The News from Seneca - 1888 - 1918 - as Reported in the Keowee Courier

By John Ashton Hester

In the late 1800s and early 1900s the Keowee Courier was Oconee County's dominant newspaper. An important aspect of the Courier was weekly reports by community correspondents from throughout the county, who would tell about the day-to-day goings-on in their communities.

One of those communities, of course, was Seneca, and this book consists of a compilation of news reports from the Seneca correspondents, spanning the period 1888-1918, specifically from the years 1888, 1889, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910 1911, 1914 and 1918.

Although several excellent Seneca history books have been published, the author feels that this book will add an extra dimension by focusing on the day-to-day, week-to-week, year-to-year goings on as Senecaites (as they were called back then) adapted to the coming of cotton mills, automobiles, electric lights, etc.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9781669862673

John Ashton Hester

Early in his career as a reporter, photographer, and editor for the Keowee Courier, ASHTON HESTER became fascinated by the volumes containing issues from past years of the paper, which was founded in 1849. He began compiling a weekly column containing news highlights from the corresponding dates 10, 20, 30, 40, etc., years ago. He first titled the column From the Past but eventually changed it to Looking Back, which is also the title of this book and six previous books which highlighted different years and contained different stories.

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CONTENTS

Preface By Author

1888

1889

1898

1899

1900

1901

1902

1903

1904

1905

1906

1907

1908

1909

1910

1911

1914

1918

PREFACE BY AUTHOR

In the late 1800s and early 1900s the Keowee Courier, published in Walhalla, was Oconee County’s dominant newspaper. An important aspect of the Courier was weekly reports by community correspondents from throughout the county. I counted 114 communities from which the Courier received news reports at one time or another during that era. That included the incorporated municipalities of Seneca, Walhalla, Westminster and West Union, and 110 rural communities.

This book consists of a compilation of reports from the Seneca correspondents from the years 1888, 1889, 1898, 1899, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1914 and 1918. (I had to be selective due to page limitations for the book.)

During that time, the Courier had several different Seneca correspondents. One of them, Mattye Verner Stribling, wrote her first column in 1888 and her last one in 1918, spanning 30 years. There were gaps when the Courier had another correspondent, but Mrs. Stribling always returned. The fact that she gave birth to--and raised--three children during those years was undoubtedly a factor.

Mrs. Stribling was born in 1861 and died in 1945. She married Thomas E. (T.E.) Stribling on June 28, 1889. Her husband was born in 1860 and died in 1915. Mrs. Stribling’s first name was sometimes spelled Mattie rather than Mattye.

When Mrs. Stribling (then Mattye Verner) first began reporting the Seneca news in 1888, she signed her column OBSERVER. (It was the custom at that time for correspondents to use pseudonyms rather than their real names.) She began signing her columns M.V.S. on March 12, 1902 and continued doing so until her final one on January 16, 1918.

During the gaps when Mrs. Stribling was not the Seneca correspondent, four of the others were Mary E. Swann, who sometimes signed her columns with her full name and other times only with her initials; one who always signed her columns L.H.C.; one who always signed her columns M.D.; and one who always signed her columns T.

Although I am not certain of L.H.C.’s identity, I strongly suspect that it was Mrs. M.W. Coleman, whose first name was Ludie. I do not have any idea who either M.D. or T. were, but I am reasonably sure that, by their writing style, they were both women.

It’s interesting to note that, although Seneca’s correspondents were all--or at least, nearly all--women during the entire period, 1888-1918, Westminster’s correspondents were all men during that same period!

Possible Points of Confusion

Here are a few outdated terms and language usages from back then that might confuse or seem peculiar to today’s readers:

1.Prior to 1900, Seneca was often called Seneca City.

2.Whereas today, Seneca residents are called Senecans, back then they were called Senecaites.

3.When it was said that someone had the grip or la grippe, that was the same illness that we today call the flu or the virus.

4.When it was said that some event occurred on the 15th instant or the 15th ultimo (for instance), that meant the 15th day of the month.

5.A town’s intendant and aldermen are what we today call the mayor and city council members.

6.Whereas today we speak of someone who is deceased as being the late John Doe, back then they would say, the lamented John Doe.

7.Mattye Verner Stribling sometimes humorously called her husband Der Captain and her two young sons the Katzenjammers. She was referring to a popular comic strip of that era called The Katzenjammer Kids, which featured a German-American family in which the father was called Der Captain, and the Katzenjammers were his two mischievous young sons. The mother was called Mama.

8.Here are some differences in language usage between back then and today:

–Back then, the word state was always spelled with a capital S. For instance, The effects of the winter weather are being felt throughout the State.

