The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, August 24, 1886, Image 1
THE SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, 1*50.
Consolidated Aug. 2, 1881.1
'Be Jnst and Fear not
Let all the Ends thoa Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's andTrnths
THE TRUE SOCTHRON, Established dan?, IWff
SUMTER, S.O., TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1886.
New Series-Yoi. TI. Ko. 4.
. . -. ? PubUs2u& mrr Tuesday,
BT
K. GK OSTEEN,
\;y - ' ; SUMTER, S. Cv
TERMS:
? Two Bollara per annum-ia advance.
A?T ?ETIS?M?NTS 1
O?e Square, first insertion.$1 00
Sveryrsateequentinsertion^....^......?... 50
Ty /Contracts for three months, or longer will
"Ibis made at"reduced rates. ; m
: -All cornea anica tioas which subserve private
: ' nterests will be charged for as advertisements.
Obituaries and tributes of respect will be
* charged for.
WALKS AND TALES
IN? AND ABOUT
.-. . . ... ........
Whats Watchman and Southron
- "I iSoport?r Finds to Say
iwet?niag tte Town and Its
People.
?An "?Ua Podrida" of Informa
> ?on j^elative to a Thriviag,.
Enwprising Place and a
?Prosperous, Progress?
ive People, &c.
[BY OCR SPECIAL REPORTER ]
' One wno visits Sumter for the first
~; time, as be casually inspects the town,
;~is irresistibly led to the conclusion:
.*What a charming spot.' The broad
streets, almost level as a floor; the
abondance of shade trees ; the attrac?
tive private residences, embowered in
foliage; substantial business blocks;
" numerous churches and schools ; clean?
liness of streets-tbese and the many
indefinable attractions, serve to favor?
ably attract the beholder, and these
favorable opinions are deepened and
strengthened by association with tbe
polite and courteous people,
j . A glance -afc any map of the State
* may disclose the absoiate and relative
position of Sumter County and its capi
tal. It is bat about eighty miles from
Sumter to tidewater ; something more
than a hundred miles in an opposite di?
rection brings one to the mountain re?
gion, and here, occupying a broad pla?
teau between the sea and the mountains
is the.garden spot of the State. It is a
section of country usually free from ma?
laria or epidemic ; it is a section rich
in its natural resources, and is the home
of a cultured people.
By Tail the distance to Charleston is
95 miles ; to Columbia, the State Cap?
itol, it is 44 miles. Effective railway
service, through the Atlantic Coast
Line and its: connections, places our
town in close relations with both the
commercial and political metropolis of
'he State, as well as with the country
st large, and while additional transpor?
tation facilities are most undoubtedly
most desirable, still the community is
? 'Bow fairly well served.
Sumter has a population variously
-estimated.at from 2,200 to 2.500
doubtless the latter estimate is most
- .nearly correct. Daring the past two
or three years there bas been a marked
increase, and at the same time there has
been a corresponding increase in build
" ring activity both in ~town and country.
'i;?The fact is, Sumter is anything bot a
: stagnant place, notwithstanding that
^ some croakers exert/themselves to create
' the impression; that it. is. There is
healthful activity in business circles,
and while there is no 'boom' there is no
- decadence. A pleasing, equable stand
!v ard is maintained, and while the town
would prove a poor field for the opera
; tiona of a speculator it is all the more
desirable home for one who wishes to
I avail himself of educational and reli?
gious advantages or facilities for his
children, or who wishes to reside in a
town where the expense of living is re
.duced to the minimum.
Sumter is not a manufacturing town,
- properly speaking, though a cotton mill
*"{fco which we elsewhere refer) is being
very successfully operated, and there are
some minor industries, which will be
lound spoken of in other columns of this
.. review. It is more than probable that
an advance will be made in manufac?
turing at an early day. To raise cap
ii ital for the first factory was difficult
-;??-day that factory could profitably em?
ploy fifty thousand dollars additional.
; People who have money to invest have
learned that here in the heart of the
richest cotton producing portion of the
State, is the natural habitat of cotton
mills ; it is but a step from the field to
the factory, and 'thc song of tbe spin?
dles' will never be sung in its fall force
or effect until given voice to by South
Carolina mills. Apropos is a remark
- made to the writer by Col. R. M. Wal
. lace, President of the National Bank of
Sumter. Said he : *It was very diffi?
cult to, raise-the ?50,000 capital (for
the bank)-the people were somewhat
slow to appreciate the advantages to be
derived ; now, after less than three
years op?rations, I would have no trou?
ble in doubling the capital if I wished/
And so regarding factories. There is I
an element of conservatism herc that j
moves slowly-satisfy it and all is well, i
There are no extraordinarily wealthy j
men here, and as a rule the citizens are
workers. The great majority of the
business and professional men arc gen?
tlemen yet on the sunny side of middle
age, and it is this 'young blood/ tem?
pered by association with an older gen?
eration, that gives promise for the future
of the town.
The residences of Sumter, almost
without exception, are of frame-per
contra, the business structures are
chiefly of brick.
The educational and Church interests
of a town are necessarily cf prime im?
portance-they indicate more than any?
thing else, the character of a place. Of
Churches in Sumter there are a num?
ber. The Chnrch edifices are as a rule,
higbly creditable, and the Methodist
Church, new building, will prove a de?
cided ornament to the town. Of white
-Churches there are :
toaint Lawrence, frame, located on
Liberty Street, Be v. Father A. J. j '
McNeill, pastor. . ?1
Methodist (new building,) corner j s
Liberty and Church Streets, Rev. R.
P. Franks, pastor.
Baptist, frame, Liberty Street, Kev.
C- C. Brown, pastor.
Church of the Holy Comforter, Epis?
copalian, Main Street, Rev. John Ker?
shaw, pastor.
Presbyterian, Main Street, Kev. N.
