The Yorkville Enquirer reported on June 12, 1879 – “Dr. David Lyle, one of our practicing physicians has recently bought the Torbit House and lot on Saluda Street, for which he paid $1,500.” On Nov. 13, 1879 the paper reported – “Dr. D. Lyle will move to his new house on Saluda Street.”
City Directories and History: 1908 – Elizabeth Cousar, 1940 – S. Churchill Carter, 1958 – J. Edward Davis, 1978 – Duke Power Company
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 14, 1891 – “W.T.D. Cousar and Son have place a system of railroad cash cars in their store.”
The YC Enquirer reported on Dec. 9, 1891 – “There has been an attempted burglary of the store of W.T.D. Cousar and Sons, but the burglar was freighted away.”
“On Saluda Street, besides the Coleman home, there are two houses that have been standing for many years. The residence of Mrs. S.C. Carter was in existence at least as far back as 1844, when it was the home of Obadiah Farrar, a noted workman in iron and brass. In 1851 when the Southern Railways moved its first train in to Chester, Mr. Farrar said, he was ready to die, because that engine and train surpassed anything he ever expected to see. After Mr. Farrar this house was owned successively by Francis Torbit, Dr. Dave Lyle, W.T.D. Cousar, and now by Mrs. S.C. Carter.”
Information from: Old Homes of Chester, SC by Mrs. John C. White
“Returning to the old courthouse and starting out on the Saluda road, there stood on the corner the first store of Thomas McLure; next was the law office of Matthew Williams; next the residence of Amzi Neely; still standing and lately kept as a boarding house by Mrs. Melton, the widow of Dr. Williams Melton; next was the residence of Clement Woods, now occupied by Mrs. Eugenia Babcock; the next house was the house of the widow Kendrick, after which is the residence of Dr. Starr, and last came the house of Obediah Farrar.
Also: Obadiah Farrar taught in an academy on West End St. in Chester in the latter 1820’s and later became a prominent engineer, surveyor, craftsman in iron and brass, and large landowner. He built a home for his bride on Saluda Street in 1830. The frame house remained there (127 Saluda St.) until it was demolished in 1966 to make way for the Duke Power Company office now on the site.
The first record of property bought by Obadiah P. Farrar was 15 January 1831. He bought it from William Steward, late of Chester District, a one acre lot and house on Saluda Street for $700. The deed refers to him as a carriage maker. This property is where Duke Power Office now stands. The house was torn down in 1966. It is not known whether Obadiah built this house but according to family tradition he did. Joshua Hilary Hudson in his “Sketches and Reminiscences” describing houses of the Village of Chester mentions the house of Obadiah Farrar as being the last house out Saluda Street on that side.
Obadiah and Harriett had six children — three sons and three daughters.”
(Information in part from: Chester County Heritage Book, Vol. I, Edt. by Collins – Knox, Published by the Chester Co Hist. Society – Jostens Printing, 1982 – Joshua Hilary Hudson’s Recollections)
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