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 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
city daily, placing Columbia within 27 hours of New York. The rates on freight and passenger traffic over this line are as low as any compet- ing road, and very nearly as cheap to New York as Charleston, with its additional competition of water trans- portation. Columbia railroads bill through to European ports cheaper than can be done from any other in-
There are many other items of in- land point in the State. The R. & terest which we might give in con- D. brought to Columbia dealers, dur- nection with this road, but other en- ing the past season, 17,750 bales of terprises of Columbia demand a large cotton and a relative amount of share of our space, and we have said other products ; but while it forms sufficient to give a slight conception
-
64
HISTORICAL SKETCH
of the magnitude of this enterprise rels of rice, worth $20 per barrel. to which the permanency and pros- The railroad was contemplated to perity of our city is greatly indebted. Hamburg and thence to Columbia
The mileage and different sections and Camden, and with our present of the Piedmont Air Line, under knowledge of the immense develop- Columbia management, are as fol- ments consequent upon the building lows :
SOUTH CAROLINA DIVISION. Miles.
Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta Railroad, 191 Atlantic. Tennessee & Ohio Railroad, 44 Chester & Lenoir N. G. Railroad, 109
Cheraw & Chester N. G. Railroad, 29
Statesville & Western Railroad, 20
COLUMBIA & GREENVILLE DIVISION. Col. & Greenville R. R. and Branches, 197 Spartanburg, Union & Columbia Railroad, 68 Laurens Railway, 31
Total, 689
The general offices of the Rich- mond and Danville R. R. system are at Washington, D. C., Geo. S. Scott, of New York, officiating as Presi- dent; E. B. Thomas, Washington, D. C., as General Manager ; and Jas. L. Taylor, as General Passenger Agent. The ability with which the road has been conducted, and the success which it has attained as a trunk line, are laurels upon the heads of its general and division officers, far greater in value than any enco- miums from the pen of the writer, as the R. & D. is fully recognized as one of the important railroad sys- tems of America.
SOUTH CAROLINA R. R. EARLY HISTORY.
The South Carolina Railroad was one of the first iron rail highways in the United States, and we believe the very first to use locomotive power. The first charter was ob- tained Dec., 1827, but being some- what defective, another was granted on Jan. 30. 1828, to the "South Caro- lina Canal and Railroad Company." The commerce of Charleston at that time was 200.000 bales of cotton, worth $25 per bale, and 100,000 bar-
of railroads, it is strange to relate that the interior towns refused to take a dollar in capital stock, and the organization was finally perfect- ed at Charleston. Alexander Black was one of the prime movers, and Win. Aiken the first President. The mode of construction was to drive two parallel lines of piles, five feet apart, at about six feet intervals, spike on a "cross-tie," and surmount these with longitudinal sills on which the flat iron bar was nailed. The building of the South Carolina Rail- road was commenced in 1830, and a locomotive was constructed in New York that year, under the direction of E. L. Miller, it being the first practical steam motor power made in the United States ; George Ste- phenson's "Rocket" having made its trial trip at Liverpool Oct. 6th, 1829.
The Baltimore and Ohio Road was begun before the Charleston & Ham- burg. but was intended for horse power only; so the South Carolina was the first to use locomotive power in America. The road was rapidly pushed to its completion, having been opened to Hamburg (136 miles) by Oct., 1833, at a cost of about one million dollars. The Liverpool and Manchester Railroad of 30 miles in length, completed in the old world 3 years prior to this, had cost four million dollars, so that South Caro- linians naturally felt proud of their achievements. This road continued to be the longest line of railroad in the world until 1840.
THE PRESENT S. C. ROAD. The main line of the South Caro-
.