W. Edmunds, pastor.
Of colored Churches there are :
Mt. Pisgah A. M. E. Church.-Rev
J. G. Samsell, pastor.
Emanuel Church-J. R. Townsend,
pastor.
Shiloh Baptist Church-Rev. J. H.
Harmon, pastor.
Of the schools of Sumter we will
speak further on in this review.
Sumter is a prominent cotton market.
There are thirteen regular cotton buy?
ers on the market, as follows : Messrs.
Stiibbs, Ryttenberg, Solomons, O'Don?
nell, Barnett,. Winn, Bucker & Bult
man, Bogia, Monaghan,. Moses, Reid,
Moran and Cusick. Of ali or nearly all
of these gentlemen we refer to at some
length in another portion of this paper.
The amount of cotton annually market?
ed here is not far from 15,000 bales
more, however, is shipped from this
station.
Three newspapers are published here :
The Watchman and Southron, Temp?r?
ance Worker, and the Advance.
SCHOOLS.
Sumter's schools have more than a
local reputation. They are well con?
ducted and well patronized, and they
have deservedly gained the confidence
of parents and guardians.
The public school system of the
County comprises sixteen school dis?
tricts, each under the control of a Board
of Trustees, while the School Commis?
sioner exercises general supervision.
Here in Sumter we have two free
schools, white and colored, respectively,
sustained by a tax of two mills npon
real and personal property and by poll
tax, amounting to about ?1,800 and
enabling the schools to be kept open
from five to seven months each year.
The school for whites is located upon
Republican street, its principal is T. P.
McQueen, who has been identified with
educational work in the County for a
number of years ; he has two assist?
ants; the attendance averages from 100
to 125. The colored school is upon
Council Street; its principal is Miss
M. A. Savage ; three assistants are em?
ployed and the average attendance is
from 150 to 175. The trustees for this
district are W. R. Delgar, E. F. Wil?
son and D. James Winn. The schools
are in- efficient working order, and the
Commissioners speak highly of them.
ST. JOSEPH'S ACADEMY, with an at- j
tendance of 60 or thereabouts, is located j
at the corner of Liberty and Magnolia
streets, lt is a branch of the school of
the same name at Charleston, and is
under the charge of Sister Mary Joseph,
Mother Superior. It is both a boarding
and day school, and is esteemed for its
thorough work.
THE SUMTER INSTITUTE, under the
control of Mrs Browne and Miss
Cooper, is also ? boarding and day
school for females, and is well sustain?
ed, the attendance usually being from
JO to 75. The Iustitute is located I
upon Washington Street. Its reputa- ?
sion is not only flattering but well de?
served.
THE SUMTER HIGH SCHOOL was open?
ed about one year ago by the Messrs. ;
Dick, and it has been the recipient of a
substantial patronage, 50 or more pu?
pils having been rc attendance during !
che past year. Its location fe upon -
Church Street. '
"ECLECTIC" is the name of a new
school that will be opened this Fall by '
Misses Girardeau and Hurst. It will
receive both boarding and day pupils,
md it absorbs several of the select !
schools of the town.
Mr. McQueen also has private classes
in the classics, mathematics, etc., bis ;
special province in this direction being
to fit young men for college.
Miss Minnie White and Mr. J. J.
Fleming are engaged in teaching ele- .
mentary schools. ,
PHYSICIANS AND ATTORNEYS.
There is no dearth of either physi- '
sians or Attorneys here, but we can do !
00 more than mention their names. (
rhe physicians are: Drs. J. J. Bos- '
?ard, Jno. S. Hughson, A. J. China !
md J. A. Mood. The attorneys are :
Haynsworth & Cooper, Moises & Lee,
Earle & Purdy, J. D. Branding, P. G. j
Bowman, J. R. Keels, Wilson & Fra- j
ser, D. B. Anderson, W. J. Beard, j
John T. Green, John S. Richardson.
COUNTY AND TOWN OFFICIALS. J
While mentioning names we may ap- !
aropriatcly insert here the names of the <
County and Town officials, and the ]
length of time they have served. Clerk 1
)f the Court, James D. Graham, re- ?
?ently appointed ; Sheriff, Marion San- .
lers, elected ia '84; Probate Judge,, !
Thos. V, Walsh, 10 years; School
Commissioner, J. Diggs Wilder, 4
years; Coroner, Wm. F. Rhame, 1
year; County Commissioners, F. M.
Kellett, S. L. Shaw, R. E. Muldrow; ,
County Auditor, W. R. Delgar, 4 i
pears ; County Treasurer, W. F. B. ]
r?aynsworth, 9 years; Supervisor of j
Registration, P. P. Gaillard, 4 years; j
Priai Justice, W. J. Beard, li years.
The town officers are: Marion Moise, i J
[nteodaut ; Wardens, J. A. Mood, !
Altamont Moses, R. P. Monaghan and
H. F. Wilson. The Clerk and Treas
irer is C. M. Hurst. j
The Police force of Sumter comprises
1 chief, assistant chief, and four officers,
is follows : Chief, A. H. Weeks ; As- '
?stant Chief, C. H.Jones; Officers, '
Wm. Ellis, T. S. Drayton. S. F. Hurst '
md Robert A. Ross. OScer Ross has
>een on the force 14 years and Chief '
Weeks ll years. 1
WATER WORKS. I
By no means suitable provision has >
jct, been made as against fire, but there <
s a reasonable probability that at no <
listant day Sumter will have much- j <
jeeded water works. Mr. A. W. Su- <
1er has projected a combined pressure -
system, and it certainly has the appear- 1
mee of being just the thing needed. 1
Nothing definite has yet been done ; <
lowever, the decision of those in au- '<?
bority will be mado public in due time, j '
rhe town has vo^d to issue ?20,000 : -
>onds for the purpose of erecting suit- j ?
ible works, and as we have said, there I1
I is reasonable prospect of their speedy
completion.
