City Directories and History: The Abbeville Press and Banner reported on Oct. 7, 1891 in the section of Shiloh Community News – “Mr. J.D. Pace and Son have recently bought the Douglass Mill on Long Cane Creek from Mr. T.J. Ellis.”
I will start with Savannah River. I find only two mills on this stream: Allen’s Mill on the south end of Trotter’s Shoals and Bickley’s Mill at the north end. Both of these mills were about four miles west of Calhoun Falls. On Rocky River there were four mills: Wembish’s Mill about two miles from where the river flows into the Savannah about five miles northwest of Calhoun Falls; Moseley’s Mill about two miles north of Wembish Mill; Grove’s Mill about four or five miles north of Moseley’s Mill; there was another mill between Grove’s Mill and the Pendleton District line, but I have been unable to discover its name.
On Little River there were the following: Moragne’s Mill about two miles from the mouth of the river (now covered by Clark’s Hill Lake); Martin’s Mill about two miles south of De La Howe State School (also now covered by Clark’s Hill Lake); Gilbert’s Mill about 1 mile south of De La Howe School but also now covered by Clark’s Hill. Calhoun’s Mill is a landmark in Old Abbeville District, although it is now in McCormick County about 2.5 miles north of Mt. Carmel. The three story brick building is still standing and the dam across the river is also in pretty good condition. The mill years ago was owned and operated by Captain Joseph Calhoun. About 100 years ago there were two stores and a voting place near the mill. Captain Calhoun was the son of William Calhoun, a brother of Patrick Calhoun and an uncle of John C. Calhoun. (See PDF this page for SCHM article The Lifestyle of the Abbeville Gentry, 1820-1860 by Larry S. Bell and Marvin L. Cann.)
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on March 15, 1883 – “The yarn factory of Searles and Dallas on the Little River in Abbeville County was destroyed by fire along with 40 bales of cotton, and five hundred dollars worth of yarn.”
Four other mills on Little River were: Brown’s Mill about four miles north of Calhoun Falls; Johnson’s Mill about three miles north of Brown’s Mill; Campbell’s Mill, about five miles north of Johnson’s Mill; and Robertson’s Mill about one mile south of the old Abbeville—Pendleton District Line. 2.5 miles north of Mt. Carmel. The three story brick building is still standing and the dam across the river is also in pretty good condition. The mill years ago was owned and operated by Captain Joseph Calhoun. About 100 years ago there were two stores and a voting place near the mill. Captain Calhoun was the son of William Calhoun, a brother of Patrick Calhoun and an uncle of John C. Calhoun.
On Calhoun Creek were McGaw’s Mill about three miles north of Calhoun’s Mill on the old Charleston Road; and Brook’s Mill about four miles north of McGaw’s. On Shanklin’s Creek about four miles from Old Rocky River Church was Shanklin’s Mill and on Mill Creek about two miles southeast of Wellington stood Watkin’s Mill.
On Long Cane Creek were the following: Duval’s Mill about two miles from the mouth of the creek, near where Highway 28 crosses Long Cane Creek; McComb’s Mill about one mile east of Lower Long Cane Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; Pope’s Mill approximately two miles north of McComb’s; Brannon’s Mill about five miles east of Abbeville near old Cambridge road; Douglas’ Mill nearly six miles northeast of Abbeville on the Scuffletown Road; Miller’s Mill about five miles east of Abbeville. I understand it was built about 1907. The mill house and gin house are still standing and the race is in fairly good condition.
On Curltail Creek about three miles north of Cedar Springs stood Wharton’s Mill. Gilbert’s Mill on White’s Creek was about two miles north of Patrick Calhoun’s home place. On Hardlabor Creek in the southernmost part of Abbeville District were: Patterson’s Mill approximately two miles from the Edgefield County line; Hollingsworth’s Mill stood about three miles northeast; and Cryme’s Mill was about four miles northeast of Hollingsworth’s.
On Wilson’s Creek nearly four miles from old Cambridge was Chile’s Mill; and approximately five miles north of here was Logan’s Mill. On the Saluda River were Mayson’s Mill, north of the Edgefield County line; Ware’s Mill near the present textile town of Ware Shoals; and Johnson’s Mill a few miles north of Ware’s Mill. On Hogskin Creek were Patt’s Mill, a few miles west of Due West on Highway 184 and Burton’s Mill about three miles to the north.