–When the name of a church was written back then, the c in church would always be lower-case instead of capital. For instance, whereas we today would write, Services were held at the Baptist Church, back then they would write, Services were held at the Baptist church.

–The same was true for street names. For instance, whereas we today would write, The Smith family resides on Fair Play Street, back then they would write, The Smith family resides on Fair Play street.

–Whereas we now use the spellings today, tonight and tomorrow, back then they hyphenated those words as to-day, to-night and to-morrow.

–Whereas we now spell the sports baseball, football and basketball, back then they spelled them base ball, foot ball and basket ball. (This began changing around 1910, when they began merging the two words into one.)

–Back then there were schools known as graded schools, which contained all of the grades, from 1 through 10 (and later 1 through 11). Actually, however, there were two schools within that one building--the lower grades, 1-5, and the upper grades, 6-10. This created some confusion in that the facility was sometimes called the Seneca Graded School (when referring to the building) and other times called the Seneca Graded Schools (when referring to the two schools within the same building).

–The creek and community that we today spell Coneross was spelled Conneross back then. Sometime in the early 1900s, the second n was dropped.

–The community that we today spell Tamassee was spelled Tomassee back then.

–Whereas today we write that something happened at 8:30 p.m. (with a colon after the 8), back then they wrote 8.30 p.m. (with a period after the 8).

View Chronicling America Online

My two sources of viewing the old Keowee Couriers in compiling this book were a limited number of volumes of Couriers from that era that still exist locally, and the Chronicling America website, which is operated by the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Courier is one of numerous historic newspapers from throughout the nation that were selected for this project.

The Couriers, from the years 1849-1922, were copied for the Chronicling America website at the South Caroliniana Library at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

The Seneca news reports in this book are only a small fraction (perhaps 10 percent) of the actual length of the reports that were in the Courier. I only chose what I considered to be the highlights from among a vast myriad of information, which typically included a considerable amount of routine visiting and lengthy descriptions of weddings, deaths, club meetings, etc.

*     *     *     *     *

Anyone who would like to view the old Keowee Couriers from 1849-1922 online can do so by Googling Keowee Courier Chronicling America Browse Issues. Scroll down from 1849 to the year you want to access, and a calendar for each month of that year will come on the screen. The dates on which the Courier was published will be highlighted in boldface. Click on the date you want to access, and all of the pages of that issue (usually either four--prior to 1900--or eight--after 1900) will come onto the screen.

Click twice on the page you want to read, and it will be enlarged to readable size and will fill the screen. You can make the type larger or smaller by scrolling over the page, and move around the page by using the little red box in the upper-right corner.

1888

All of the items that are not designated as having been written by the Keowee Courier’s Seneca correspondent were in the Courier’s general news.

The Seneca correspondent using the pen name OBSERVER was Mattye Verner, then 26 or 27 years old, who would marry Thomas E. Stribling on June 28, 1889.

Many 1888 issues are missing from both the Keowee Courier files and the Chronicling America website.

FEBRUARY 2, 1888

Farm machinery is now so perfected that two men can raise enough food to feed three families.

(Items from Seneca City and Other Items by OBSERVER):

We observe quite a number of strangers about town and suppose them to be commercial travelers. They seem to congregate mostly about the Coleman House. Many people make their boasts that Col. Hoake is the best of hosts, though by rheumatism rendered somewhat lame.

We are not over fed at our boarding house, and the other day when we intimated that a little more variety in the bill of fare would be very acceptable, we were requested by the old gentleman proprietor to continue cheerful and contented, as he expected to plant beans, and hoped to have them ready for table use by the fourth of July. Then seeing us looking at him, he added that possibly we might have a mess by the first of July.

We are delighted to observe that Mr. Frank Cary has returned to Seneca, though we did not have the opportunity of telling him so, as we only had a passing glance of him and he seemed pre-occupied as though listening for marriage bells. We are told he has returned to take charge of the Keowee Hotel, having purchased the property from his brother.

FEBRUARY 23, 1888

We had a short visit on Monday morning last from Mr. W.T. Webb, editor of the Seneca Free Press. Mr. Webb came up on the freight train, consequently did not tarry long with us, as the freight train only remains at Walhalla one hour and twenty minutes.

MARCH 8, 1888

(Items from Seneca City and Other Items by OBSERVER):

We have been hearing for some time that Seneca was to have a new depot. We go to that part of town, hoping to find some evidence of a commencement, but we don’t observe a brick, and of timber not a stick.

Very few of our farmers hereabouts have finished sowing oats. Some are breaking up for cotton, and others talking of planting more corn and other eatables and less cotton. But the sentiment of many is to this effect: Cotton is the crop that pays, better far in many ways, and a little ready money we can claim. We are trading on a lien, and a mortgage comes between us and everything we are making all the same.