There are three fire engine compa?
nies. The Sumter Fire Engine Com?
pany is an independent organization,
and has provided its own engine, reel,
hose, &c. The town furnishes the en?
gine house. A. W. Suder is foreman,
Neil O'Donnell assistant foreman,
Marion Sanders secretary and treasurer.
The company bas a membership of 43.
The "Wide Awake" is a colored and
paid organization. E. D. Peterson is
president, Robert Ross, vice president,
H. J. Maxwell, secretary and treas?
urer. There are 35 members.
The "Red Jackets'7 are a volunteer
company, colored. -W. J. Montang
is president, T. Preston, vice president,
Ralph Cordes, secretary and treasurer ;
40 members, nearly half of whom are
officers of some grade. All of these
companies have hand engines.
OTHER RESOURCES.
The Southern Express Co. has an
office here, and so has the W. U. Tele?
graph Co. Each has a very consider?
able amount of business. We have a
National Rank, written of in detail else?
where, and a Building and Loan Asso?
ciation, and each is prosperous.
And now we come to write of the
manufacturing, mercantile and other
specific interests that have centered
here. Our memoranda has been gain?
ed from a hundred different sources,
and we have certainly tried to be fair.
We do not desire to grind any special
axe, preferring to let facts speak for
themselves. At the head of the list,
for convenience sake, we place ?
THE NATIONAL BANK OF SUM?
TER.
The organization of the National
Bank of Sumter, which was effected in
November, 1883, was not altogether an
easy matter. As a fact the communi?
ty was slow to move W. D. Blaud
ing, Esq., if we are not mistaken set
the ball in motion, and Mr. T. J. Tou?
rney took it up and did much in enlisting ,
interest that finally resulted in success.
The organization, however, seemed
hard to reach, and fears were entertained
at one time of success, but Mr. R. M.
Wallace, who had come here from
Charleston to accomplish the under?
taking, finally enlisted the co-operation
of a number of the prominent citizens
of town and vicinity, and in January,
1884, the enterprise began business.
Now after, the lapse of a little more
than one and a half years, it is not diffi?
cult to perceive the good that the Bank
has accomplished, and if the attempt
is made, as is seriously contemplated,
an additional ?50,000 could be secured.
The original paid in capital was
?50,000 ; Robert M. Wallace was elect?
ed President, E. Harby vice-President
and Chas. E. Bartlett, cashier. Since
then Mr. Harby has been succeeded in
ino Vice-Presidency by Dr. A. J.
China. The first Board of Directors
comprised R. M. Wallace, A. N. Free?
land, A. J. China, H. Harby, Marion
Moise, A. A. Solomons, M. G. Ryt?
tenberg, R. P. Monaghan and R. C.
McFaddin, and but oue change has
been effected in the Board, R. D. Lee
being elected in place of Mr. McFad?
din, who resigned because of his ina?
bility to attend Board meetings as be
lived some distance in the country.
This Board is made up of professional
and business men, all of whom are well
known as being thoroughly identified
with the material welfare of the town
and county, and it is a working Board,
holding regular meetings every Thurs?
day.
Of course our readers have an idea
of the nature of the business of mone?
tary institutions, like this. It is to loan
money ; to receive deposits ; to nego?
tiate securieties ; to make collections.
It supplies the so-called "sinews of
war" by means of which private and
public enterprises are carried forward
lo completion ; it helps to make and to
move crops-it becomes, in brief, the
conservator of many interests.
The last official statement of the Bank
sra s made by the Cashier at the dose
rf business on the 3d day of June, and
iras published ia our advertising
columns. As there are hundreds who
will read this review and who probably
iid not see that statement we take tho
liberty of republishing it here, with
some comments thereon :
RESOURCES.
Loans and discounts, Si 25,964 13
Q. S. Bonds to secure circulation, 12,600 00
Due frooj approved reserve ageuts, 10,41 7 CG
Due from other National Baoks, 97C 50
Due from State Banks and bank?
ers, 4,32?. 79
[teal estate, furniture, and fix?
tures, 1,034 GO
Durren: expenses and taxes paid 1 40
rVemiums paid, 227 50
Checks and other cash items, 348 09
Sills ot'other Banks, 210 CO
Fractional paper currency, nickels
and cents, . 131 84
>pecie, 9,744 75
f,egal tender Dotes, 2,CSU 00
Redemption fund with U. S.
Treasurer (5 per cent, of circu?
lation,) 567 00
Total, $169,209 71
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in, $50,000 00
Surplus fund, 3,000 00
Judivided profils, G.972-40
STativ,nal Bank notes outstanding, 11,340 00
Dividends unpaid, OG 00
Individual d'_po?ils subject io
check, CS.iC:; 10 j
T>ue to other Nation?! Hanks, 5,26T 98
?>u<? to Statt: bau ks and bankers, 141 47
Suies and 1>IU? re-discounted, 23,625 70
These figures should bo changed
somewhat lo correspond with facta us
,hey now arc. Thc Board of Directors
?ince then have declared a scmi-auuual
lividend of 4 per cent. (S per cent
?innnally) payable on the 1st day of July
iud have added ?2,000 to the surplus
fund, thereby diminishing thc undivi
led profits by these sums. Taken
?eparately, i te m by item, or as a
!fh?;le, the statement, is ODO that in the
ai^hest degree reflects credit upon the
management of the enterprise. The
leposit accojitt* illustrates the confi?
dence belt . Bank as a custodian
)f funds ; t ati and discount account
lemonstrates'That the monies of the
ttank arc not "tied up in a napkin''
sut on thc contrary, arc in active use,
"orwarding legitimate schemes. All
slasses of our people are included
imong the depositors, and there can V>e- i
no doubt that the maintenance of th? j
Bank has stimulated habits of economy j
md of saving on the part of many ir* j
,hc community. If a contemplated
measure is carried out such habits w
be much more greatly encouraged,
is in contemplation to organize a sa
ing's bank department, and tbe pr&f
sition cannot;be too highly commend*
-such a department would prove
inestimable good.
