The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Aug. 31, 1871 – “A telegraph line is under construction between Chester and Yorkville. The Northern and Atlantic Telegraph Co., has already started putting up poles.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Dec. 19, 1872 – “A bill has been entered in the legislature to charter the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gage Railroad with the following corporators: from Chester, A.H. DeVaga, J.J. McClure, George W. Melton, J.L. Agurs, and B.G. Yocum and from Yorkville, Wm. H. McCorkle, B.T. Wheeler, I.D. Witherspoon and J.L. Watson. The company with be authorized to operate the line from Chester through Yorkville to a point on the state line to connect with the Carolina Narrow Gage railroad company being built in N.C.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on March 20, 1873 – “Mr. I.L. Gunhouse, Mr. E. Atkinson, and Allen Leard have been appointed a commission to open the books for subscriptions for the Chester and Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad Company.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on May 29, 1873 – “Mr. G.W. Earle has been appointed chief engineer of the Chester and Cheraw railroad company. It is expected the survey of the route will be commenced next month.” On July 24, 1873 the YK Enquirer reported – “Dr. Davega states that a sale has been made whereby Col. Melton will transfer the assets of the Kings Mountain Railroad to the Chester and Lenior Railroad Company for cash and bonds.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Oct. 2, 1873 – “Mr. George W. Earle, Chief Eng., of the Cheraw and Chester Narrow Gauge Railroad, has completed a preliminary survey of the line. The length is 89 miles and the cost is estimated at $900,000. This includes grading, bridges, depots, and construction of the rails and averages $10,084. per mile.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on March 11, 1875 – “News from the Lancaster Ledger and Chester Reporter states – “Several thousand crossties have been deposited along the line of the Cheraw and Chester Railroad. Grading work is proceeding and the contractors hope to finish the grading between Rocky Creek and Chester by the middle of April.”
The Yorkville Enquirer of March 29, 1877 – “A meeting of a number of gentleman interested in the completion of the Lancaster and Chester railroad was held and $20,000. was subscribed and placed at the disposal of W.H. Hardin, Esquire, President. Mr. Hardin plans to visit NY to purchase iron for the rails.”
On June 21, 1877 the paper further reported – “The engine for the Chester and Cheraw RR arrived on Friday. It was built at the Baldwin Works Shop in Philadelphia.”
On Sept. 20, 1877 the Yorkville Enquirer reported – “W.H. Hardin recently returned from Cheraw, where he met with investors concerning the Cheraw and Chester Railroad. A small portion of the railroad has been graded between Cheraw and Chesterfield, but that work has currently stopped. Mr. Hardin hopes to complete the line from Chester to Rich Hill soon.”
On Nov. 5, 1877 the Yorkville Enquirer wrote – “The Cheraw and Chester RR Co., will offer for sale nine thousand acres located in Lancaster County. It will be sold in tracts of 50, 100, and 200 acre parcels.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 28, 1878 – “The Cheraw and Chester Railroad is now running a train regularly from Chester to Rich Hill. They have arranged for cotton to be transported across the river from Lancaster at Gooch’s Ferry free of charge.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on March 21, 1878 – “The Directors and friends of the Chester and Cheraw RR company, led by Pres. W.H. Hardin, Esq., enjoyed a ride to Rich Hill. The run took about an hour. The store of Barber and Drennon is the headquarters of the town. The partnership of Moffet and Atkinson have erected a storehouse but do not plan to open until the fall. Rich Hill has a Masonic Lodge. It is the present terminus of the railroad, but the line hopes to extend to Fishing Creek about five miles from Rich Hill.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 18, 1878 – “Mr. W.H. Hardin of the Cheraw and Chester Railroad has returned from Richmond where he has purchased materials for railroad box cars. He bough wheels and castings at the Tredegar Ironworks. The woodwork will be done by mechanics (carpenters) in Chester. The railroad will soon be in running order from Chester to Fishing Creek. They hope to soon reach Lancaster and give people of that town a railroad connection with the outside world.”
The YV Enquirer reported on March 6, 1879 – “Mr. William Murdoch, a bridge builder of wide reputation, has recently visited Fishing Creek on the Cheraw and Chester RR with reference to a bridge across that stream at Cedar Shoals, the present terminus of the railroad.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 1, 1880 – “W.E. Moffatt and W.H. Elliott have repainted one of the locomotives of the Cheraw and Chester Railroad, doing the work in a handsome style and quiet creditable to these young painters. The railroad has now reached as far as Cane Creek in Lancaster County. The convicts are doing a good job on the railroad. New rolling stock has been ordered for the Lancaster side of the railroad.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 8, 1880 – “Pres. W. Holmes Hardin of the Chester and Lenior RR has gone north to purchase a new locomotive and the materials for twelve additional car. Mile posts have been erected between Chester and Dallas, N.C.”