There is a late arrival at Joe O’Niel’s. Another boy lays claim to particular attention. Babies and blackberries, we observe, are sure crops.

We have had a rather exciting time at our boarding house, namely a killing and three hangings. The old gentleman proprietor first killed a fine hen and then hung three hams to smoke among the rafters of his sky apartment. He is a very good man in many respects, though we don’t have chicken pie as often as we should like.

MARCH 29, 1888

SENECA’S SENSATION - The Town

Divided Over a Vanished Prisoner

(Book editor’s note): That was the headline for a story in the March 29, 1888 issue of the Keowee Courier that was reprinted in the Courier from the March 25 issue of the Greenville Daily News. Due to its length, I have shortened the story here, deleting some of the extensive details. The paragraphs enclosed by quotation marks are directly from the story, and those not enclosed by quotation marks are my summaries.

The town of Seneca has been stirred from center to circumference by the sensational arrest and subsequent release of a young man named Woodward, charged with creating a disturbance on the West bound Air Line train last Wednesday morning. The man was not known in town and spent but a few brief hours there, but when he left, the town was separated into two parties--the one for and the other against him.

The story went on to explain that Woodward was a student at the University of Virginia, on his way to his home in Texas. He had created a disturbance on the train, drawing a pistol on a porter, and when the train reached Seneca the conductor instructed Town Marshal Phillips to arrest Woodward.

The sensation caused by the arrest had gathered crowds in the streets, and among them sympathy began to run strong to the young stranger locked in the town cell. It is said the town council (wardens) called a special meeting and ordered Marshal Phillips to release Woodward. However, Phillips refused to do so, so the council members (wardens) took the keys themselves and released Woodward and gave him a buggy to ride to the Georgia line and insure his safe escape.

Meanwhile, Depot Agent H.L. Adams had sworn out a warrant before Trial Justice J.W. Todd, charging Woodward with carrying a deadly concealed weapon.

About the time the warrant was completed, however, it was found that the bird had flown.

Solicitor Orr then decided to prosecute the wardens who had released Woodward, and that led to a petition among Seneca citizens urging Orr not to prosecute the wardens.

(Book editor’s note): The story ended at that point, that apparently being the latest development when the Greenville Daily News went to press on March 25. Unfortunately, the Keowee Courier did not contain a follow-up story in its next issue, so we can only speculate how this incident concluded.

APRIL 5, 1888

The following gentlemen were elected as Intendant and Wardens of the town of Seneca on Monday of last week: Intendant--G.W. Gignilliat. Wardens--J.W. Stribling, D. Livingston, R.C. Hiott, W.H. Cole.

APRIL 19, 1888

(Items from Seneca City and Other Items by OBSERVER):

We have a champion hawk exterminator in the vicinity. Mr. E.D. Foster has six of these depredators hanging near his house, some of them large enough to carry off a grown fowl. We think he deserves the thanks of the community and a good many chicken pies.

We were in Seneca City yesterday and there seems to be no abatement the sale of guano. Wagon loads of the different brands of fertilizer were leaving town, and more wagons were loading up at the warehouses.

Seneca City is looking up. We observe some demonstration in regard to the expected depot, which we are told is to be built very soon.

We are glad to note that Mr. Fincannon has repurchased his business interest in the market house. Seneca never seems right without Ike.

An old gentleman, Mr. Stegall, living on the road between Seneca and Walhalla, told us he had finished planting corn on the 7th. He is generally a leader in all agricultural attainments.

Mr. Thomas Bibb’s wheat is also looking very fine.

APRIL 26, 1888

The Messrs. Cary have purchased the Coleman House, in Seneca. They now control both hotels in that handsome town.

A Pickens letter to the Easley Messenger states that the teachers of the county met to organize a Teachers Institute. We (the editors of the Courier) hope the teachers of Oconee will call a meeting and organize an Institute in this county.

MAY 17, 1888

The work on the new passenger depot at Seneca is making satisfactory progress. The building when completed will be handsome and large enough for the present needs of the town.

MAY 24, 1888

Cotton Factory Planned in Seneca City

We learn from a passenger on the up-train Tuesday evening that a meeting of the citizens of Seneca City was held that afternoon in the interest of erecting a cotton factory at that thriving town.

In a short time $35,000 were subscribed to the enterprise and steps taken to enlarge the capital stock by opening subscriptions to all the citizens of the county.

The movement seems to be in earnest and there is no reason why it should not prove to be a success, nor why a number of like enterprises could not succeed in the county.

JUNE 7, 1888

Cotton Factory Plans Moving Forward

Messrs. Coleman and Jordan, of Seneca, were in Walhalla last Tuesday getting subscriptions to the Seneca Cotton Factory.