This fact remains ; whatever of he
itation or of doubt was felt by any
! the community when the National Bai
of Sumter was being organized h;
vanished. In its business relatioi
with the people the bank bas been :
liberal as is consistent with sout
banking principles, and realizing tl
important relations that the bank bea
to every interest here, its officers ac
directors have merited the designatio
of having proved faithful to the tra
reposed in them.
A few words relative to the Presidei
and Cashier will not be out of plat
here. As we have said, Mr. Wailac
came from Charleston, purposely to 01
ganize this enterprise. He is a nativ
of York County, and by profession i
an Attorney, having been admitted t
the bar in 1860. In 1861, then bein
in Texas, he enlisted in the Sth Tess
Calvary as a private, and during 1
months of the war he tasted the sweet
of Federal hospitality as displayed i
thc military prison at Kock Island, II!
Since the war he has been in the ser
vice of the Government, first in th
Internal Revenue as Deputy collecto
and afterwards as Collector, and a
United States Marshal. Upon retirinj
from official service he turned bis atten
tion to the organization of this Bank.
The Cashier, Mr. Charles E. Barlett
is a native of Sumter, and was for a cum
ber of years engaged as book-keeper fo
prominent merchants here. From 187-,
until 1880 be was in business in Texas
and for a couple of years he was ii
the employ of the W. C. & A. rail
way at this point.
Anothony White, jr., is book keepei
of the bank and Earnest H. Bhame ii
collection clerk.
To the vice-president and the direc
tors we refer elsewhere. Such, as brief?
ly as we can weil make it, is a resunu
of the National Bank of Sumter, it.?
officials and its work. Thc enterprise
has prospered and we gladly record thc
fact.
J. D. CRAIG.
Among the oldest established of thc
business men of Sumter we place the
name of Mr. J. D. Craig, a native ol
Fairfield County who has lived and
been in business here ever since 1856.
Mr. Craig is also one of the very few
practical cabinet makers to be found iu
the State, he having learned the trade
with H. M. Berry, of Columbia, be?
ginning bis apprenticeship in 1850, up?
wards of a third cf a century ago.
When be established himself here, it
was in a very small way for his capital
was very limited ; be secured a location
at the corner of Main and Canal streets,
and here he bas since remained ; but
ia thc meantime marked changes have
occurred as regards .extent of premises
used and facilities enjoyed. The orig?
inal building has been added-to; other
buildings have been put up until there
is a cluster of five or six frame struc?
tures, ali sainted white, and looking
as neat as can be. As we strolled
through the premises tbe other day we
were surprised at the extent of stock
varricd, both in furniture and under?
taking goods, lui . Cr??? manufactures
a large per cent*, of the cheaper gradee
of coffins carried in stock, as well as
some furniture ; that which he boys he
secures from prominent manufacturers
at the North, South, East and West,
buying wherever he can to the best ad?
vantage. It is astonishing, too, to
note what low rates prevail in furniture.
A pretty parlor suit of seven pieces can
be bought for ?35; chamber suits of
nine or ten pieces are sold for as little
as 52O, and everything else in propor?
tion ; then, too, expensive gooda are
carried in stock, and Mr. Craig ts also
prepared to order anything in his line
at a merely nominal advance over man?
ufacturer's cost. His trade is as firmly
established as is any other in town that
might bc named. It reaches throughout
all this region, and orders from abroad
are of constant occurrence, and so com?
plete are Mr. Craig's facilities that he
can fill a telegraph order for a coffin or
casket within incredibly short time
even the boxes for shipping in are
kept in duplicate stock all thc time so
that there need be uo delay. In brief
thc establishment is in every sense of
the term a representative one, and Mr.
Craig maintains its standard of excel?
lence.
ALTAMONT MOSES.
In writing of the town of Sumter, in
referring to the trade interests of the
locality, it becomes our duty as well as
pleasure to refer to those of our mer?
chants, young or old, who have borne
"the heat and burden" not of one day
only but of years.
Altamont Moses is one among the
merchants we have interviewed, and
wc muke conspicuous mention of him
because of several reasons. In thc first
place he is a native of Sumter, aud
though as years go, be is a young man,
for fully twenty years he has been iden?
tified with the merchantile interests of
town. His first partnership was with
the late M. E. Cohen, about the year
1874 : from that finn he retired in 1*79,
but ic 188J. he; purchased tho business
aud since has conducted it.. Employ?
ing some six or seven people, and do?
ing both a wholesale and retail business,
the establishment cf Mr. Moses occu?
pies a plaec in the business world of
Sumter that cannot bo defined by a sim?
ple word or two. With yearly sales of
many ihousauds of dollars-buying
something like 2,000 bales of cotton
per year, selliug some hundreds of tons
of fertilizers and generally supplying
the wants of hundreds of people in
thus and adjacent counties, thc house
certain ly -deser ves thc terra .'repr?sen?
ta liv-, "
Ol' Mr. Moses" business perhaps owc
third is upon thc lieu plan, ?iud in re?
lier r in ?* to his last year's sales he said
that collections ba-1, proven very go<"d.
His large cotton purchases are ia part
accounted for by tbe fact that bc bays
for tho Mills here, for which corpora?
tion he is Secretary and Treasurer,
as weil as upon his own account.
