City Directories and History: A stately home siting on the Newberry Road known locally as the Clowney house, the dwelling features a beautifully maintained grounds and farm lane. Construction originally began shortly before the Civil War and ended perhaps as late as the 1870’s when a talented local carpenter, of African – American descent, was hired to finally complete the dwelling for the owner, contractor Samuel Johnson. Eventually it became a prosperous cotton farm before he sold it to Walker Leslie Kirkpatrick of York County, S.C. Mr. Samuel Johnson, the contractor, not owner, also constructed the residence at #325 Moultrie Street in Winnsboro. It is unclear as to why the Kirkpatricks moved to Fairfield County. The Kirkpatrick family was originally from the Bullock’s Creek area of York County, S.C., the location of Kirkpatrick Creek is just north of Bullock’s Creek Presbyterian Church. Interestingly, the Patrick family also moved from the same community to White Oak at approximately the same period.
Later, Dr. Cain of Columbia purchased the property as a retreat. In the early 20th century he sold the property the James Brice Clowney, a bachelor, who left the property to his brother, William C. Clowney (another source says, William Meadow Clowney in 1920), who’s family retains ownership of the property.
Business Ledger and More: In 1912, through the 1920’s, Mr. Kirkpatrick operated his farm, as well as the Home Store on South Congress Street. His store ledger lists the following individuals having labor contracts with him: George Stevenson, Clara Perry, John Perry, Sarah Ellison, Will Ellison, Charley Byrd, and Moses Byrd. These individuals are presumably some of those standing in the front yard of the home.
The labor contracts are enlargeable and readable as links on this page.
R&R NOTE (Note, Lucile Kirkpatrick stated in 1969, that in 1910 they had sold the farm and moved into Winnsboro.)
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[…] to the Fairfield County Museum for interpretation and preservation. See the link for the Kirkpatrick – Clowney House in Fairfield Co., to see one of these images. Along with the shoe-box are also numerous […]