65
COLUMBIA CITY.
lina from here to Charleston is 130 Central of S. C.,
40
miles, a branch from Kingsville to Cheraw & Darlington, 40
25
Camden is 33, and from Branchville Cheraw & Salisbury, to Augusta 76, which, with another short line, makes 2463 miles of road. At Camden the S. C. connects with
Total, 858
This, with its connections, makes the 3 C.'s. at Pregnall's with the the Atlantic Coast Line a short Eutawville Railroad, and at Black- through system from Boston. New ville with the Barnwell road, while York, and Philadelphia to Florida at Charleston it reaches the various and all intermediate points, giving systems of roads and the ocean to all cities it touches great advan- steamers which enter that port. tages in competing rates and rapid- minals or connections. It is first
This road runs two daily passen- ity of transportation to all of its ter- ger trains between Charleston and Columbia, making direct connec- class in its equipments, runs triple tions at junction points for Camden daily passenger and double daily and Augusta. In connection with freight trains to and from Columbia the Clyde line of steamers, it forms for Charleston, Savannah, Florida, a through freight and passenger line and all Northern points along the with the East via Charleston, and Atlantic Coast. The A. C. L. is re- by its connections at Augusta with cognized as one of the factors in Co- the entire West. Its service is not lumbia's prosperity, and is very gen- excelled by any of its competitors, erously patronized by our shippers. and it has an equipment ample to move all business offering, with bia Agent for ten years past, and the promptness and dispatch.
ATLANTIC COAST LINE.
WILMINGTON, COLUMBIA & AUGUSTA DIVISION.
C. M. Smith has been the Colum- general offices are at Wilmington : R. R. Bridgers, President; H. Wal- ters, General Manager; Jno. F. Di- vine, Gen. Superintendent ; J. R. Kenly, Supt. Transportation ; T. M. Emerson. Gen. Frt. & Pass. Agent.
The Wilmington, Columbia & Au- gusta R. R. was completed to this The success which this road has place before the war, forming the attained as a trunk line is good evi- fifth railway outlet for Columbia. It dence of the ability with which its is a division of the Atlantic Coast affairs are conducted, and all good Line, which is one of the important people of Columbia wish it continued trunk lines of the South. This di- prosperity. vision is 192 miles in length, being the second in importance of that no- BANKING INTERESTS. table system.
The mileage of the A. C. L. is giv- en as follows :
Wilmington, Columbia & A.,
Richmond & Petersburg,
Petersburg,
Wilmington & W .. and branches, 321 cerns every person in the city. Albemarle & Raleigh, Florence, 33 While the very liberal or specula- 21 tive disposition on the part of offi- 102 cers would lead a banking establish-
Northeastern of S. C.,
The banking interests of a com- munity are of great importance to 192 the general welfare, and the stand- 23 ing of the men at the head of these 61 institutions is a matter which con-
5
66
HISTORICAL SKETCH
ment into financial trouble, the un- share of credit for the success of the necessarily exacting or spirit of ag- institution. John Bell, teller, is grandizement, on the other hand, from Beaufort County, and for would lead to oppression, distrust, twelve years past with this bank. and financial stricture among the The directors are: W. A. Clark, R. masses. We can confidently refer S. Desportes, R. M. Wallace, J. P. to the banking officers of this city Richardson, W. C. Wright, A. E. en masse as a strictly honorable, Hutchison, A. H. White, G. W. Par- conservative, and enterprising set of ker, L. D. Childs, J. S. Muller, W. J. men. All of the banks here are Duffie, Wilie Jones.
backed by fair capital, judiciously managed, and a suspicion of un- soundness in any respect has never rested upon them. This condition of matters adds largely to the gen- eral standing of Columbia, but the aggregate banking capital of the place is less than half a million and should be increased to at least dou- ble that amount.
CENTRAL NATIONAL BANK.