To outsiders we may say thafc Mr. j
Moses* store is at the corner of Main
Street. It is a brick building, 33x70
feet, 2 floors, with L 20x40 feet. Wc
won't undertake to describe it. Tn its
appointments and its resources the house
meets the wants of tbe trade which cen?
tres here, and in attracting that trade
the e&terprise of which we here speak
has certainly borne its part. Claren?
don and Darlington send in a good bit
of business, and the general effect or
result is all that could be reasonably
asked for.
To the business Mr. Moses gives bis
personal attention. Elsewhere we al?
lude to bim as one of our "town
fathers," and this much can be said of
him in connection with municipal
matters ; that he is in earnest in pro?
moting Sumter's best interests. In
other words, as our readers know, he
is a thorough going business man.
C. I. HOYT & BRO.
One of the oldest established of any
of the business interests of Sumter is
the jewelry store of C. I. Hoyt & Bro.,
which dates its organization to upwards
of sixty years ago, the late Freeman
Hoyt, father of the gentlemen named
above, being its founder. After the
war the late O. F. Hoyt succeeded bis
father, and twelve years ago C. I. Hoyt
become a partner with him. Four years
later C. I. Hoyt became sole proprietor,
remaining such until about six years
ago, when Mr. H. A. Hoyt became a
partner, under the present firm style.
So mach for the changes that have
occurred.
The Messrs. Hoyt, it is almost need- :
less to say, are practical workmen.
They have a large business in the re?
pair department and in the sales depart?
ment they carry such a general stock
as is adapted to the needs of their trade.
They don't overload themselves with a
great stock of unsaleable goods for the
simple purposes of display-they know
what they can handle to advantage, and 1
if other or more expensive goods are
desired they will order tfcem subject to
the approbation of a customer.
The standing of the firm both at
home and abroad-in social life and in \
business life, is high. Their mercan- (
tile honor is unimpeached, and their .
customers have learned to place implicit ^
confidence in the representations they j
make. ,
T. C. SCAFFE. ;
The only merchant in Sumter who 1
makes a specialty of stoves, tinware <
and house furnishing goods generally is i
Mr. T.-C. Scaffe, and bis store is cer- \
tainly deserving of some words of men- <
tion. Mr. Scaffe is originally from <
Darlington, though this has been his 1
home for the last twenty-one years. <
He is vet a young mau, but he is a ?
veteran in the trade as a practical tin?
smith. When only 13 years of age, in I
August, 1SG1, he enlisted in thc Pal- 1
metto Battery of Light Artillery ; he i
was in active service as private or cou- I
rier until the surrender, and after the i
war he came here, ia August, 18(55, and I
began learning the tinner's trade under 1
Mr. A. Hauser ; in 1870 he became a i
partner with his employer, and in 1872 I
be became sole proprietor of the busi- j
ness, which he has conducted since, t
In November, 1883, be lost nearly ?
everything by fire, and when the Hoyt ]
block was built he took possession of the t
premises now used. He is now at the )
head of a first class establishment, well- <
stocked and commanding a good trade. <
Mr. Scaffe employs an average force 1
of seven men. He makes a specialty I
of all manner of out-of-door work, such 1
as roofing, guttering and spouting,
and still another specialty is 'the sink- c
ing of driven wells, in which bc has (
been engaged for some years. In ?
stoves he handles those mfde by promi- {
neot manufacturers of Reading, Pbiia- \
delphia, Albany, Rome and elsewhere ; t
in house furnishing the stock carried is 1
large and the entire establishment is so t
managed that it adds to its friends with 1
each passing year. i
R. P. MONAGHAN. I
Ever since the year 1852 the general !
merchandise house to which we now 1
refer, has been in existence here. Its c
founder was the late Thomas Monaghan 1
and he conducted it until his death in ?
1870, when his widow, the late Mrs. 1
Margaret Monaghan assumed charge of
affairs, successfully managing the bous* ;
until her death in 1879. Since then ?
Mr. R. P. Monaghan has been the
head of the house, and with its affairs he , j
has been familiar ever since boyhood ; .
he has, in fact, grown up with the bus- .
iness. It is a business of more than
ordinary proportions, too, and its J
friends are numerous throughout Sum- (
ter and Clarendon Counties, for the ?
house retains its o?d time trade-a trade
that could scarcely bc diverted else
where.
Mr. Monaghan, like most of oar mer- r
chants, handles general merchandise, is ^
a cotton buyer, and daaler in fertilizers. ^
We fancy that a fair statement of his
annual purchases, of cottou would be
1100 bales, though at times thc amount [
is greater than that; of fertilizers, ko j
his own special trade, he sells fyom 225 j
to 250 tons. What his general sales >
are of course we don't know, but they ^
must aggregate a large sum, for he
handles staple goods chie?y, and fully
three fourths of his sales are upon the
lien plan. Mr. Monaghan unites with ^
hts brother merchants in stating that
his collections on last years sales were ^
very good, but nc didn't care to ven- ;
ture any n red ?ct ion s or. the current
.* s
year's business However, he didn't
show any disposition to grumble.
The house is a heavy buyer, neets- ?
sarily. and its purchasing points arc the
great cities of the country, In it? rcVa- '
tiens with the people of town and civun
try its record is \u every way creditable. ^
aud thc present proprietor is sparing of ^
no honorable effort, not only to retain ,
bat to add tu thc dd time prestige
gained.
BULTMANN & BRO. I
Thc only exclusive boot und shoe s
store in Sumter is presided over by thc
gentlemen canted abo ;e. The co-part- 1
ac?s aro C. F. A. and C. h\ il. Bult- I
mann. Tho first named carno to the 1
State and located in Charleston, iu f
I860, and tbe following year b> Misted ?
in thc Ham pion Legion. He ;-suiaifccd t
ia thc Confederate service, in enc ca- i
pacify or another, until the close of ?lve ? t.
war ; returning to Charleston bc s?bse- j *
fluently located in Manning, und in j f
1870 he opened a custom manufacturing j I
shop here. The same year his brother ? ;
joined him, but they did not carry a j 1
general stock of ?rood? uuti! 187 2'- ' l
since then they have been dealers as
well as manufacturers, and are now at
the bead of one of tbe finest establish?
ments of its kind in the interior of the
State.
