The name Lando was given in memory of Captains Lane and Dodson, the former the first conductor; the latter the first superintendent of the Seaboard, which ran from Edgemoor to Fishing Creek.
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on the sale of Fishing Creek Mills (Lando Mills), to F.H. Barber on Sept. 18, 1879.
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on April 29, 1880 – “The dam for the Fishing Creek Cotton factory is completed. They hope to have the factory in operation by next fall.”
A survey in 1882 showed two cotton mills in Chester County. The Cedar Shoals Factory on Fishing Creek with 16 workers and the Fishing Creek (Lando), employed 35 workers. Credits: Anne P. Collins, A Goodly Heritage: History of Chester Co., S.C., Collins Publishing, Columbia, S.C. 1986, p. 124
On June 1, 1882 the YK Enquirer reported – “The Fishing Creek Manufacturing Co., commenced operation of the mill on May 10. The Supt. is Mr. William H. Steele. He spent many years in the Piedmont Mills, under his father who remains Supt. there. The mill plans to build the dam several feet higher in order to supply more water during the summer.”
On Sept. 11, 1884 the Herald reported – “There was a fire in the picker room of the Fishing Creek Factory. The fire was quickly extinguished but the mill lost a quantity of cotton and may need to delay operations.” On Nov. 20m, 1884 the YV Enquirer reported – “The Fishing Creek Factory is again in operation. The damage caused by the fire has been repaired and new machinery was order. Mr. W.H. Hall and Mr. Sidney Robinson were present at the time of the fire and were instrumental in preventing the destruction of the entire building.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Sept. 15, 1886 – “At a recent meeting of Bethel Pres., it was reported that new church buildings have been erected at Fort Lawn and at Fishing Creek Factory. Presbytery approved a commission to organize these two churches.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 9, 1887 – “The Fishing Creek Cotton Factory has reported its most profitable year in 1886. It consumes about seven bales daily, all bought from local farmers. The farmers save the expense of shipping to a cotton market and the factory saves on commissions. The property is now worth $138,000. A town of three hundred, including 130 operatives and their families have sprung up at the factory. There are also two stores, a post office and a school.”
The Rock Hill Herald of Jan. 19, 1888 reported – “The Fishing Creek Factory is now lite up with the electric light and it will run day and night.”
City Directories and History: One of the central buildings in the town of Lando remains the old company store and post office building which now serves as the Lando History Center. A planned visit to the center is well worth a trip. Many of Lando’s old mill homes have been destroyed but a few remain and the owners of the area are truly interested in preservation efforts.
Historically, the site of the mill was once called White’s Mill, not to be confused with the Revolutionary era White’s mill in York County, SC. This mill seat eventually became the location of the Heath’s Manetta Mill company and store. One of the older homes and the one sitting at the top of the hill overlooking the mill seat is perhaps the oldest in the village. It remains in remarkable condition and may date to shortly after the Civil War. The house is one the corner of Barber (named for mill owner F.H. Barber of Rock Hill) and Lando Road.
“In the north-eastern part of Chester County sometime before 1770, a Scotch-Irish family of Whites came from Pennsylvania and settled near Fishing Creek and built a grist mill. The area became known as White’s Mill. In 1844, Major Eaves bought the plantation and mill. In 1870 Alexander Williford bought the property which consisted of a saw-mill, a grist-mill and some houses in addition to the land. In 1879 F.H. Barber bought the property and in 1880 organized the Fishing Creek Manufacturing Company, a yarn mill. Families moved in and there was a post office. Stores, a ginnery and warehouses were built. A Methodist Church was built. In 1884 the mill went into bankruptcy. After it was reorganized the name was changed to Lewisville Mills. In 1889, Colonel Benjamin Dawson Heath bought the estate of Lewisville Mills and ii 1890 Manetta Mill was incorporated.”
(Information in part from: Chester County Heritage Book, Vol. I, Edt. by Collins – Knox, Published by the Chester Co Hist. Society – Jostens Printing, 1982)
The Rock Hill Record carried news from Edgemoor in its March 16, 1908 addition, it reported, “Edmond Moore, also known Edmond Eaves, died at Mrs. Robinson’s place. He was born in 1824 and was bought by Starr Moore of Yorkville at at the age of one year. He was later sold to Major Eaves of Chester when he was fifteen. He went to the Mexican War with Major Eaves and also in the Confederate army with Major Eaves. He was sent home from the war to run the (grist) mill at Fishing Creek, where Lando stands at present. He also ran a mill near Smith’s Turnout on the South Fork of Fishing Creek, for the late widow of Mr. Julius Mills. Edmond was a great mill and an honest and straight forward man. He turned his work over to his son, William, several years ago.”
