The Rock Hill Herald reported on Oct. 20, 1881 – “On last Thursday Col. J.M. Ivy lost his gin house with nine bales of cotton to fire on his Waxhaw Plantation.” The Herald later reported on Nov. 8, 1883 in an advertisement – “My wheat and corn mills situated on the Catawba River, east of Rock Hill, have recently been overhauled at heavy expense.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on July 23, 1885 – “Mr. Samson Brown is the miller at Col. J.M. Ivy’s Mill on the Catawba River.”
City Directories and History: The Adam Ivy house is an example of mid-nineteenth century vernacular Greek Revival architecture with early twentieth century additions. The house was built ca. 1849-1850 by Ivy and replaced an earlier log cabin on the property. According to tradition, Ivy’s second wife helped finance the house with proceeds from the sale of gold dust. Ivy founded two Methodist churches in Lancaster County in the first half of the nineteenth century. Ivy also served as president of the Indian Lands Bible Society. His other interests included his farm, which included over 1,600 acres when this house was built; service as an agent to the Catawba
Indians; a partnership in Turkey Point Merchant Mills, and a flour and grist mill later known as the Ivy Mill Place. Ivy lived here until he moved to Florida in the 1880s. He sold the house to James D. Nisbet, a prominent area physician and the son of his stepdaughter Mary Jane Nisbet, in February 1888. While Nisbett practiced medicine for nearly forty years in New York City his mother and a brother lived in the house. The additions and renovations took place around 1920, before Nisbet retired and returned to the house in 1923. After his retirement, Nisbet became a “gentleman farmer” and operated the property as a working farm. The home’s outbuildings, large and small barns near the house, date from this period. They are significant as intact examples of agricultural buildings built after ca.1920, when farmers began to diversity and end their long reliance on cotton as their major product. Listed in the National Register September 4, 1990. [Courtesy of the SC Dept. of Archives and History]
Further information: It was built c. 1849-1850 by Ivy and replaced an earlier log cabin on the property. According to tradition Ivy’s second wife helped finance the house with proceeds from the sale of gold dust. Ivy founded two Methodist churches in Lancaster County in the first half of the nineteenth century. Waxhaws Methodist Episcopal Church is no longer in existence, but Mount Ararat Methodist Episcopal Church, founded in 1835, has been renamed Belair United Methodist Church and is still active. Ivy also served as president of the Indian Lands Bible Society. His other interests included his farm, which included over 1600 acres when this house was built; service as an agent to the Catawba Indians; and a partnership in Turkey Point Merchant Mills, a flour and grist mill later known as the Ivy Mill Place. Ivy lived here until he moved to Florida in the 1880s. He sold the house to James D. Nisbet (1861-1933), prominent area physician and the son of his step-daughter Mary Jane Nisbet, in February 1888; Ivy died in December of that year. While Nisbet practiced medicine for nearly forty years in New York City his mother and a brother lived in the house. The additions and renovations occurred c. 1920, before Nisbet retired and returned to the house in 1923. After Nisbet’s death the house passed to his widow, and it remains in the hands of descendants today. (1) After his retirement, Nisbet became a “gentleman farmer” and operated the property as a working farm. The large and small barns near the house, built c. 1930, date from this period. They are significant as intact examples of agricultural buildings in Lancaster County built after c. 1920, when farmers began to diversify and ended their long reliance on cotton as their major product.
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Sept. 20, 1883 – “The two story dwelling of Mr. A.K. Smith, above Ivy’s Ferry on the Catawba River, was totally destroyed by fire last Friday. The loss is estimated to be $1,500.” (R&R in unsure as to the exact location of the Ivy’s Ferry.)
The Rock Hill Record reported on Jan. 28, 1909 – “The Rock Hill Chamber of Commerce is circulating a petition asking the legislature to authorize York County to build a bridge across the Catawba at Ivy’s Mill.”
Currently being used as the Ivy Place, an event center, by Terry and Eugenia White Graham, 2017.
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.
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.
Thanks!