The Central National Bank of Co- lumbia was incorporated in 1871, and has a capital stock of $100,000, with surplus and undivided profits of $42,000. Hon. W. B. Stanley, an ex-Mayor and old merchant of Co- lumbia, has officiated as President for eight years past; Dr. James CAROLINA NATIONAL BANK. Woodrow, mentioned as one of the faculty of the University of South The Carolina National Bank is the Carolina, is Vice President; T. H. oldest banking institution of this Gibbes acts as Teller; and J. H. city, having been opened for busi- Sawyer as Cashier. Mr. Sawyer is ness in 1868 with a capital stock of a native of N. Y., reared in Va., and $100,000. The present surplus fund has been responsible for the cash of is $40,000, and the deposit accounts the Central National for 14 years foot up to nearly half a million dol- past. The Directors are W. B. Stan- lars. The management of the Caro- ley, Jas. Woodrow, I. S. Bamberg, lina National has been in the hands Jno. A. Crawford, C. H. Fisher, W. of efficient officers and directors, and H. Gibbes. Thos. T. Moore, Jno. B. its stockholders are fully satisfied Palmer, Jno. T. Sloan, Jr., W. D. with the results. W. A. Clark, the Simpson, A. N. Talley, and Wm. president, is proprietor of the Elm- Wallace.
wood stock farm and a leading mem- This bank has declared regular ber of the Columbia Bar. Capt. R. semi-annual dividends of 4 to 5 per S. Desportes, vice president, came cent., having returned in the aggre- from Fairfield County to Columbia gate over $150,000 to its stockhold- about a half dozen years since, and ers. In 1873 it erected the building his active movements in mercantile, at the corner of Main and Plain manufacturing, and other develop- streets, which is among the hand- ments of this city have clearly de- somest in the city. We would glad- monstrated his progressive spirit. ly give space to an illustration of Willie Jones, cashier, is a native of this fine piece of architecture, which North Carolina, and has been con- cost over $50,000. but the cut is in nected with this bank for 19 years. New York and cannot be procured His able management in this respon- in time, Officered as it is, it enjoys sible position entitle him to a fair the utmost confidence of Columbia
67
COLUMBIA CITY.
This was established in Sept., 1883, as a private banking enterprise by Levi Metz and Capt. C. J. Iredell, with a working capital of $25,000, although the individual wealth is over $100,000. Mr. Metz lives in Lexington County, where he owns a large area of land and is a suc- cessful farmer. Capt. Iredell is a native of Raleigh, N. C., came to Columbia 20 years ago to engage as Cashier of the Carolina National Bank, and was Teller and Cashier of that institution until he opened up the Commercial Bank in com- pany with Mr. Metz, and officiates as the managing partner. The en- terprise has been a success, doing a fair share of the banking transac- tions for "Columbia, and bringing a good percentage to its investors. LOAN AND EXCHANGE BANK.
merchants, and now holds on depo- drug trade of this city. Julins H. sit about one-fourth of a million dol- Walker, cashier, came to Columbia lars from this city and its vicinity. from Edgefield in boyhood, and was COMMERCIAL BANK. connected with the Central National Bank for 13 years prior to the incor- poration of the Loan and Exchange, when he was elected to his present responsible position.
The directors, in addition to the president and vice president, are W. C. McGregor, George A. Shields, W. R. Muller, R. W. Shand, and N. W. Trump. . Allen J. Green officiates as attorney.
Although this monetary institu- tution has been in the field less than 18 months, it has made an excellent commercial record and compares fa- vorably in all respects with the older banks of this city. The Loan and Exchange invites correspon- dence in any matter relative to their department of trade.
BROKERAGE, INSURANCE, ETC. GEO. K. WRIGHT.