In 1882 the firm built their present
place of business, which is a handsome?
ly fitted up two story brick block, 28
by 96 feet. Exceptionally good taste
is shown in the arrangement and display
of gooda, and the stocks carried are
large ; we notice, also, the fact that the
highest priced makes of goods, such as
Zeigler's and the like are carried, while
in medium and low priced goods there
is an array that challenges comparison.
Buying from manufacturers as they do ;
especially catering to the wants of a
trade which they have carefully studied,
Messrs. Bultmann & Bro. have made
themselves, as it were, masters of the
situation ; their careful, painstaking at?
tention to business, too, bas not been
without its results, aud those results are
to be seen in the large trade command?
ed by the bouse. It is, in other words,
a most creditable establishment.
In the meantime the custom manu?
facturing is maintained, and either of
the co-partners is competent to go into
the work shop and from tbe raw mate?
rial make a pair of boots or shoes. In?
deed they may be said to have inherited
the trade, for their father and grand?
father before them followed it, and it is
more than probable that in his old home
in Germany are still preserved a pair of
baby shoes made by C. F. A. Bult?
mann before be was six years of age.
It is almost needless to say that the
firm have worked out their own success
in Sumter, and they do not seem to
weary of well doing.
Mr. Bartow Walsh is their efficient
and clever book keeper and right hand
man generally.
DUCKER & BULTMANN.
It is now between seven and eight
years since Messrs. Geo. Ducker, and
E. W. A. Bultmann formed a partner?
ship and established a general merchan?
dise bouse in Sumter ; for two years be?
fore Mr. DuckeF bad been carrying on
the grocery trade. No bouse in town
has more rapidly increased its trade
Soring these seven or eight years, nor
bas one been established upon a better
foundation. As nearly as we can as?
certain but a relatively small lien busi?
nesses done by the firm-we are credi?
bly informed that their lien and book
Dr open account sales combined do not
jxceed $10,000 per year, and this in
riew of the large trade held, shows how
closely the bouse is approximating to
the cash plan.
The premises which are owned by
;he firm, are now 125 feet deep; they
lave twice been added to since the firm
?vas formed, the last addition having
Dcen made last year, and even cow there
is scarcely enough room, especially in
the busy season of the year. During
;he Fall and Winter five clerks, a dri?
ver and porter are employed. The 'all
;he year round' salesmen are W. E
Dick, who has been eight years with
:be house ; F. W. Crosswell, B years,
md E. W. Hurst, 3 years. The co?
partners unite in giving, the business
heir personal attention. Each is a
foung man-that is, in the 30's-and
jach bad had previous business experi?
ence, Mr. Ducker as a clerk for his
jrotber in Charleston, and Mr. Bult?
mann in a similar capacity with his
mothers here.
The house does a general merchan
iise business, buys about 2,000 bales of
cotton and sells not far from 100 tons of
fertilizers per year. The stocks of dry
;oods, boots and shoes, etc., are mostly
)urchased in New York, while Charles
on firms has the largest per cent, of
jeavy groceries and meats. Now and
hen a car load of molasses comes to the
?ous^ from N^w Orleans ; flour, corn
md meat are received from various
)oints-in other words, the firm buys
vhere >. can to the best advantage and
t in tarn C5ers every advantage and
ipportunity it fe&jMo buyers. It has
nade a name and place "for i?se?f among
mr business interests and we gladly
inprove this opportunity of writing cfit.
D?. A. J. CHINA.
The drug business of Sumter is of
mportance, and in this connection wc
>articularly wish to refer to the gentle
nan named above as a representative of
t-representative in all that the term
mplies. As in writing of other of the ?
)romiuent citizens of the town, so in the
;ase of Dr. China, we take the liberty
?f making some personal allusions, and
n doing this we are prompted by the
lesire to tell who and what our business
md professional men are. Dr. China
s, like a majority of those to whom we
efer in this review, a native of this
?ouuty. His early predilections were
or medicine, aud something more than
i quarter of a century ago (thai ap
>ears like a long time since) he began
he study of medicine under the tute
age of Dr. Dargau, BOW ot Greenville,
n 1860 Dr. China graduaied from the
dedical College of tho Stile of South
)arolina, and receiving the orthodox
heepskin, he was preparing to pei* ma?
tent ly locate when the first mutterings
?f the coming storm or war were heard.
rVheu South Carolina seceded and
Toops were called for, he entered the
Confederate service as assistant surgeon
n 5861, and from that time until the
Ur reu -er he was associated with .Sid- :
tey Johnston's and Bragg';; commands.
lu 15.05, in par i flers hip with his
utber-in-law, tho late A. Anderson; lie
'pened a drag store here and at the
ame time entered upon thc aetive prac
iec of his pro tessi ou as a physician. lu
870 Mr. Anders?-ii died, and Dr.
?hiua has had no partner since. Ile
??as; continued the drug hoa>e and has
O added to its reputation and ita re
ources, that it is no wonder we feel
ike paying it and its proprietor a ce
erved compliment.
