City Directories and History: “Austin Ford Peay, the son of Nicholas Peay of Malvern Hall, lived at Flint Hill and was known as the “wealthiest man in that section.” It is recorded that he made a sale of cotton once in Philadelphia, hauled there in his own wagon train, for $25,000.00. His son, Nicholas Adamson Peay, built Melrose, called “the grandest plantation house in upper South Carolina.” It has been described as a “massive structure of brick, stone, and marble of thirty rooms, broad piazzas and wide halls.” There was said to be a garden on the roof, with a pool in which fish were kept. Water was pumped by an hydraulic ram from springs. When Sherman s Army marched through the County in February, 1865, Melrose was burned. Its granite gate posts are now at the Longtown Presbyterian Church and at Ridgeways Methodist Church, formerly Ruffs Chapel.”
Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC
*** Historian, Harvey S. Teal’s S.C. Post Office History, 1989 states: “the Pea’s Store Post Office, operated by Postmaster, Austin F. Pea ran from 1811 1821.”
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