USA > South Carolina > Richland County > Columbia > Historical and descriptive sketch of the leading manufacturing and mercantile enterprises, public buildings, officials, professional men, schools, churches, ets., railroads, canals, rivers, advantages and surroundings of Columbia, S.C. > Part 1
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Gc 975.702 C72r 1727137
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GC
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02301 1528
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historicaldescri00robb
50 CENTS EA
SINGLE COPIES,
DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH
COLUMBIA, S. C., OF
Presented
(SOUTH CAROLINA STATE HOUSE.)
THE SURROUNDINGS AND ADVANTAGES PLAINLY PORTRAYED,
FROM A MATTER OF FACT STANDPOINT.
The Sender of this Pamphlet would respectfully call your Attention in The articles found on pagey
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1727137
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Itural Statistics ... .17, 18 Insurance, etc. 68, 69
University. 39 Jones, David, 83
sts and Architects. 72, 73 Jewelry stores. 85
aks and Brokers 16 to 69 Krentzlin's Bottling Works 53
onedict Institute 38 Lunatic Asylum 2.1
Board of Trade 96 Lorick & Lowrance 54
Books. News, etc
83 Liveries and Horses. 88
Care of the Eyes
93 Manufacturing Interests 44
Commercial Warehouse 87 Mayhew & Son, C .. 52
Canal and Rivers. 60 McCreery & Co., and Bro., 55 and $2 59 Miller Brothers .. 55
Columbia Gas Light Co.
City Water Works.
58 Minerals and Products 5
Cotton Compress Co
45 Oliver Oil Company. 16
Congaree Iron Works.
49 Our Regards (Valedictory) 78
79
Crawford, Dan'l, & Sons
56 Public Buildings
10
Columbia City
7 Penitentiary Statistics
22
Congaree Hotel.
95 Public Schools.
34
Court House and Officers
19
Palmetto Iron Works
48
City Hall and Officials
21 Professional Mention. 80, 81
Columbia Home School
37 Pottery Works. 88
88
Clothing and Furnishing
84 Political Status
Dial Engine Works
47 Past and Present Governors ... 11. 12
Davis, J. II ..
82 Railroads. 62, 63, 64. 65
Drug Stores.
85, 86 Real Estate Agents, etc 68, 69.
Florida Bargains
95 South Carolina.
Furniture and Undertaking
89 State House and Officials. 11-15
Female College
30 Southern Cotton Oil Co. 46
Ford, Talley & Co
56 Stanley Manufacturing Co. 51
Flenniken, D. R.
70 Steam Laundry 52
Farm and Stock Interests 71.
72 Southern Express 58:
Government Building
16 Secret Societies, etc. 73. 74
Gibbes, W. II., Jr.
49 Summary and Review 75
Greenfield's Carriage Repository, 53 Stanley's China Hall 86
Grand Central Hotel 56, 97 Sewing Machines, etc 87
ceries and Confectioneries. S9, 91 Theological Seminary 32
fulness 6-9, 80 The Press. 70
in Brief.
92. Trump. N. W 82
Hard are, Paints, etc
High School for Girls
37 University of S. C Dining Hall 58
Hosiery Mills ..
53 Ursuline Institute ... .> .>
Haltiwanger, P. H
54 Winthrop Training School 35 . :
Hotel Jerome .. 57
Wing's Planing Mill 50
Ice Factory, etc
87 Wright's Hotel. 57
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86 Transportation and Markets 26
Howie & Sons 50
Churches. .... 40. 41, 42, 43, 44 Penitentiary Shoes
Canning Factory
51 Omissions, etc ..
HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH
-OF THE-
Leading Manufacturing and Mercantile Enterprises, Public Buildings, Officials, Professional Men, Schools, Churches, Etc., Railroads, Canals, Rivers,
ADVANTAGES AND SURROUNDINGS
-OF-
-
COLUMBIA, S. C.
COMPILED FOR THE CITY,
BY D. P. ROBBINS, M. D., Publisher of the SOUTHERN PROGRESS, ORLANDO, FLA
COLUMBIA, S. C.
PRINTED AT THE PRESBYTERIAN PUBLISHING HOUSE.
1888.
·
And rigo in india dad de la fuente aufdie .