During the yetirs 1875-71> ?h. (Jhiv.n,
milt his present place of business upon
Vlain Street, next adi du tug Ivy tren
)ergV The hui: ling is uf 'wick, tso
?OO?S, 25 by i? teni, and ir. is by long
nids the most extensive J nig ii u ase in
his section of the Slate. One must
zisit, and caic fully inspect thc store in
)?der tc* appreciate its extent, its rc
?ources its facilities-aud some idea of
he trade it controls is shown by the
'act that three tu four regular salesmen |
ne employed, the force now comprising
fi. A. McKagcn, prescription clerk,
julio has becu with thc house about IO
years,) B. R. Sanders, 4 years, and A
E. Eberbart, 2 years.
While Dr. China gives personal at
ten ti oe to the business in hand, he als<
continues the active practice of his pro
fi ssion of medicine, his ride taking s
radius of 12 miles or more of adjacen
country; at the same time his office
practice is large. Beside his profes
?ional duties, Dr. Chica, as Vice Pres?
ident of the National Bank of Sumter,
is an earnebt worker in that capacity
in brief, he is a man who has been ano
still is, thoroughly identified with hu
Hire home.
J. RYTTENBERG & SONS.
During the sixteen years that the
above named house bas been in exist?
ence here in Sumter it bas made a rep?
utation and gained a trade peculiarly
it? own. It is one of the most extensive
houses of its kind in the interior of the
Slate, ?nd in Western. North Carolina
the Ryf tenberg Bros. ?re also carrying
on a dry goods boase in Winston that
is known far and wide as being one o?
the handsomest establishments to bc
found in either of the Carolinas.
The firm of J. Ryttenberg & Sons
comprises four co-partners : the father,
who resides in Baltimore, and three
sons, M. G., H., and J. E. Rytten?
berg, the three last named giving their
time and attention to the house here.
In 1SS0 the firm built their present
place of business, corner of Main and
Liberty Streets. The main building is
3-J: by 150 feet deep, and there is a
warehouse attached, 70 feet deep, the
entire premises being under one roof.
This space is subdivided into depart?
ments embracing almost everything
ktiown under the designation of 'gen?
eral merchandise/ One apartment is
foi: dry goods, dress goods, boots and
shoes, etc ; another for groceries, an?
other fo?' hardware and kindred lines,
and so on through the list. As we in?
spect these varions departments or sab
divisions be wonders how any of the
firm can form an idea of what is or is
not in stock; but as each department
has its manager and as system takes the
pince of guess work, everything moves
along without confusion. The prem?
ises, we may also add, are fitted through?
out with gas fixtures, J. Ryttenberg &
Sons being among the first hero to put
in gas for illuminating purposes. They
own the plant-the town itself is light?
ed by lamps.
The firm in question are quite exten?
sive buyers of cotton, their annual pur?
chases being about 1,500 bales. Of
fertilizers they yearly sell from 300 to
400 tons. The very extent of their
trade in an agricultural section like this
indicates the fact that a Hen business is
doue-what it amounts to annually we
have no means of knowing, but doubt?
less it reaches about one-third of the
total business; concerning collections
on last years7 sales the firm informed as
ths.t they had beeu very fair-indeed
tha t appears to be the verdict of our
merchants generally. We were also
informed that of late years there had
been a marked improvement in the de?
mand for the better grades of goods.
As nearly as we eas ascertain, the
bulk of the trade comes from within
twenty miles in either direction from
Sumter. Of coarse there are excep?
tional instanees where a considerable
patronage comes from mach greater
dis ian ces. But to all of this trade,
whether from near or afar, tbe firm and
the fourteen or more employees show
the utmost attention. It has been
characteristic of the boase ever since it
began business here that it exerted
every effort to please-to give satisfac?
tion, to keep up with the spirit of the
times-to aid in advancing Sumter's
well being. Nor is there any disposi?
tion shown to retrace any path of busi?
ness policy. Looking forward to the
mutual good of the house and of the
public, J. Ryttenberg & Sons rn the
present as in the past, pursue a career
that redounds to their credit as a firm
and: as individuals.
F. H. FOLSOM & BRO.
1!*be jewelry boase to which we now
refer was originally established by Mr.
F. H. Fokoa ia the year 1868. It was
a new eaterprise but it was kindly re?
ceived by the people and has maintain?
ed its popularity since. Mr. Folsom
had begun learning the trade with C.
T. Mason, of this place, in March 1859.
Three months before be had concluded
hts apprenticeship he enlisted, in 1862,
ia the 23rd S. C. Regiment; subse?
quently he secured an exchange into
the Palmetto BattalHon of Light Ar?
tillery, and remained in the service un?
til the surrender. After the war he
resumed his trade and in 1SG8, as we
have said, began business for himself.
Mr. L. W. Folsom did not become a
partner in the house until October,
18S0, but he had been with the trade
for ?;ome t?aje before, having learned 1
it uader bis brother's tuition. Each is
a practical watchmaker asd jeweler, and
each gives the business close personal
atteution. Their repairing department
is well patronized, orders for wo*k com?
ing fxom all this section of country, and
tbe reputation gained for reliable work
has been well earned.
In watches, docks, jewelry, etc., F.
H. Folsom & Bro. carry a geeeral
stocii, but the trade here does not jus?
tify a large assortment of expensive
?Oods. These, however, will be order
id upou approbation at any *i-?ae, aud
so tho necessity of carrying such large
stocks as otherwise Wuuld be the case is
avoided.
Concerning the house this much may,
iu all fairness be said : It has pursued a
straightforward business policy ; it has
gained public confidence; the co-part?
ners, who are natives of Sumter are
known to bc honorable gentlemen, and
with thc revival of good times their
tradj must materially increase.
W. H. YATES.
The most extensive grocery, crock?
ery and provision house of Sumter
(taking those lines as a spec!lie trade),
ia that ol" Uh. Yates, which was estab?
lished in 1881. This gentleman is a
native of Charleston, and when but a
mere boy, in 1862 or 1863, his parents
located herc. Subsequently Mr. Yates
became a resident of Tar boro, N. C.,
where for rive years he was engaged tu
book-keeping ; returning here he kept1
books for A A. Solomon? for about one
year ami theo he estobHsbed his pteti- !
ent business. in 18"82 he was ap- ?
poibtcd Agent ivs the Southeru Ex- 1
press Co. at this point, a position that
he continues to fill.