The Rock Hill Herald on March 4, 1880 reported – “A meeting of the corporators of the Fishing Creek Manufacturing Company was held at Lewisville. Mr. F.A. Conner was elected Chairman and Mr. J.F. Gage, Esq. will solicit for investors.”
The RH Herald reported on April 29, 1880 – “We are informed that about $30,000. has been secured for the Fishing Creek Cotton Factory. Steps will soon be taken to secure the needed machinery.”
The RH Herald reported on May 27, 1880 – “The stock holders of the Fishing Creek Manufacturing Co., met at the site of the proposed factory on Fishing Creek, located about 4.5 miles from Richburg, and twelve miles from Rock Hill. The Hon. F.A. Conner was called the Chair the meeting and J. Taylor Marion acted as Secretary. Officers were elected: Pres. F.H. Barber, VP – F.A. Conner, and directors, Giles J. Patterson, W.H. Hardin, W.T.D. Cousar, J.S. Wilson, W.C. Hicklin, F.A. Conner, and J.L. Watson. Mr. J. Taylor Marion was elected Sec. – Treasurer. A committee was appointed to write a constitution and bylaws. Fifty thousand dollars has been subscribed to the factory.”
The Herald reported on June 3, 1880 – “The building at the FC Manufacturing Co., is to be a one story granite and two story brick structure. An engineer will visit the site and select the exact location for the building. On the premises is an existing sawmill and the best flour mill in this section.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Sept. 15, 1881 – “Mr. F.H. Barber, Pres. of the FC Manufacturing Co., says construction is now speeding up. The builder is Mr. Davis and he has a large number of masons employed. They hope to complete construction by October.” The Herald reported on May 4, 1882 – “The work on the FC Factory has been completed. It is located at a place formerly known as Eave’s Mill. (Also known as White’s Mill). The corporation is composed of businessman of Chester and York Counties and the stock is $60,000.” The entire structure is built on one solid rock foundation. The foundation is 6 ft in width and the brick walls are 2 ft thick. The floor of the second story is supported by 40 turned heart-pine pillars. The floors of each level are 3″ lumber overlaid with 1.25″ flooring. The power is supplied by a 40″ turbine wheel operated by water power. One June 1st 1882 the paper further reported that a large painting of the factory building hangs in the main entrance hall. This was executed by Ms. Janie O. Barber of Rock Hill, 20-30″.
The Herald reported on Jan. 25, 1883 – “That the Chester Bulletin of last Friday states that Mr. Erskine Moffatt, machinist in Chester, finished putting in an 80 HP boiler at the Fishing Creek Cotton Mill. There are plans for more spindles and looms. The Board of Directors reports the factory is doing a good business and is being managed by Mr. Barber. It is probable that a new post office will soon be established at the factory.”
On Jan. 5, 1883 the Rock Hill Herald reported – “Mr. Erskine Moffatt, a machinist of Chester has finished installing a 80 HP boiler at the FC Cotton Mill, to be used to head up the factory and in the summer when the water in the creek is low to be used for steam to operate the engines. He has also run heating pipes through the factory. Mr. Barber is on the site day in and out. It is possible that a new PO will also be established at the factory.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on May 31, 1883 – “The annual meeting of the stock holders was held recently. A grist mills, which are now running and turning out a fine grade of flour, are contributing to the income of the company. The company has now subscribed $98,500. toward the goal of $100,000. in stock. The cotton mill produced 176,747 lbs of yarn during the year, running for 266 days. The race gave way during a flood and three weeks were lost repairing it. During the year a house was built for the Supt., and a few home for workers, making a total of 14 tenement houses completed.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on June 11, 1885 – “The annual meeting of the stock holders of the Fishing Creek Manufacturing Company was held. The mill operated for ten months during the last year because two months were lost to the fire on Sept. 4, 1884. A profit of $99,203. was paid to the shareholders. The value of the property is $113,593.00 and new machinery is now being place. The mill has been in operation for three years and has realized a profit of 8% in the past two years.”
On Feb. 1, 1888 the Yorkville Enquirer reported – “The Fishing Creek Cotton factory is not eliminated with electric lights.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 4, 1891 – “Dr. (David) Lyle, formerly of Chesterville, is now practicing at the Fishing Creek Factory.”