PREFACE. and would add to the value of this work for preservation, for us to go extensively into a review of past In the following pages we shall history, yet the objects for which not go into lengthy details of private this pamphlet is compiled can better enterprises or fulsome praise of iu- be subserved by making only brief dividuals, but it is the purpose of references to the past, and we shall the compiler and interested citizens speedily come to the gist of our sub- of Columbia, to present in a con- ject-the living issues of to-day.
venient shape for preservation, and After compiling a quarter of the in as brief a manner as is consistent matter required for our sketch, we with an intelligible description of learned that Col. John P. Thomas, the facts, (yet withal so inexpensive who had not been apprised of the and easily mailed as to be sent far work in progress, was contemplating and wide by the promoters of this a similar work. Upon comparing section,) a sketch of our advantages notes we found that our objects and and surroundings, which shall show purposes were the same-the good forth to the world the undoubted of Columbia-and have effected an superiorities of Columbia and that amicable arrangement, by which our progressive men are ready to Col. Thomas retires in our favor. welcome any legitimate industry. A We are pleased to say, however, that summary of these advantages will we shall publish his Introductory clearly demonstrate to the intelligent chapter, and he has kindly offered to give his assistance to and supervision His long residence in Columbia, wide reader that Columbia is equalled by few and surpassed by no city in the of the leading features of the work. South. Read the following pages and refer them to the manufacturer experience in literary pursuits, and and capitalist, as well as to those prominent political standing being a who seek after health and comfort, sufficient guarantee of his ability to beautiful surroundings, educational render us valuable aid in that direc- and social advantages. tion, and for which he has the
While" it would doubtless prove thanks of interesting to many of bur readers,
THE COMPILER.
1
COLUMBIA, S. C.
Its Resources and Advantages, Manu-
gin at the upper end of the town, and terminate a little below the lower end. The fall in this distance facturing, Mercantile, Educational, is thirty-six feet, and the greatest and Social Facilities Fairly Exhib- ited.
width of the river eighteen hundred feet."
It is not proposed to write much
Columbia city is beautiful for situ- ation, beautiful in itself as well as for of Columbia's past history. How- the view it affords of the surround- ever full it is of tender memories, ing sand-hills and forests, the of pleasing reminiscences, of high heights of Lexington, the winding
achievements, and of solid enter- rivers, and in the distance the high prises; however replete with the
hills of the Santee, of historic note, where Greene in the Revolutionary War sought health and vigor for his wearied troops. Nor can it be said that the projectors of this city built upon the sand after the manner of the unwise man whereof the Serip- tures tell us. In fact, the sagacious men who selected the city's site built far better than they knew. It is
private heroism and the public herit- age of noble men and saintly women, who have done their allotted parts and passed away to live only in their works that have not perished ; however rich in the record of those-the architects of their own fortunes or the inheritors of ances- tral wealth in mind or money or priceless name of good repute -- who
stated in "South Carolina," the have illustrated this city in the em- weighty hand-book published by the ployments of peace or in the stern State Agricultural Department of issues of righteous war. The story South Carolina, that "Columbia of this glory is foreign to the pur- stands upon a promontory of granite poses of this publication. Let the which extends from the crystalline rocks of the Piedmont ridge along and between the Broad-and Saluda Rivers, and at their union juts out into the sand-hill region of the State." No mean foundation for a place des- tined to be the central city and the capital of a great commonwealth. dead past bury its dead. Honoring it highly; cherishing it tenderly; accepting gratefully the lessons it teaches of moral and economical im- port-of ethics and education and business-let the record be laid aside. Lot the present be grasped and so wisely wielded and worked that we may go forth to meet the shadowy future without fear and with a manly hope.
It would seem, too, that the found- ers of Columbia were not una- ware of the possibilities of water- power in connection with the city's future, since they laid out its lines
"Heart within and God overhead."
Laid out with masterly skill by not only "in pleasant places," and pioneer engineering and surveying
thus provided for their posterity a "goodly heritage," but in close and in 1787, and that year incorporated, the South Carolina Legislature heldt convenient nearness to the murmur- its first session here in January, ing Congarce-the river that parts 1791-ninety-seven years ago- Richland from Lexingtonian ground. showing that this publication is on
In "South Carolina" it is stated : the eve of the Centennial of Colum "The great falls of the Congaree be- bia's official existence as the capital
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HISTORICAL SKETCH
of South Carolina, an event which hygienic advantages and general at- might appropriately be made the tractions, extenuating naught and high occasion> of commemorative setting down nothing in exaggera- rites.
tion of the facts of the case. No
Unvisited by earthquake shock, boom-fit word of recent usage to or cyclone rage, or pestilential touch, express exaggeration, false state- or war's ravages, Columbia grew and ments, and fallacious reasoning, to come back like an Australian missile weapon, with inevitable reactionary flourished and waxed prosperous and stood in strength and beauty until laid in ashes by the Federal troops force, is here designed ; but, on the who reached Columbia February contrary, with confidence even in 17th, 1865, during the night of which such wounds as the truth gives, to ever carries, it is intended to give a memorable day the wanton burning say nothing of the power that it of Columbia was consummated.