A Seneca correspondent of the Greenville News says that Messrs. Jordan and Cary returned from Greenville on Saturday last, much pleased with their reception there and the encouraging opinions of Col. Hammett as to the practicability of establishing a cotton factory at that place.

JUNE 14, 1888

(Excerpt from a letter to the editor):

EDITORS COURIER: The committee appointed to solicit subscriptions of stock to the cotton mills at Seneca have reported subscriptions amounting to about $70,000.--G.W. Gignilliat, Secretary.

JUNE 21, 1888

The Seneca Free Graded School had its first commencement this week. Our Free Graded School is now a fixture beyond a doubt.

Details of Seneca Cotton Mill Provided

(Excerpts from a letter to the editor from J.C. Cary of Seneca, which occupied one-third of the front page of this issue of the Courier):

Three weeks ago a plan for raising the necessary funds for the erection of a $200,000 cotton mill in Seneca was presented to our citizens, and after only a few hours a public meeting was held, the plan discussed, approved, and $30,000 was subscribed. Since that time the promoters of the enterprise have secured subscriptions amounting to $70,000.

Our motive power will be steam. We have the experience of the most prominent mill men, who are using both steam and water, and they say with the modern improvements upon steam engines, the cheapness of fuel, and with the very great advantage of placing your mill where you wish it, that steam is as cheap and preferable to water.

To the merchants of our sister towns we say, it is to your interest to join us and help put within your reach an enterprise that will give you a near market for the cotton which, through the channels of trade and convenience of your farm friends, will necessarily fall into your hands.

Enkindle this spark in Seneca now, and by the time the first revolution of the great wheel is made, that will set Seneca in motion, the flame will have leaped to Walhalla and Westminster, thus forming in the near future a triangle from whose points will be heard the music of the spindle and looms.

JUNE 28, 1888

The weather has got hot enough for cotton at last, following an unusually mild summer up until this point.

JULY 19, 1888

Round trip from Walhalla to Greenville’s Gala Week will be $2.35; from West Union $2.30; from Seneca $2.10. These tickets are good from July 21st until August 2d.

JULY 26, 1888

If the State accepts the Clemson bequest, it would add to our system an agricultural college, pure and simple, where the sons of farmers may be taught the theory and practice of husbandry, without being in contact with those who are engaged in classical studies.

Free Bridge Needed Over Seneca River

(Excerpts from a lengthy letter to the editor sent to the Courier by someone whose identity was not revealed):

We write to your valuable paper a short local from the Eastern part of the county. As we are cut off by Seneca River and have to pay toll or ferriage to get over, hence our visits are not as frequent as we would like.

Anderson county has open free bridges. Why is it Oconee cannot do the same? We pay tolls enough nearly every year to buy Ravenell’s bridge. As I have been informed, it was offered to our Commissioners at one-third its cost, and Pickens county offered to pay part of that. Mr. Ravenell no doubt makes this liberal offer wanting to advance the interests of his county and accommodate the people.

Candidates for Commissioners will be asked by us, if elected, will you, as early as practicable, give us at least one free bridge inside the county lines, over Seneca River?

We make yearly several hundred bales of cotton and sell at an inferior market on account of ferriage in reaching Seneca City. Our friends at Seneca are asked to help us.

AUGUST 2, 1888

Oconee County Public Officials

Members of the General Assembly. Senator--D. Biemann. Representatives--R.E. Mason and Joel Beard.

County Officers. Clerk of Court--James Seaborn. Sheriff--H.A.H. Gibson. Probate Judge and Master--Richard Lewis. School Commissioner--Isaac Wickliffe. Coroner--R.T. Jaynes. County Commissioners--W.N. Cox, A.P. Crisp and J. Bearden. Clerk--Joe W. Shelor. Board meets on Tuesday after sales day in each month. Steward Poor House--A.B. McGuffin. Auditor--John J. Smith. Treasurer--J.W. Holleman. Supervisor of Registration--N.C. McDonald. Jury Commissioner--G. Wanner.

AUGUST 9, 1888

Miss Alice Lowery, daughter of Wm. A. Lowery, of Seneca, died of typhoid fever last Sunday morning, aged twenty years. (Book editor’s note): This was one of several deaths and serious illnesses due to typhoid fever in Oconee County reported in this issue of the Courier.

AUGUST 16, 1888

Mr. J.H. Kelley, a farmer living near Seneca, had quite a number of cotton bolls open in his field on the 6th of August. Mr. Kelley is a prosperous and scientific farmer.

In the Oconee school commissioner election, S.P. Stribling defeated Isaac Wickliffe (the incumbent) by a vote of 1,188 to 1,086. (Book editor’s note): The commissioner of education later came to be known as the superintendent of education.