On Anderson Creek about four miles east of Mt. Carmel was Patton’s Mill. On McCord’s Creek once stood McCord’s Mill about three miles east of Abbeville on the old Cambridge Road. There was a Beaty’s Mill somewhere in the northeastern part of Abbeville District, and I believe it was on either Little River or Hogskin Creek, but I have no proof of it. Further investigation by the Historical Markers, Mills, Forts, etc.
William Speer’s Mill was on the Savannah River just below Cherokee Ford and at the head of Carter’s Island Shanklin’s Mill was in 1785 known as James Alexander’s Mill and Pond. It was on land granted to Aaron Stelle and adjoined Lochhaber on the east and James Alexander’s Grant of 1785 at a place called The Forks. (There were five forks in sight of each other.)
The creek above them was called Mill Creek in 1760. There was a mill on Penny Creek with references and signs of it on Lochaber Plantation near its boundary. Lochaber was the plantation home of Alexander Cameron, the Colonial Deputy for Indian affairs. He had chosen this name since it is the territorial district in Scotland of the Cameron clan. There was also a mill at Rock Dam on Penny Creek. This shows on a plat of the upper part of Lochaber. It was known as the Joseph Black Mill.
There was another Black’s Mill on Spur Creek on Road 28 from Abbeville to Antreville. To locate this mill site turn right just beyond the Archie Keaton place and to Rock Ford across Spur Creek (no bridge) on the east side. You will find signs of the mill race. Gailey’s Mill was on the road that crossed Rocky River at Suttle’s Landing on Lake Secession on the east side of Rocky River. The Thomas Lee Mill was at Lee Shoals. (This is just inside the Pendleton District.) It was later Dejarrett Hall and Tucker Mill. It is said that Lee was paid for the Mill with tobacco.
Gray’s Mill is on the Savannah River at Onion Inn. This is just below the Chicken Fighting Island and just west of Major Fredrick Gray’s grave. This is all of two or three miles below Buckley’s Mill (1820). This was later known as Millwood and was the home of James Edward Calhoun, the brother-in-law, cousin and trusted advisor of John C. Calhoun.
John Oliver lived in Georgia near Beaverdam Creek and Pearis Island in the Savannah River. He had a mill there and was supposed to have had a mill on the South Carolina side at Cracker’s Neck and Pearis Island. This has not been proved, but it is understood that this is so stated in his will that is on record at Elberton, Georgia. White’s Mill was in Georgia near Edinburg on the Savannah River near the mouth of Coldwater Creek. People from the Carolina side used it. Mary Moragne Davis wrote that there was a mill pond at Diamond Springs on Bon’s Creek. We have not been able to find out any more about this one. Caldwells Mill (1830) was just above Charley’s Creek on Rocky River. It was later known as C. W. Barne’s Mill No. 2. Then it was known as Rampey Mill until it was washed away in the freshet of 1908.
John Speer was drowned in the ford near Rampey’s Mill at Secession Dam that was known last as Price’s Mill. This mill was still being operated in the 1920’s.
Campbell’s Mill was originally Miller’s Block House.
Moseley’s Mill washed away in 1908. It was first known as Thompson’s Mill and last known as Swearingin’s Mill. Captain Robert Anderson’s wife was a Thompson. They moved near Pendleton, and Anderson County was named for Captain Anderson.
Wimbish Mill site is now Anderson Shoals.
Agnew’s Mill is on a tributary of Long Cane Creek. It is about one-fourth mile from where the creek flows into Long Cane on the road between Due West and Blackstock about six miles from Due West.
Eakin’s Mill is on Job’s Creek about three fourths of a mile east of Gilgal Methodist Church.
Haskell’s Mill is on Calhoun Creek between Highway 72 and Island Ford Road.
Evan’s Mill is on Hilburn Creek near Lebanon Church about six or seven miles southwest of Abbeville.
(Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC)
**** Further investigation by the Historical Markers, Mills, Forts, etc. Committee of the Old Abbeville District Historical Society has located a number of other Mill Sites. This committee is composed of J. Oscar Hunter, Chairman; Gene Smith; Dr. J. M. Lesesne; Harold Carlisle; Frank Estes; Pet Hunter; Glenn Bowie, and Henry Bowie. Most of this information was collected by Harold Carlisle. The rest was gathered by Glenn and Henry Bowie and myself.
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