The Yorkville Enquirer reported on May 28, 1890 – “Mr. John Peay has established a beef market in Blackstock, S.C.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 11, 1893 – “The safe in the store of A. McDonald and Co., was entered by expert safe crackers who stole $200. in cash and some valuable papers.”
City Directories and History: One of Blackstock’s historic buildings recalls the days when the Durham’s store was one of the central gathering spots and retail establishments in the town. It is an architectural gem of commercial and historic importance in a period of southern history when the rural store owner held great influence over a farmer’s financial well being and respect in the community.
The community was named after the Blackstock Inn which served the community for decades prior to the coming of the railroad.
It was Mr. Will Durham of Blackstock who owned and operated the store with many clerks and cotton buyers. One of the clerks was a neighbor, Mr. Oscar Love who also was a livestock dealer. Mr. Durham continued operating his store until his death at age 95. Note on the 1934 Sanborn Map of Blackstock that his store was also connected to a large cotton warehouse at the rear of the brick store.
Besides the Durham’s prosperous store, the Kennedy Store in Blackstock was equally successful.
“In 1849-1850 the railroad was graded here. The contract for the part running through Blackstock was given Dr. J.L. Douglas, who did the work by slave labor from his own plantation, under High Bruce as overseer. The road was completed about the first of July, 1851. When the first train ran as far north as Blackstock, the whole country for miles around gathered to see it. It is said that there were at least a thousand people gathered to see it when it rolled in, and they immediately gathered around it for a general inspection. Mr. Vanderbilt had charge of the train; Captain Davis was the conductor. The first agent at the railroad station was Mr. J.B. Collins.
After the railroad was completed, the first Post Office was moved to Blackstock. Mr. Hiram Steele was postmaster. He had his office in the building where the Durham Mercantile Company is now located. In about a year they sold out to Messrs D. Fant and Henry Pratt, who ran the business under the name of Fant and Pratt.
George Hooper owned all the land near the railroad station, and he opened up a bar room there. This is said to have been the cause of much fighting and trouble in the community.
Near where Mr. Sigmon’s barn was located, Mr. Hiram Steele erected a carriage factory (Steele’s Carriage Factory). He was a progressive man, and he built up a large business here. Later he moved the factory to the John Mackerell place, just below Blackstock.
In 1856 George Hooper sold his real estate to Mr. T.M. Boulware, who moved to Blackstock and made his home there. Soon after this Fant and Pratt closed their store. The only thing left was the railroad station, and Mr. Boulware’s home; and it continued there until after the “War Between the States.”
(Information in part from: Chester County Heritage Book, Vol. I, Edt. by Collins – Knox, Published by the Chester Co Hist. Society – Jostens Printing, 1982)
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
R&R HISTORY LINK: OLD BLACKSTOCK MEDICAL OFFICE – MOVED
R&R HISTORY LINK: A BLACKSTOCK CONNECTION TOO
R&R HISTORY LINK: HISTORIC BLACKSTOCK INN
Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
User comments always welcome - please post at the bottom of this page.
My sister and I spent several hours wandering around Blackstock in June 2014. We both live in Europe but our maternal ancestors were from Chester, Fairfield, Kershaw and Lancaster Counties before 1800. One of our Ragsdale kin operated a store with his brother in law John R. Culp after the Civil War. You featured a store receipt on another entry that was so thrilling to see. I do not think either of them lived in Blackstock as there was another Culp store in Rossville and the family homes were there, on the Great Falls Road (SC97). We have not found any evidence that either the Burr H. Ragsdale or Danl R. Stevenson homes survived the turn of the century.
I look forward to seeing more of your wonderful presentations,
Curry Walker
R&R has recently been invited to visit two historic homes in Blackstock. The individuals are restoring these family homes so some of the community appears to being preserved.
Regards,
WBF