From the evident need of addi- NO. 103 MAIN STREET. tional banking facilities the Loan Real Estate Brokerage and Insurance. and Exchange Bank was incorpora- ted by some of Columbia's leading citizens October 1, 1886, and the net
George K. Wright is a native of Richmond, Va., and came to this city twenty years ago. He gradu- profits realized to December 31, 1887, ated from the Columbia Male Aca- was $10,408.94. The capital, be- demy in 1877, and shortly after- ginning with $40,700, has been in- wards engaged in the collection and creased to $105,000. and is authorized insurance business, also the handling for increase to $500,000. This bank of real estate. Col. Wright had evi- loans on real estate securities, as dently sought the proper field, as he well as good endorsements, and does has made a decided success in his a general banking business. A. C. line. Aided by good business tact Haskell, the president, born in Ab- and a quick perception of the needs beville County in 1839, has been As- of his customers, he has built up an sociate Justice of the Supreme Court, enviable reputation, and is known and is now president of the C. & G. as one of the liberal and progressive and C., C. & A. Railroads, and a gov- public spirited citizens of Columbia. ernment director in the Union Pa- Mr. Wright, a couple of years since, cific Railroad Company. Dr. W. C. published a 50 page pamphlet, de- Fisher, vice president, is a native scriptive of Columbia and its sur- Columbian, and has long been in the roundings, including, of course, the
-
68
HISTORICAL SKETCH
bargains in his own line of trade. original agency, and having added This book comprised a colored plate others to meet the increased business map of the State, special railroad demand. Mr. Parker takes the man- map, and much information about agement of property, attends to the the prices of lands in this State. A collection of rents, makes properly limited number of the edition is yet secured loans on commission, and left and will be mailed on receipt of a does a general brokerage and real 2 ct. stamp for postage, to any per- estate business.
son who desires to know more about South Carolina.
In the insurance line he writes for a full share of representative
Mr. Wright has over a million dol- companies, and his transactions in lars worth of bargains in real estate real estate are large, covering all de- recorded in his office books, which scriptions of improved and unim- reaches nearly every county andall of proved property in this section of the principal cities of this State, and country.
can give definite information to those Geo. W. Parker is a native Colum- seeking homes, farms, or mannfac- bian, and has been actively engaged turing sites in this favored clime. in business here for 30 years, having In fire insurance he carries the agen- fully established a reputation as com- cy of a half dozen first-class compa- petent and conservative in all his nies. For life insurance no sounder transactions.
or more economical company can be found than the Mutual Life, of New E. W. SEIBELS & SON, REAL ESTATE BROKERS, Fire, Life, and Accident Insurance. York, which is represented in Co- lumbia by this agency. Its features of advantage are too well known to need a repetition here. The broker- formerly existing under the name of age business is also a local feature of his trade, conducted with propriety and success.
As before remarked, it is not the purpose of this edition to deal large- ly in personal commendation or minutiæ of individual enterprises, and we will only add that if Colum- bia had a fair sprinkling of men who were ever ready to assist in time, means, and influence as Mr. Wright, her prosperity would be fully as- sured.
GEO. W. PARKER & CO., INSURANCE AGENT, And Real Estate Broker.
The firm of E. W. Seibels & Son, Seibels & Ezell, was organized in 1870 and is composed of Maj. E. W. Seibels and Mr. Ed. G. Seibels. They are engaged in a general fire, life, and accident insurance business, rep- resenting over $100,000,000 in assets.
The "Old Etna," of Hartford, heads the list, being the largest American Fire Insurance Company, and her premium receipts exceed those of any company represented in the city, showing the confidence which is placed in her ability and promptness in settling losses. The London Assurance Corporation of England, the next oldest company in the world, is also represented
This agency was originated by the here. The life business is represent- Jate Dr. J. W. Parker in 1870, and ed by the Equitable of New York, has continued uninterruptedly ever which does the largest business of since, still representing the same in- any life company in the world. surance companies which formed the This firm manages the Eastern de-
69
COLUMBIA CITY.
partment of the Mobile Insurance Company.
LEE HAGOOD. NO. 73 MAIN STREET.
Talley Mutual Life Association.
The Valley Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Staunton, Va., was or- ganized in 1878 on the assessment plan, with a guarantee fund feature. The South Carolina department was established here in 1882. Lee Ha- can and foreign companies are repre- good succeeding to the management sented. in 1886. Mr. Hagood is a native of W. A. BLACK, NO. 93 MAIN STREET, Barnwell County, and has resided in Columbia for a dozen years, having Insurance and Real Estate Agent. been mostly engaged in insurance, but in 1878 was elected as Clerk of the Court of Claims for the settle- ment of the State debt, continuing in that official capacity until the ex- piration of the duties for which the Court was created.