The Seneca correspondent of the Greenville News, referring to the death of Miss Alice Lowery, says the Keowee Courier unintentionally does Seneca an injustice by stating that her death was from typhoid fever. The physicians say that it was undoubtedly a case of bilious remittent fever. There is not nor has there been a case of typhoid fever in Seneca, so no visitors need fear coming here for the summer.

SEPTEMBER 6, 1888

Some of the rum-soaked politicians are asking, If you get prohibition, what will we do with our corn? We will raise more hogs and less hell.

SEPTEMBER 13, 1888

We (the Courier editors) are glad to see from the circular letter of the officers of the Seneca Factory that prospects for success are high. Eighty thousand dollars have been already subscribed by local parties, and hopes are entertained of increasing the stock here and abroad to two hundred thousand dollars.

The next Regular Examination for Teachers before the County Board of Examiners for Oconee county will be held at Walhalla on Friday, the 5th day of October, 1888.--Isaac Wickliffe, Wm. J. Stribling, S.H. Johnson, Examining Board.

SEPTEMBER 20, 1888

Messrs. Cary, proprietors of the Keowee Hotel, at Seneca, have put all the latest improvements in the house and leased it to Col. F.A. Hoke, of the Coleman House. The Coleman House, we learn, is to be closed up, and Seneca is to try the problem of no competition in hotel life. We shall be glad to note the result. Col. Hoke is one of the best hotel keepers in the country.

(Public notice): I will be at the places named at time mentioned below for the purpose of discussing and organizing a Farmers’ Alliance. All are invited to attend: (Book editor’s note: The meeting places listed were Shiloh, Friendship, Haley’s Store, Fair Play, Bachelor’s Retreat, Chauga Church, Cleveland, Conneross Church, Walhalla, Fairview, Richland Church, Poplar Springs, Westminster, Seneca and Sitton’s Mills.) The farmers of the South are making earnest effort for thorough organization.--S.J. Hester, Organizer.

Vote the straight Democratic ticket from President to Coroner.

SEPTEMBER 24, 1888

A declaration was filed at the office of the Secretary of State for the incorporation of the Seneca Cotton Mills to be located at or near Seneca, Oconee county.

The interesting correspondent of the Greenville News, writing from Seneca, under the date of September 22, says: Col. F.A. Hoke, formerly the popular landlord at the Coleman House, has taken charge of the Keowee and dispenses the hospitalities of that already popular hotel to the traveling public. Great improvements have been made in the external appearance. A nice walk has been graded to the depot, making it much pleasanter and safer for pedestrians than the old plank walk between the railroad tracks.

NOVEMBER 15, 1888

Last Saturday was cotton day at Seneca. One hundred and forty bales changed hands at good prices.

Mr. J.W. Todd, the furniture, stove and dry goods man of Seneca, advertises his goods this week at astonishingly low figures.

NOVEMBER 22, 1888

Some Taxable Personal Property Listed

Mr. J.J. Smith, our County Auditor, kindly furnished us the following abstracts of personal and real property in Oconee county for the fiscal year 1887-’88, upon which the present taxes are now being collected:

(Book editor’s note): This article proceeded to provide a long list of various types of personal property and their value. Some examples are as follows: 4767 cattle, $45,049 value; 874 mules, $45,489 value; 1910 sheep and goats, $1,867 value; 4585 hogs, $7,893 value; 342 gold and silver watches and plates, $5,942 value; 141 pianos and organs, $7,830 value; 1978 carriages, buggies, wagons, carts, drays and trucks, $30,100 value; 1027 dogs, $1,811 value.

1889

All of the items that are not designated as having been written by the Keowee Courier’s Seneca correspondent were in the Courier’s general news.

Some 1889 issue are missing from both the Keowee Courier files and the Chronicling America website.

JANUARY 3, 1889

The New Year’s Hop, given on Tuesday night last in Walhalla, proved to be one of the most enjoyable features of the holidays. Seneca and Richland were both well represented.

JANUARY 10, 1889

(Item from Seneca Items, taken from the Greenville News): Several families have recently moved into town, among them: R.M. Richardson, R.W. Shelor, John Kennedy, J.V. Stribling and Jack Hopkins. Most of them avail themselves of the advantage offered by our graded school for educating their children.

JANUARY 17, 1889

Township School Trustees Appointed

(Item from Teachers’ Column by S.P. Stribling, School Commissioner):

The following gentlemen are the Township Trustees, who were appointed by the Board of County Examiners: Center, M.H. McJukin, J.W. Bearden and J.H. McLeskey; Seneca: W.H. Hughes, J.B. Pickett and W.M. Campbell; Tugaloo: J.H. Sullivan, B.H. Cross and W.P. Anderson; Wagener: R.A. Thompson, W.A. Strother and W.M. Suttles; Keowee: Edward Boyd, E.A. Barron and J.B. Grant; Pulaski: D.F. Carter, Barron Rothell and J.B. Phillips; Chattuga: A.P. Crisp, B.F. Douthit and W.M. Land; Whitewater: W.B.F. Corbin, H.M. Whitmire and Charles Ridley.

