, as is taken for
granted, all territory included in Abbeville County at his death is
entitled to the benefits.
The long period has not seen the development that we might
expect possibly. However a great deal of good has been done. A
few years ago the trustees, or some of them, thinking possibly
more good would result by sending 12 boys to Clemson College and
12 girls to Winthrop had a friendly suit carried through the courts.
The Supreme Court decided that it would be necessary to run the
school on the estate, but added to say that under the will it was
competent for the state to put money here and take children from
other portions of the state, provided that Abbeville County was
given its 24 children and equal share with the other counties. After
this decision the present superintendent was employed and the 12
boys and 12 girls gathered. The school is just closing its third
nine months term under the management of this Supt. Rev. H. B.
(Blakely.
A bill has twice passed unanimously the lower house of the
legislature to appropriate a certain sum of money to equip the
farm school so that poor boys and girls could be taken from all
over the state. This bill was not killed in the senate but has not
yet passed. The bill is intended, as appears, to equip a school
for poor boys and girls upon the lines laid down by the founder,
and in keeping with his will as interpreted by the court.
In this wonderful bill you see conservation of forests, and what
is now called domestic science. It provided that certain things
should be done to teach the surrounding farmers better methods.
Here you see 118 years ago conservation of forests, domestic
science, demonstration, orphanage training, and other features that
(ire just now coming into notice in a large way.
The tract contains, I think, 1760 acres of land, has a brick
dormitory for boys, a brick dormitory with dining room and kitchen
for girls, a home for the superintendent, and suitable outbuildings.
There is great need for better equipment in the way of laundry,
wood and blacksmith shops, technical equipment, dairy, creamery,
&c.
If the state should put additional money here, not only would
a much larger number get advantages, but all the Abbeville children
with the rest have many advantages not now enjoyed.
The Bellevieu school has for two years been consolidated with
the Lethe school giving better advantages to all.
The Superintendent gets letters every week, almost, begging
him to take some child that is needing just such an institution.
The girls do all the housekeeping, laundry, and poultry tend-
De La Howe Tomb near Lethe Orphanage.
ing, under a competent matron. The boys work part of every day
and are successfully raising much of the needed support. The Supt
is paid a salary.
All stock, chikens, crops, &c., belong to the institution, and the
children feel great interest in what they can call "Our cows, our
hogs, our farm, &c.”
The entire time of two and a half years under the present
management has not seen a case of serious sickness among the
children, in fact not needing a physician’s attention.
This is a wonderful opportunity for South Carolina to help the
poor boys and girls to an opportunity to succeed. It can be done
at a minimum cost as the farming lands are splendid and there
are good railroad facilities. The property runs about three miles
up and down Little River and lies within a mile or two of Bordeau
and two or three miles of Willington.
Town of McCormick
The County Seat of McCormick County. S. C. A wide awake town
of up-to-date enterprise and hustle. Many inducements
held out to desirable home-seekers.
(By J. E. McCracken.)
The town of McCormick, as well as the county, is named for
Cyrus H. McCormick, that world famous inventor and manufac
turer of the McCormick harvesting machinery of Chicago.
Mr. McCormick was attracted to this section by its mineral
wealth. He made large purchases of land and owned for a time
the land upon which the town of McCormick is built.
McCormick is located about thirty miles south of Greenwood,
S. C., and about sixty miles north of Augusta, Ga., on the C. & W.
C. R. R. It has a population of about nine hundred souls.
The territory adjacent to the town is settled up with thrifty
energetic farmers who are real producers. The soil is as good as
the average South Carolina farm lands and they are cheap.
We have splendid schools and churches, and moral conditions
are of the highest order.
In the town there is a cotton seed oil mill; two gins, one cot
ton warehouse, one lumber manufacturing company, one retail
jumber concern, two banks, two railroads, two printing establish
ments, a large commercial hotel, a telephone company, one bottling
plant, several secret societies, a civic league, a dramatic club and
a number of large retail mercantile establishments, of which men
tion of the principle ones will be made.
McCormick is a young growing town that will come into prom
inence as a commercial center. With its splendid schools, its
churches; its high moral standards; its healthful climate and ex-