The Yorkville Enquirer on Sept. 30, 1880 reported – “A new locomotive for the Cheraw and Chester RR has arrived at Chester and will be placed in use at once. Loaded cars are now being transferred across the Catawba River by ferry.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 8, 1880 – “The residence of George W. Melton, deceased, was sold by the estate to W. Holmes Hardin for $5,000.”
The Yorkville Enquirer of Aug. 10, 1882 reported – The annual meeting of the Cheraw and Chester RR was held at Richburg. The board of directors was elected consisting of: M.J. Hough, Pres., J.Q. Caskey, Earnest Moore, and N.G.B Chafee, J.O. Cousar, J.M. McDaniel, and D.A. Williams. The board authorized issuance of $40,000. in bonds to build a bridge over the Catawba River.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Aug. 23, 1883 – “The pillars for the permanent railroad bridge over the Catawba River between Lancaster and Chester are now being built.”
The Yorkville Enquirer of Jan. 31, 1884 reported – “The old firm of W.H. Hardin and Company has been dissolved. Mr. Hardin, who was for a long time Pres. of the Chester and Lenoir RR has retired from the mercantile business and will now be in the cotton and farming business. He plans a trip to Florida to consider buying an orange groove.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on July 11, 1888 – “The Sec. of State has issued a commission for the Chester Manufacturing Company. The capital stock is $100,000. and the business will manufacture cotton cloth. The corporators are: J.L. Agurs, J.H. Smith, Joseph Wylie, S.M. Jones, G.D. Heath, John J. Hemphill, J.J. McClure, George W. Gage, and W.H. Hardin.” On Sept. 27, 1888 the Rock Hill Herald reported – “About 200,000 brick have been made for the new Chester Cotton Factory. The building will be 298 ft long, 80 ft wide and 40 ft high.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Nov. 19, 1890 – “The Chester Cotton Mill is now being operated both day and night. And for lighting purposes, 250 electric lights are required.”
City Directories and History: 1908 – W. H. Hardin, 1940 – Nannie B. Hardin, 1958 – Nannie B. Hardin, 1978 – Not Listed
In 1856 F.M. Killian (shown as a slave owner on the 1850 Census), in Chester Co., S.C., otherwise not recorded, built for William H. Hardin a six room house, three downstairs and three up, on a lot he bought from Dr. A.P. Wylie. This lot extended between the present Wylie and Smith streets. A few years later Mr. Hardin added three rooms downstairs and one upstairs, extended the hall, moved the staircase to the back of the hall, and added a bay window to the parlor. This house was one of the first in the town to have running water. Mrs. Hardin planted box wood bordered flower beds and later a boxwood border to to the front walk. She planted a magnolia on each side of the front yard. One magnolia and the handsome boxwood boarder of the walk still beautify the grounds. Old Homes of Chester, S.C. by Mrs. John G. White.
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on March 13, 1889 – “The board of the Chester Manufacturing Company has voted to add another floor to the building. They first intended a weaving mill only, but now will add a second story in order to make their own yarn. Construction in proceeding on the building. All the lumber in the building comes from Mr. Peter Hoffman’s Sawmill near Blythewood, S.C. Nearly 500,000 brick will be made in Chester.”
The Yorkville Enquirer of March 27, 1889 reported – “The Chester Manufacturing Co., has begun work on ten frame houses for their hands. Six will have eight rooms and will be two stories and there will be four houses with four rooms.”
The Herald reported on Oct. 16, 1889 – “The the survey crew is working on the new railroad line from Chester to Gaffney.” Mr. Hardin was the Pres. of the Chester and Lenoir Railroad, the spur to Gaffney would have been important. The same date another article ran stating, “the factory building will soon be completed for the Chester Cotton Factory. Mr. W.H. Hardin, President has bought a full line of weaving machinery at Worcester, Mass., the mill will have a 400 HP engine to run the operation.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on April 16, 1890 – “At a meeting of the shareholders of the Chester Manufacturing Company it was voted to increase the capital stock from $100,000., to $250,000. They hope to have the entire building filled with looms soon. They will add a finishing mill rather than send their gingham to the North for finishing and additional housing is being constructed for the workers.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on May 14, 1890 – “Mr. W.H. Hardin, Pres. of the Chester Manufacturing Company, left last week to purchase the finishing machine for the factory.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on May 28, 1890 – “W.H. Hardin, Pres., of the Manufacturing Company and Mr. Duston, Supt. of the mill went to Phil. Pa., to purchase a finishing machine for the mill.”
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