Up to that period. which marks a plain, unvarnished exposition of this new epoch in the history of this city's real condition and its reason- city, Columbia had become the cen- able expectations. Fortunately for tre of much wealth, culture, and re- us, we have a canse that. can stand finement. The picture of the city as it upon its real merit-a case that is stood with its unburnt robes and its good in court-requiring no artful untouched diadem rises before the declaration, no labored plea, and no mind's eye of the writer, and as the technical support.
canvas, instinct with life and odor- ous with the perfume of the past, unfolds itself, he seems to feel once more the touch of a vanished hand, and to hear again the sounds of voices that are still for evermore.
It will be seen how Columbia has risen, phoenix-like, from her ashes, and how, since the disastrous night of February 17, 1865, she has breast- ed the blows of circumstance, and from the nettle, danger, plucked the
But enough of this. Let this flower, safety. Some philosophers dream of a beauty dead, fade away, there are in our midst who have be- and come we into the sunlight of the present day. The theme is not this city's disaster and destruction. It is her resurrection and her rehabilita- tion, and-Heaven assenting -- her ascension to heights never reached before in her palmiest day. To get ready the robes of her ascension, this is our present duty. wailed the city's inactivity and de- cried her present fortunes. This pamphlet will refute such erroneous creed. As the panorama of Colum- bia's industries, rising or risen, is unfolded before the eye in these pages, a new revelation will come to many, as doubt vanishes before the light of truth. The city has indeed done well. She deserves to be cred-
Hence the purpose of this pam- plet is to exhibit in a condensed form, ited, especially since the redemption in logical order of arrangement, and of 1876, with large mental and in- with strict regard to the truth, the dustrial achievements. Linking pro- resources and advantages of Colum- gress with prudence; combining bia as a place of residence and a bu- moral methods with material devel- siness mart. The object is to show opment; holding fast to the divine accurately its resources, religious, alliance of ethics and economics, the educational, industrial ; its banking, future of the capital is sure, carry- railroad, and river facilities; its ing with it, as it does, the well
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5
COLUMBIA CITY.
grounded hopes of a "house founded and inlets, and is too flat to be upon a rock." So may it be! And attractive or healthy. There are heaven prosper the good and the a few good harbors, the most noted of which is Charleston and Beaufort
true. *
After gathering material and com- harbor, the entrance to Port Royal. posing the foregoing introduction, I
The low country of the eastern ascertained that Dr. D. P. Robbins, portion of the State is covered with an experienced historian, was compil- a small growth of pine, and the mid- ing a pamphlet similar to the one I dle country is comprised principally had in view, and already had much of the low sand hills which have a matter in type. As his design cov- clay subsoil and give good rewards ers my proposed field, and as Dr. to the husbandman. West of this Robbins's record for sixteen years as is a belt called the ridge, where the a correspondent, journalist, and local land rises abruptly and continues to historian, with his special testimo- ascend, exhibiting beautiful alterna- nials in the last named department. tions of hill and dale. till it termi- and the advance proof-sheets before nates at the extreme northwest of me of his sketch, give me assurance the State in the Blue Ridge, the that his work will be well done, I highest peak of which in South have receded from my enterprise, as Carolina is Table Mountain, some announced to the public. I further twenty miles from Greenville, and yield the field in Dr. Robbins's favor which is 4,000 feet above the sea.
The Savannah River forms the port and good will of the citizens of boundary between South Carolina and bespeak for his work the sup-
Columbia. Since I am impressed with the importance of presenting
and Georgia; the other principal rivers are the Great Pee Dec, the at this time.the resources of Colum- Santee, and the Edisto. The Santee bia through the medium of a wide is navigable for its entire length, and distribution of the proposed pam- its tributaries, the Congaree and phlet, I hope it will appear that the Wateree, by aid of canals, are navi- opportunity and the writer have met gable for small boats nearly to the for the advancement of South Caro- mountains, about 200 or 300 miles
lina's capital.
JOHN P. THOMAS. Columbia, S. C., Jan. 25, 1888.
SOUTH CAROLINA.
GEOGRAPHICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL.
from the ocean. The State has a profusion of rivers and streams, and almost every county abounds in good water power.
MINERALS, PRODUCTS, ETC.
