McCormick messenger. (McCormick, S.C.) 1902-current, June 15, 1916, Image 7
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and while there is even now a move toward starting a new paper
in the county it is beyond question that the citizens will not soon
forget the untiring efforts and patriotic expenditure of time and
labor made by Mr. McCracken, in maintaining a newspaper for the
purpose of furthering the interests of this section. The Messenger
is and should continue to be looked upon as the “County paper”
and now that we have a county of our own and consequently must
have a newspaper, and as a newspaper can not exist without the
support of the public, it is right and proper that every citizen should
lend his support, both morally and financially, to the Messenger,
the paper that should come first by every rule of ethics.
New improvements are being made in the Messenger’s equip
ment. A large new press and new type are being installed and new
and better quarters will be occupied soon. A better paper will be
furnished and the publics interests will dominate its policy.
Arrangements have been completed for the transfer of W. O.
Sturkey’s interest in the paper to be taken over by E. J. McCracken,
a son of the editor, and the establishment will become “The Mes
senger Publishinger Co.”
THE DAVIS REALTY COMPANY.
No other business concern, nor individual has done more to
bring this section of the State into prominence and cause its pre
sent development, or has been more instrumental in bringing to a
successful termination the move that recently resulted in the for
mation of McCormick County, than has the Davis Realty Company.
This enterprising realty concern opened offices in McCormick
about eight years ago and at once set about to bring to this com-
OFFICERS OF THE DAVIS REALTY CO.
A. J. Davis, Pres, on right; 6. Allen Banks, Vtce-Pres. and Treas,
center, J. E. Ashmore, Secretary, left.
munity the better class of facets from other sections of this and
other States, and were so successful that Within the past eight
months it sold over $121,000.00 worth of farm land, and in doing
so brought into our mldBt good, substantial Southern farmers whose
citizenship is an asset to the community.
Recently the Davis Realty Company increased its capital stock
by public sale of stock in the company, and now have offices in
McCormick, Greenwood, and Laurens, all of which are proving of
great worth to the several towns and surrounding territory. A
recent campaign put on by the company has resulted in the listing
for sale vast acreage of both developed and undeveloped farm lands
all along the C. & W. C. Railroad from McCormick to Greenwood
and have for sale any kind of farm the heart may desire.
The officers of this company are men who not only know the
value of real estate but who are practical farmers and wide awake
business men of unquestioned integrity. They are: A. J. Davis,
president, resident of Laurens and in charge of the company’s busi
ness there; G. Allen Banks, vice-president, now residing in Green
wood and in charge of the business there, and J. E. Ashmore, Secre
tary, resident of McCormick, and in charge of the company’s in
terests at this point.
Mr. Davis, the president of the company, had been in the lum
ber business a number of years in this section before going into
the real estate business. And while his activities carried him to
several southern and western states and covered a period of over
fifteen years, he never lost sight of the fact that the soil, climate and
social conditions were better in Western South Carolina than in any
other part of the United States. Nor did his interest in farming lag.
He studied conditions and soil and also kept posted as to modern
methods of farmnig. Thus taking his early training on a farm, his
travels through other states, his experience in real estate and its
valqe, and his having kept himself well posted upon modern farm
ing methods, renders him an expert in his line of endeavor that has
proven a blessing to all who have had dealings with him.
The Davis Realty Company is truly a boon to this entire sec
tion of the State and McCormick is justly proud of its presence.
LOCAL TELEPHONE SERVICE—GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT.
As evidence of the spirit of progress prevailant in McCormick,
no institution lends more weight than does that of the Local
Telephone Co.
This company was organized by M. L. B. Sturkey, one of the
leading business men and community developers in this territory.
The undertaking was begun in 1905 and the stock was all sold, lo
cally, and an exchange placed and thirteen telephones installed
during that year. Mr. Sturkey was made president and general
manager of the company. Under his able management the tele
phone became of great service and soon grew in popularity to the
extent that new phones were installed in many of the homes and
business houses that at first could not be induced to use them.
After a time it began to dawn upon the populace that telephones
were an absolute necessity and then our local company came into
its own.
The farmers of this section began to see tl^ benefits to be de
rived from telephone service and came to realize that without a
phon they were a long ways from the commercial centers and up
on poor social relationship with other farmers living at a distance
from them, while with a phone they were practically right in the
heart of the commercial activities of the towns and could “visit”
their friends, by phone, every day, even though those friends lived
many miles distant Lines were run through the country districts
and the service became highly developed. At Plum Branch an ex
change was put in and connected, by a line along the country road,
with McCormick. Connections were also made with Troy, Bordeau,
Liberty Hill, Double Branches, Ga., and Lincolnton, Ga., thus bring
ing the populace of these neighboring towns, and the farmers in
this entire territory, in close touch with McCormick.
Several years ago J. W. Wilkins, of Gaffney, S. C., came to Mc
Cormick, invested largely in the stock of the Telephone Company
and took over the management of the company’s affairs, Mr. Sturkey
retiring from that position to devote his whole time to his large
mercantile and other interests.
Mr. Wilkins was a telephone man of broad experience, having
spent years in that line of endeavor. Under his capable and effi
cient management he brought the local telephone service up to the
highest state of perfection by anticipating the constantly increasing
demands made upon this public utility and to promptly supply the
most satisfactory service to the public. Since taking charge of the
affairs of this company, Mr. Wilkins, with a corps of able assistants,
has kept abreast of the times and has doubled the number of
phones in service over and over again.
In the early history of the Telephone Company of McCormick,
many obsticles had to be overcome and much work and many try
ing ordeals were Imposed upon the manager, but the man at the
helm steered a straight course ahead and overroad every breaker
and came out of every storm stronger and better prepared to meet
the requirements of his patrons. Much credit is due him for the
service he rendered this community and possibly no man except
the one who did it, M. L. B. Sturkey, would ever have stayed by
his post of duty so faithfully and withstood all that was encounter
ed by him in bringing the telephone service up to the standard
reached when he retired from its service.
The present manager, Mr. Wilkins, has added greatly to the
service and kept it up to as near perfect as it is possible to make a
telephone service and he, too, had to encounter many and varied
obsticles which he overcame in a manner that is peculiar only to
£hose of broad experience and perfect command of himself and
ithose under his supervision. He is a thorough, practical business
man and executive and is a broadminded public spirited citizen
deeply interested in the moral and commercial advancement of the
town and county.
The finances of the McCormick Telephone Co. are in the hands
of L. L. Rankin, Secretary and Treasurer of the company, a gentle
man of exceptional business qualifications, an expert accountant
and a citizen of substantial worth. He is interested in the com
mercial activities of McCormick and is in charge of the business
office of M. L. B. Sturkey Mercantile house. His interest in the
progress and commercial growth as well as the moral advance
ment of the community, is of the deepest nature.
McCormick is proud of her telephone company as an institu
tion of value to the community, and proud of the possession of the
citizenship of the men who own and operate this necessary utility.
M. G. AND J. J. DORN.—LUMBER.
M. G. and J. J. Dorn, well known pianufacturers of rough and
dressed lumber, are closely associated with the material develop
ment and commercial enhancement of both the town and county of.
McCormick.
This firms manufacturing plant is located near the C. & W. C.