Mr. Yates controls not oo?y a targa
trade but it is conducted upon the cash
plan-by that we mean that the credit
sales are relatively small, and scarcely
any bills run longer than SO days. A
very considerable proportion,* probably
the balk of the b&ainess held, cowes
from the tows, still the co?ntry trade
is a gratifying one because it is of the
best class.
Daring a recent visit to the store we
observed the fact that especial attentiou
is paid to keepiBg fall stocks of the bet?
ter grades of goods ; there are always /
some persons in a community who waua
the bestand will have it-Mr. Yates sees
to it that they need not look elsewhere
than at bis store. Bot, se far as the
question of variety or completeness of
stock is concerned, the estire establish*
ment is most creditable, aad it holds a
plaee peculiarly its ow? ia the trade cir?
cles of town.
To the business Mr. Yates gives bb
personal attention, overseeing every?
thing, and he employs a force of four or
five people in the house. Personally
be is one of the hardest working mer?
chants in the community.
Since the above was written Mr.
Yates has resigned the express agency.
J. F. W. DELOEME.
*
The oldest druggist of Sumter is Pr.
J. F. W. DeLorme, who like so many
of his brother merchants is a native of
the town. Mr. DeLorme first engaged
in the drug trade in 1852, and ever
since, at intervals, has been connected
with it, and during all these years he
has had bat two partners, J. M. Wil?
der and F. J. Moses. .
Dr. DeLorme enlisted in the 9th S.
C. Begiment in 1861, but was discharg?
ed the following year on account of
physical disability. Afterwards, how*
ever, he was in the Quartermaster de?
partment. Since the war most of his
time has been devoted to the drug trade.
Be has served the town two years aa
Warden, but aside from that we believe
he has filled no official position in either
town or county-in other words hess
business man, and one who is well
known as being attentive and courteous
to customers whether friends or stran?
gers.
Dr. DeLorme's store is very neat m
ils appearance. It is well stocked with
whatever pertains to the drag tradey
whether it be chemicals or medicines?
paints, oils and dye stuffs, druggist?
sundries, toilet articles, cigars or any of
the legitimate lines. It is undoubtedly
a fact that th? dreg trade is dull just
now-the community is a healthy one
-still Dr. DeLorme finds something to
do, and be is always ready to serve
patrons with whatever is reliable with ia
the special province of a drsggist.
B.W. DURANT & SON.
While it is true that* other dealers*
here handle hardware and similar linee
of goods, yet it is also true that the
above named firm is th"? only one ia
Sumter exclusively engaged in these
specialties. The co-partners are S. W
and L. B. Durant, natives of this
County, and before the war Mr. Da*
rant, Sr., was engaged ? business at
Lynchburg. Indeed be began clerk?
ing when be was a lad only 13 years of
age. During the latter part of the war
he was a private in DePass' battery?
and since the surrender be has lived
here, first engaging as a derk with A.
J. Moses and afterward with A. A?
Solomons. In '81 Mr. Durant was ap
pointed Sheriff, a positioe which he
filled for three years, and two year?
ago this coming September he and bis
son established their present business.
Mr. L. B. Durant had also been ? for?
mer clerk for three of the prominent
houses of the town.
B. W. Durant k Son have given*
Sumter a weil stocked hardware and
stove boase, and they keep it up io*
good shape. They handle stoves from
Albany, N. Y., and Kiehmond, Va.?
buy hardware in New York, Baltimore*,
and Charleston, crockery aad glassware
in new York and Boston, tin ware at
Baltimore, wagoo and carriage mate?
rial at Baltimore and Greensboro, N. C.?
and emtlery, belting, and the 'other
thousand and one things wherever they
cs^?-adiapta?e, and are sparing of no?
effort to so coad?it-thctr^a&iness that;
mutual good to their castoaers^aa?
themselves will resuH. The boase baa
bad a quite satisfactory trade thus far?
and so it ought. Daring the past two?
years there has been an unusual amount,
of new building done in town and coun?
try and B. W. Durant & Son have
made it a point to keep.all manner of
builders1 supplies in fall stock and to?
offer decided inducements to buyers..
They are, as a matter of course, williegr
to still further increase their basin essy
and we caa safely say that every visitor
to the house will meet with a cordiak
reception.
C. E. STUBBS.
No avan in this community h brought
in contact with more classes of the
people than ihe gentleman named above?
it is a natural sequence ef bis business,
which is that of cotton bayiog-indeed
be is the only one here who makes cot?
ton baying and the commission business?
a specific one.
Mr. Stabbs boagbt last year abouti
&,OO0 bales of cotton-of this year's
crop he cxpeets to purchase not far*
from 5,000 bales. He has materially
improved his facilities for handling the
great staple, and so we do not think
that wc have made an over-estimate of
his probable purchases, providing, al?
ways, that the orop averages fairly well.
Without wishing to draw any invid?
ious cistinctioas, still- we think we are
justified in saying that uo other cotton*
buyer in all this vegioa of coen try has
djual facilities ta advantages with Mr.
Stubbs, and for this si-mpfo reason p
his relations with Charleston' and Wil?
mington are saab that he caa always
nay a considerable fraefctot* over the so
calbd market rates ; and not only here
but -?t okher points in Sumter and Ciar
endo? counties be offers equal advan?
tages to those who have cotton to sell.
Mr. Stubbs not oaly buys upon di?
rect ordess but upon his own account;,,
aud negotiations are BOW ia: progress
whereby he will, thiW cowing season,
doubtless buy considerable (juantities
here for direct exportation to Europe.
There is tto dlseoautiag another feet,,
aud that is that thc gentleman- ia qae&
[CUXTINUEO OS ?li?OC<D PiO?,j