The granite and limestone forma- tions of the State are numerous and
South Carolina principally lies beautiful. Copper, iron, lead, and between 32° and 35° North latitude, bismuth are found in the various and covers an area of over 30,000 sections and the richest deposit of square miles. The name dates back bone phosphate on the continent more than two and a half centuries comes to the surface in Charleston and its origin is somewhat obscure. County.
The eastern boundary of the State South Carolina has its sulphur lies on the Atlantic coast, is inter- and magnesia waters at Glenn Spring spersed with numerous bays, sounds, in Spartanburg County and its pic-
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6
HISTORICAL SKETCH
turesque cascades at the Falls of Saluda, in the mountain country, where the waters have a descent of from 300 to 400 feet.
The products of the State are greatly diversified, the low lands being adapted to rice, corn, cotton ; the oak and pine lands of the interior to cotton, corn, potatoes, etc., and the pine uplands to fruits. cereals, and vegetables. Bordering on the moun- tain range of the Blue Ridge, wheat, barley, corn, and oats flourish, while apples, pears, peaches, plums, grapes, and small fruits in general grow luxuriantly. The fig tree thrives up to an elevation of about 1,500 feet. The principal soil of the State, ex- cepting on the coast, is a red clay with slight admixture of sandy loam.
HEALTHFULNESS.
Statistics show three-fourths of the days as clear and pleasant while the climate in general is very equa- ble and perhaps excelled in this respect by no States in the Union unless it be Florida and Pacific Cali fornia. The central and high lands of the State are timbered with yel-
low pine, water oak, hickory, and from other States or countries.
the northern limit of magnolia. The average daily range of temperature is a fraction less than at Santa Bar-
MANUFACTURING INDUCEMENTS.
While the mercantile interests of a community are an essential feature and the professional talent a neces- sary part of a city, it is generally admitted that thriving manufactur- ing industries are the great desidera- tum, and give more permanency and rapidity of growth to any place than all other interests combined. The merchant brings to us the commodi- ties of commerce and is usually generous in dividing his profits to charities and enterprises of public good, but the legitimate manufac- turer opens a permanent investment for capital at remunerative rates. gives employment to the laborers of a community, and enhances the values of all farm products in his immediate section. Columbia, with her numerous railroads, navigable river, new canal for water power, and healthy location, offers superior inducements to those who may de- sire to make investments within her borders. Lands are cheap, laborers plenty, educational advantages of high grade, her citizens noted for their culture, hospitality, and gen- erous welcome towards good citizens
POLITICAL STATUS.
South Carolina, claiming her origi- bara, Cal., the heat of summer nal sovereignty, entered at the head seldom exceeding 95°, and but few of the Southern States in the recent days in winter reaching the freezing armed protest against the predomi- point, while heavy dews and fogs are nance and sectional legislation of the very infrequent at any season of the Northeast. The fortunes of war year. In point of healthfulness, pic- decided against her, and she has turesque scenery, and prospects for accepted the result in good faith, future developments the Piedmont and no State in the Union is more region of South Carolina is very de- faithful or truer to her pledges. Her sirable. Columbia is located in one system of slavery (originally forced of the healthiest sections of the upon her, and repugnant to the United States and is fast gaining a moral and religious sentiment of the reputation as a favorable resort for world, ) abolished, by which her invalids. opulent planters were enabled to do
7
COLUMBIA CITY.
without every other branch of in- Thomas Taylor. The place was dustry but that of cultivating the platted 100 years ago by far-sighted, soil, as a general thing their whole liberal minded men. who laid out attention being given to the raising streets 100 feet wide with some ave- of the great staple of commerce. nues 150 feet, hewed down the oak, Often even their bread and meat hickory, and pine, and laid the foun- were imported from other parts of dation for a beautiful city, on a the world; their tools and imple- picturesque hill top overlooking the ments brought from the North or mountains and valleys for scores of from Europe. Thus slavery, which miles around. Many of the streets enriched the people by means of the have in addition to the stately elms great profits of their staple produce, that shade the side walks, a hand- in reality impoverished them by some row of trees in the centre of making them dependent on others, the driveway, and these, with the and thus preventing that universal magnificent lawns and well trimmed and close industry which enables a shrubbery, which surround the commonwealth to create within numerous mansions here, give to itself all that is requisite to the Columbia an air of freedom and pic- necessities and comforts of life. turesqueness not usually found in This complete dependence was ex- cities a hundred years old. The Legis- emplified in the blockade of ports lature met here for the first time in in the South during the late war. 1791, and Jan, 1891, should be cele- Instead of repining and sorrowing brated in fitting style as the centen- over the lost comforts and riches of nial of the place.
the past, the citizens of South Caro- lina are boldly and manfully meeting the necessities of the present. The courage and fortitude with which they have met all the vicissitudes, political and social, the patience with which they have endured the revul- sions and disasters that have oc- curred during and since the war. are harbingers of better and brighter days.