JANUARY 24, 1889

The Seneca Graded School will receive this year two hundred and fifty dollars from the Peabody fund.

Dr. D.B. Darby has been appointed postmaster at Walhalla. Thomas E. Stribling resigned to accept a position as freight clerk in the Air Line Railroad office at Seneca.

County Teachers’ Association Formed

Pursuant to a call of School Commissioner W.P. Stribling, a number of teachers of Oconee county assembled in the Court House on Saturday, January 19, at 12 M., for the purpose of organizing a Teachers’ Association. More than twenty teachers enrolled their names as members.

It was resolved to have a question box in which questions relative to school work may be placed to be read and discussed.

The next meeting was appointed to be held in the chapel of the Female College (in Walhalla) on the first Saturday in February at 11 A.M.

JANUARY 31, 1889

Mr. W.T. (Will) Webb, editor of the Seneca Free Press, withdraws from that journal. (Book editor’s note): The Keowee Courier printed Mr. Webb’s Valedictory, which included the remark that, I will have the exquisite pleasure of giving you a paper from Westminster in a few weeks.

(Items from Seneca City Correspondence by T.):

The Seneca Free Press will be issued this week by the new management.

The Seneca Graded School (white) has from 165 to 175 pupils, while the colored school, which is under the control of the same board of trustees, has about 140 pupils.

Some of the Seneca property owners talk of building more brick stores.

FEBRUARY 7, 1889

New Editors Take Over ‘Seneca Free Press’

Messrs. J.J. Neville and L.F. Smith salute the readers of the Seneca Free Press with an address suitable to the occasion, on assuming the editorial control of that journal.

(Book editor’s note): The Keowee Courier reprinted the address, which included the following excerpt:

"Six years ago the Free Press was started as a private enterprise by a public spirited gentleman who believed that the interests of the town and county demanded another medium of advertising and general information other than that existing in the county seat. This we say with the best of feelings for our esteemed contemporary, the KEOWEE COURIER, which is a paper worthy of any county, and the pride of Seneca as well as Walhalla.

Competition is the life of trade, so, to some extent, it is the life of journalism. It stimulates editors and publishers to make a more readable paper.

MARCH 7, 1889

Numbers of Pupils in Districts Given

Following are the numbers of pupils in the various School Districts of Oconee county: 389 in Center District (No. 1), 439 in Seneca District (No. 2), 437 in Tugaloo District (No. 3), 460 in Wagener District (No. 4), 198 in Keowee District (No. 5), 118 in Pulaski District (No. 6), 94 in Chattooga District (No. 7), 121 in White Water District (No. 8), and 177 in Seneca Graded District (No. 9). Total pupils, 2433.

(Items from Seneca City Correspondence by T.):

The Old Folks Concert last Friday night, for the benefit of the Library Circle, was quite a success, both financially and enjoyably.

The Republican party of these parts was represented at the inauguration by S.P. Wakefield, colored. We haven’t yet heard what office he proposes to accept. He went in company with M.H. Bryce, of Walhalla.

MARCH 21, 1889

(Items from Seneca City and Other Items by OBSERVER):

A monstrous hawk pounced down on Mr. Oliver Martin’s fine rooster and killed him. Mr. Martin set a trap and caught his hawkship.

Dr. Brown’s little son, Joe, though improving, is still very ill with meningitis.

Thieves Steal Food from Out Buildings

(The following item was also in Seneca City and Other Items by OBSERVER):

We hear that the smokehouse of Mr. Thomas Bibb was robbed a short time ago. The thief took every piece of meat and also the soap grease.

Mr. Jule Davis caught sight of some rascal leaving his premises with a lot of provisions, and saved one side of bacon by discharging his gun. The thief dropped a part of his load, and, we trust, received a few small shot, sufficient to identify him.

The chicken roost of Mr. Dick Ivens, who lives at Rock Springs, was robbed a few nights ago, and his fodder stolen also.

Friends and neighbors, take an old bachelor’s advice, keep your shooting irons in order and ammunition close at hand, and if thieves come about your premises don’t be afraid to shoot, not with the intent to kill, but just to mark the marauder about the feet and legs.

(Items from Seneca City Correspondence by T.):

Last Sunday afternoon, Mr. Morton, who superintends Mr. A.W. Thompson’s cattle ranch, discovered fire in his house, and in saving the furniture and house he was badly burned.