The Valley Mutual Life Associa- tion bas bad a successful opening in South Carolina, having perhaps as large a list of policy-holders as any other company doing business in this State.
A guarantee fund of over $100,- 000 insures the full payment of a W. C. SWAFFIELD, 114 MAIN STREET. death loss ; but no large reserves are kept for banking purposes and re- Insurance and Real Estate Agency. turn dividend , the company believ- W. C. Swaffield is a native of New- ing it to be the best for all parties that ark, N. J., but came to Columbia 30 the policy holder should handle his years ago. He began the insurance own money, excepting a sufficient and real estate business some eight amount for actual death losses and years ago, and has done a fair share the incidental expenses.
D. GAMBRILL, 91 MAIN STREET,
Stock and Bond Broker.
Messrs. E. W. Seibels & Son are also engaged in the real estate and The dealing in stocks and bonds brokerage business. They handle is quite an important trade in this quite a large amount of real estate commercial centre, and one which for parties all over the U. S .. and engages the attention of several having had a long experience in the good business men of this city. Da- business, are well up in current vidge Gambrill is a native of Mary- values. They pay taxes for them- land, but clerking in Charleston for selves and clients on over $125,000 worth of real estate.
some years prior to opening up busi- ness here in 1869. Mr. Gambrill has been level-headed and success- ful in the trade here for nearly a score of years, and is recognized as one of the solid business dealers of Columbia. In 1883, in connection with Julius H. Walker, now casbier of the Loan and Exchange Bank, the fire insurance business was added, and several prominent Ameri-
The insurance business now con- ducted by W. A. Black, founded in 1866 by H. E. Nichols and Jas. E. Black, and was conducted under the firm name of H. E. Nichols & Co .. since which time under various firm names. The companies represented are among the leading American and English corporations. The New York Life alone represents over $80,- 000,000, and with his leading fire companies the assets aggregate $150,000,000.
of trade. Mr. S. writes for the Sun.
--
70
HISTORICAL SKETCH
Fire Office, the Queen, Merchants of the present morning daily, which is Newark, N. J., and other reliable owned by C. A. Calvo, Jr. This of- fire companies, and in life insurance fice is thoroughly fitted as a book, represents the Fidelity Mutual and job, and newspaper establishment, the Washington Life Insurance Com- and, together with the binding de- panies.
D. R. FLENNIKEN, 41 SUMTER STREET,
General Commission Agent.
D. R. Flennikin is a native of life of trade, such an institution, if Chester, and was in mercantile trade rightly managed, could be made a at Winnsboro for several years prior paying investment in this growing to removing to Columbia, a couple city.
of years since. He is engaged in the handling of commission goods- bacon, flour, grain, etc., doing a large-local trade, as well as over the State generally. Mr. F. gives as references the Carolina National and Loan & Exchange Banks of this place, and also the Winnsboro and Chester National Banks.
- -0-
THE PRESS.
partment, employs about 30 hands. It is rumored that a movement is on hand to organize another morning daily outfit with capital stock of $50,000, and as competition is the
The Evening Record is a continua- tion of the Palmetto Yeoman, and is owned by W. Nelson Emlyn. This paper claims the largest city circu- lation, and gives the condensed news to our city people for evening read- ing.