COLUMBIA CITY,
PAST AND PRESENT.
The primitive settlers of Sonth Carolina were subjected to unceas- ing toils, hardships, and privations, as well as to the rigors of war from the savages and from the hostile French. The foundation of Charles- ton was laid in 1680, and the Colony of South Carolina was one of the first to respond with men and means in support of the struggle for liberty, against the mother country. Her patriotic sons have been numbered
The county seat of Richland by scores among the great states- County, and capital of the State, is men of the country, and the names located near north latitude 34º, of Jackson and Calhoun, who filled stands some 200 feet above the Con- the offices of President and Vice garee at its formation by the Broad President, are on the roll of immortal and Saluda Rivers, and about 350 fame, while there are many others above the level of the sea. The that deserve a prominent mention; Assembly of South Carolina in 1786 but as we said at the start, the object selected the site for the State gov- of this publication is not to laud ernment on lands then covered with hving men nor write obituaries, forest trees and owned by Colonel but to illustrate the great natural
.
8
HISTORICAL SKETCH
.
manufacturing facilities of this sec- tion and demonstrate that the peo- ple of this State are beginning to realize the advantages which they possess for the conversion of cot- ton and other products of our soil into the manufactured staples of commerce. Not only should im- mense factories for the production of cotton and hemp goods be located here, but our abundant and valuable native woods make it eminently practical to start large furniture, carriage, and general wood manufac- turing establishments. We also have in this vicinity fine kaolin for porce- lain, elegant clay for stone and pottery ware, and extensive mineral deposits. These facts coupled with our superior water power, extensive railroad system, new canal advan- tages, with abundance of cheap laborers in the vicinity, furnish every requisite to successful manu -* facturing. These great natural ad- vantages have already been utilized by the progressive and public spirited citizens of Charleston, and other cities of the State, where cot- ton manufactories have been put in successful operation. and Columbia is but just awakening to the fact that her combined advantages are equalled by few and surpassed by no city in the South. The town is two miles square, regularly divided
THE DOOM OF WAR.
Up to February, 1865, Columbia boasted of her many magnificent residences and fine mercantile estab- lishments, but when taken by a victorious foe, she became a prey to the fire fiend in their hands, and two-thirds of her buildings, covering eighty-four blocks and 1,426 buildings, were laid in ashes. The old State House with its legis- lative library of 25,000 volumes, all the depots, fair buildings, the halls and regalias of fraternal orders. mercantile stocks, and hundreds of thousands of dollars of private and public property went up in smoke.
THE RECOVERY
Has been wonderful and there are now but few places where any traces remain of this devastation of twenty- three years ago; but on the burned district have arisen scores of sub- stantial two and three story brick business structures, church edifices ofimposing architectural design, pub- lic buildings of magnificence, tasty and attractive residences and cot- tages, interspersed here and there with superb mansions of royal sur- roundings.
TRANSPORTATION AND MARKETS.
Columbia has an outlet by rail in by streets at right angles into blocks five different directions, the river of four acres each. The roadways advantages from above and below, are macadamized and some of the the canal scheme fast assuming defi- sidewalks are paved. The plat is nite shape to give cheap water sufficiently level for good building power and foster manufacturing sites, has a porous soil that readily interests, while she is gaining a well absorbs the rain and surrounding merited notoriety asa cotton market. fermentations, while its great eleva- tion gives it pure air and admirable drainage facilities. It has no stag- nant water pools or surrounding marshes.
Our present railroads reach toward every point of the compass, the Co- lumbia, Newberry and . Laurens Road now building, will still add to our facilities, and the connection via Spartanburg, Asheville and Cum-
9
COLUMBIA CITY.
berland Gap, with the Charleston, the difference between the coldest Kentucky and Western, (now char- and hottest summers has ranged be- tered and surveyed from Cincinnati tween 88° and 94°, and that between to the Gap, almost in an air line the coldest and mildest winters, for across the State of Kentucky,) will a few particular days, from 60° to bring us into direct communica- 21°. the thermometer rarely falling tion with the great trunk lines of below freezing point, and indicating the North, shorten the distance to an annual mean of 67º Fahrenheit. Cincinnati by 100 miles, put us into As attractive as is Columbia in other intimate relations with over twenty regards, its healthfulness must prove lines of railroads that centre at the its principal charm.
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