Next Monday is town election day, but I don’t hear of any candidates yet and time is short.

Oconee Teachers’ Association Held Meeting

(The following are excerpts from a lengthy report about the meeting):

The Oconee Teachers’ Association was called to order by the president, S.P. Stribling, at 11 A.M. March 16 at Wagener Academy in Walhalla.

Prof. John O. Hicks was asked to illustrate his method of teaching the abecedarian how to spell.

Mrs. Dodd, being solicited to tell how she taught the diacritical marks, responded.

Mrs. Johnson (principal of Wagener Academy) was present with a dozen boys and girls who took a lesson in calisthenics.

MARCH 28, 1889

The first issue of the Westminster Banner has been received. Mr. W.T. Webb, in his salutatory, says: After considerable delay, on account of not receiving our press, we this morning fling our Banner to the breeze, hoping that it will be welcomed and waved in many households.

(Items from Seneca City Correspondence by T.):

When you see any one in the streets of Seneca with his face tied up, don’t think it’s a tooth ache, for it’s just the mumps.

Seneca indulged yesterday (March 25) in the annual pastime of electing a town council. There were two tickets in the field with only a local issue. J.C. Cary was elected Intendant and O.F. Bacon, A.W. Adams, J.A. Welch and R.M. Tribble, Wardens, by a vote of 63 to 38 for the other ticket. Very few persons seemed to get excited over the affair.

(Items from Seneca City and Other Items by OBSERVER):

Spring business has fairly commenced. We met several ladies on the street wearing spring hats, which were uglier, if possible, than those worn during the winter, if an old bachelor is any judge in such matters.

We see some very large hawks flying around, and we trust Mr. E.D. Foster, our champion hawk destroyer, will come to the rescue.

We were sorry to see A.N. Hayes’ store closed.

We have made our anticipated visit to Richland and had a most enjoyable time. Mr. Willie Hughes is doing a thriving business. We are told the Richland Farmers’ Alliance are anxious he should set up an Alliance store.

We don’t fare sumptuously at our boarding house these days, but the old gentleman has planted his garden and promises us onions, and preaches us patience.

APRIL 4, 1889

Teachers Paid Pennies Per Day Per Pupil

By order of our Chairman, the school trustees of Seneca township met at Richland, S.C. to-day (March 26th).

(Book editor’s note): There was a lengthy report on the meeting, signed by W.H. Hughs, Clerk, Board of Trustees, which contained seven resolutions the trustees adopted. Resolutions two through five pertained to teachers’ salaries, and they are as follows:

Resolved 2d. That hereafter teachers shall not be allowed any pay for children coming out of the Seneca graded school district, unless same be allowed them by the trustees of said graded school.

Resolved 3d. That teachers holding first grade certificates shall be paid five cents per day for each pupil for an average attendance of 30 pupils or less, and in no case shall teachers holding said first grade certificates be paid more than $30 per month.

Resolved 4th. That teachers holding second grade certificates shall be paid four cents per day for each pupil for an average attendance of 30 pupils or less, and in no case shall teachers holding said second grade certificates be paid more than $24 per month.

Resolved 5th. That teachers holding third grade certificates shall be paid three cents per day for each pupil for an average attendance of 30 pupils or less, and in no case shall teachers holding said third grade certificates be paid more than $18 per month.

(Book editor’s note): A teacher’s grade was determined by his or her score on a test.

(Items from Seneca City Correspondence by T.):

I stopped by the graded school building and saw a lot of handsome new combination desks and seats, and I thought about how different they are from the accommodations afforded me when I was storing my young mind with knowledge.

The Seneca Bible Society has just received another lot of Bibles at the depository at the store of J.W. Todd. Those wanting Bibles can get them at cost of printing.

Mr. W.L. Harbin has a sow that has a litter of sixteen pigs. Who can beat it?

A strange coincidence occurred in two of our churches last Sunday. In the morning Mr. Gadsden preached in the Episcopal church from Matthew 1:21, and at night Mr. Marion preached a sermon in the Presbyterian church from the same text.

Lillian Mason Weds W.J. Lunney

(The following item was also in Seneca City Correspondence by T.):

Last week Miss Lillian, the beautiful daughter of the Hon. R.E. Mason, came over to pay friends in Seneca a visit, and on last Sunday afternoon a party drove down to Fort Hill, and there, within those historic walls, Miss Mason and Mr. W.J. Lunney were joined in the holy bonds of wedlock.

Very few persons knew anything of the romantic affair until it was all over. It wasn’t a runaway, for I am informed that the bride’s parents didn’t oppose the match.

We welcome Mrs. Lunney as a valuable addition to our little town.