The Columbia Ready Print Com- pany, with Jno. S. Reynolds as mana- ger, has headquarters at the Record office, and is the only concern of its kind in this State. It furnisbes a
In every city the influence of the number of weekly papers with half- press is an important one, and the printed sheets.
several printing offices here deserve The Presbyterian Publishing a separate mention as manufacturing House is owned by James Wood- institutions ; but our space is valu- row & Co., and has printed the South- able, and as the leading offices have ern Presbyterian for many years. failed to give us the information in This house is also fitted up as a detail, we shall epitomize the press. book establishment, gives employ- J. A. Selby was the first to start in ment to a number of hands, and journalism after the burning of Co- with the commencement of the con- lumbia. In March, 1865, he leased tract which the firm has secured for a small stock, paying as rental $1,500 the State printing, a number of ad- per week in Confederate money, ditional hands will be required.
charging at first $20 per month for The Christian Neighbor, published bis paper, 8x20 inches in size, and by Sidi H. Browne, is a peace organ later, as he enlarged to 12x24inches, of Methodist proclivities, and is do- increased his price to $40 per week; ing a noble work in its efforts to later in the season, in the chaos of harmonize the hostilities of man- surrendering "the lost cause," he de- kind. manded something better than Con- A job printing establishment is federate scrip, and changed the price run by Wm. Sloane, and also out- to $1 per month in gold. The Pho- fits kept by J. L. Berg and R. L. nix was succeeded by the Register, Bryan & Co., stationers.
-------- - -
71
COLUMBIA CITY.
The Charleston News and Courier which is used as cotton gin and runs a Columbia department, with press, feed cutter, feed grinder, etc., N. G. Gonzales as correspondent, de- he believing fully in the ensilage livering the morning news here plan. The promotion of the thor- about 10.30 a. m., and has done its oughbred industry in this section proper share towards improving the will raise the price of lands, give backbone to our city, and make the
journalistic status of Columbia.
Charleston World runs a special entire State more valuable.
Columbia correspondence, in charge of J. Wilson Gibbes.
Augusta Chronicle also gives a spe- cial Columbia column, in charge of B. Cleveland Sloan.
ELMWOOD STOCK AND DAIRY FARM.
W. A. CLARK, PROPRIETOR.
The Elmwood Stock and Dairy Thus it will be seen that South Carolina's capital is gaining promi- nence as a newspaper centre. Farm was established in 1883, at which time a herd of Jersey cattle was selected to meet the growing -0- - demand in this State for the im- FARM AND STOCK. proved breeds of cattle. The herd now consists of about twenty-five BARHAMVILLE STOCK AND POULTRY FARM. head of Jerseys, all of which are registered. This herd has been for PRESTON L. MELTON, PROPRIETOR. several years past most prominent In this rich agricultural and graz- in competing for honors at the Fair ing section, well watered lands, and of the "State Agricultural and Me- mild climate, there is every reason chanical Society of South Carolina;" for endeavoring to secure improve- and last year was awarded the $100 ments in the animal as well as the premium offered by the American human race, and it is with pleasure Jersey Cattle Club. The proprietor, that we record the fact that some in his selections, adheres to no one men of enterprise and capital are family or strain of Jerseys, but pro- taking hold of this matter in earnest. poses to establish his berd upon the Preston L. Melton, of this place, individual merit of each animal, and owns a 90 acre farm at Barhamville, thus hopes to entitle the "Elmwood in the suburbs of the city, and has Herd" to the peculiar claim of indi- bent his energies towards having a vidual merit. The Jersey cow has model stock farm. He hasa thorough proved herself to be well suited to line of high-bred poultry, a herd of the climate of the Southern States, pure Jersey cattle, some registered and promises to become the favorite Berkshire hogs, and has recently dairy cow of the entire South. The purchased at a goodly price an ele- Elmwood Farm contains seventy- gant Percheron stallion, which was five acres of land, well supplied with imported from France last July. a running stream of water. It ad- This breed of horses are very docile, joins the corporate limits of the city large, and powerful, making the very on Elmwood Avenne, one of its most best draught and farming horses, fashionable drives, with the street and our stock breeders will do well railway running along its front. to look over the fine points of this The arable lands are under the handsome animal. Mr. Melton has highest state of cultivation, and pro- on the farm a 10 horse power motor duce abundant crops of the various
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.