The Yorkville Enquirer on Nov. 28, 1894 reported – “Mr. F.H. Barber of the Fishing Creek Manufacturing Co., has leased the factory to Mr. McGowan of Enoree.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on April 11, 1896 – “The Lewisville Mill in Chester Co., formally known as the Fishing Creek Mill, has been sold to Mr. B.D. Heath of Charlotte. Mr. F. H. Barber, Pres., is selling it in order to save all his lands and other real estate which had been pledged for the liabilities of the mill. The Lewisville Mill is well constructed and has ample water power. It has 5,000 spindles and recently the whole output has been #20 yarn. There are about sixty five operatives.”
“One is the Fishing Creek Cotton Factory of which Capt. F.H. Barber is president; the other, the Cedar Shoals Factory, of which Capt. O. Barber is president. The Fishing Creek Factory is one of the best equipped cotton mills in the State, and at the late meeting of the stockholders declared a handsome dividend. The success of these mills has led to the discussion of the advisability of building a cotton factory at this place.” Reprinted from South Carolina in the 1880s: A Gazetteer by J.H. Moore, Sandlapper Publishing Company – 1989
The Herald reported on March 22, 1902 – “That the Manetta Mills in Lando are very prosperous. A new building will be erected soon with additional spindles. Work on the Edgemoor and Manetta railroad will begin soon.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Nov. 12, 1902 – “Mr. W.G. Adams who has just finished a big contract in Camden and another in Lancaster, has gone to Lando on Fishing Creek where he will superintend the building of a new mill for the Manetta Cotton Mill Company. An addition to the mill already there, it will be two stories and will be 350 ft long by 75 feet wide. The old building will be widened by 28 ft and a new boiler and engine room will connect the two buildings.”
The Herald reported on Jan. 21, 1903 – “Will Adams has gone to Lando where he is assisting his father in the erection of a cotton mill.”
On Feb. 4, 1903 the Herald reported that “the Manetta Railroad, running from Edgemoor to Lando has been completed and two trains a day each way now are operating.”
The Herald reported on June 24, 1903 – “The addition to the old mill in Lando has been completed and the machinery has been installed. Work on the new mill is progressing slowly as their is a scarcity of labor. The boiler, engine room, and picker room have been completed.
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on March 29, 1904 – “The Manetta Cotton Mill at Lando was badly damaged by fire, the old portion being almost destroyed. The loss is estimated between $25,000. and $50,000.”
The Rock Hill Record reported on April 1, 1904 – “A recent fire at the mill at Lando, resulted in closing of the mill. Repairs are underway, and the mill will reopen soon. All hands thrown out of employment on account of the fire have been put on half pay with no house rent while ideal.”
The Record reported on Dec. 30, 1907 – “The Manetta Mills will be enlarged, workers have begun digging the foundation to enlarge #2. The new addition will be 100-125 ft., and will be three stories. It will contain carding, spinning, and weaving. The Manetta Mill will be nearly as large as any mill in S.C.”
The Record reported on April 13, 1908 – “Haddon Mitchell, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Mitchell of this city, broke his leg. He works at the Steele Mineral Springs Bottling works. He feel from a wagon while making a delivery of a load of crates to Lando. He was taken to the home of Dr. J.N. Gaston for treatment. Later Mr. Woods Steele went down and brought him home in a surrey.”
The Record reported on Aug. 20, 1908 – “A new addition to the Manetta Mills in Lando, which has been under construction for the past few months, is now completed and ready for the machinery which will be installed as soon as it arrives.”
The Rock Hill Record of Feb. 11, 1909 reported – the Manetta Mills of Lando is flourishing. The stockholders plan to increase the capital stock from $200,000. to $300,000. Mr. B.D. Heath of Charlotte is President.”
Informative link: Ferguson Barber and click on the LANDO HERITAGE MAP FOR DETAILS
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White’s Mill via Boyd’s 1818 Survey: See enlargement this page.
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Paul williams says
The two story White House in Lando dates back to the early 1800’s. I had an architectural historian date it circa 1830. It was the home of Thomas White. I am the resident historian for the Lando Museum and caretaker of the house. If you have any questions please contact me
rradmin says
Hi,
We appreciate the information and had heard the house could date to an earlier period. As an architectural forensics – historian, I would relish the opportunity to review the house myself. Would that be possible?
Regards,
Wade Fairey
Rootsandrecall@gmail.com
paul williams says
Yes. Contact me at anytime
Paul williams says
Yes contact me at williamspaul6@aol.com