(Book editor’s note): The bride’s father, R.E. Mason, was Oconee County’s state senator at the time. The Mason family resided in Westminster.

APRIL 11, 1889

Mr. V.B. Swann, of Seneca, has the finest school of telegraphy in the upper part of South Carolina. Many young men have already developed into first class operatives under his instructions and are now filling important positions in the telegraph and railroad service.

County Farmers’ Alliance Meets

The Oconee County Farmers’ Alliance met in the Court House last Friday. There are fourteen flourishing Alliances in the county with a total membership of about six hundred, of whom twenty-eight are female members.

A resolution looking to the erection of a large ware-house at some point on the railroad most convenient for all the alliances was adopted, and the establishment of a cotton seed oil mill and fertilizer manufactory was discussed.

A committee, consisting of Messrs. G. Wanner, J.E. Lebby and T.D. Alexander, was appointed to make arrangements for holding an agricultural fair this fall.

The next meeting of the Alliance will be held at Oakway on the first Friday in July.

APRIL 18, 1889

(Items from Seneca City and Other Items by OBSERVER):

There is to be a ladies’ waiting room erected at the depot by the railroad company very soon.

The old gentleman proprietor of our boarding house was very much excited the other day. He wanted his horse shod and could not find Mr. Willis Moore. No other blacksmith can shoe a horse as well, in his estimation, and Mr. Moore was hidden away in a rear shop. But it is now on the front street and the old gentleman is pacified. His horse has been shod to his satisfaction.

A traveling artist pitched his tent at the station, and all who want their pictures taken can be accommodated.

Mr. John Goodman has organized a Sunday School at Corinth church.

Our old gentleman proprietor received a sample copy of the Westminster Banner, with which the entire household is well pleased.

The KEOWEE COURIER we cannot do without. It comes to us every week like a dear old friend.

(Items from Seneca City Correspondence by T.):

There was considerable excitement in town last Friday. When the wind was blowing a gale, the roof of the old Coleman hotel building was discovered to be on fire in two places, having caught from a burning chimney. Fortunately both blazes were on the sides opposite the wind, and by prompt work they were soon extinguished.

There have also been several very destructive forest fires near town recently.

There is a big crowd in town to-day. The ground is too wet to plow, and many avail themselves of this opportunity of coming to market.

Seneca River Area Lumber to be Sold

(The following item was also in Seneca City Correspondence by T.)

We understand that the Seneca Lumber Company are preparing to do a big business in putting on the market large quantities of ash, poplar, white pine and other kinds of lumber cut from the trees growing on the head waters of Seneca River.

It is said that they have logs enough cut now to make over 1,000,000 feet, and are only waiting on a rise in the water to float them down to their large boom and mill near the railroad bridge over Seneca River at Ravenel’s.

MAY 2, 1889

As we go to press at 2 P.M. (on Wednesday), the election on the question of License or No License for the sale of intoxicating liquors in Oconee County is in progress. The following boxes only have been heard from: Walhalla--License 135; No License 53. West Union--License 40; No License 27.

Teachers’ Convention Held at Tomassee

(The following is the beginning of a report, written by a Seneca teacher, that was reprinted in the Courier from the Seneca Free Press):

Tomassee, a symmetrical knob, is the beacon which guided us to the school room situated at its base, where was being held the monthly meeting of the Oconee Teachers’ Convention.

At the door was a pan, a cake of soap and a bucket of water, for Miss Jones believes that cleanliness is next to Godliness. Within, a room furnished with comfortable seats, a good stove, a piano, a blackboard and other necessary accompaniments of a well-ordered school.

MAY 9, 1889

(Item from Seneca City Correspondence by T.):

We are promised a cotton seed oil mill to be ready for the next crop of seed. There is also the probability of a barrel factory.

‘No License’ Wins Oconee Liquor Vote

(Book editor’s note):

An article in this week’s Keowee Courier reported the complete results of the election on May 1 on the question of License or No License for the sale of spirituous, malt or intoxicating liquors within the limits of Oconee County. The countywide vote was 922 for No License and 462 for License.

The following precincts had a majority vote for License: Walhalla 175-63, West Union 51-38, Sitton’s Mill 12-8, Mrs. Barker’s 20-4, Rowland’s 12-0, Salem 27-24 and Little River 12-4.

The following precincts had a majority vote for No License: Richland 50-1, Seneca 132-93, Haley’s Store 91-17, Fair Play 96-2, South Union 41-10, Westminster 277-13, Holly Springs 16-5, Cleveland 34-1, Damascus 23-1, Tugaloo Academy 10-4 and High Falls 12-5.

MAY 16, 1889

(Items from Seneca City Correspondence by T.):

Pic nics are getting ripe now. Last Friday a goodly number of our