City Directories and History: Martin’s store, or Martin Brother’s Store, continues operating in 2014 having been in business as and used for several purposes since the early 19th century when James W. Daniel constructed the store and began operation. It was later sold to James Martin in the late 19th century.
“When James Cooper Martin and his eleven co-owners started their mercantile business under the trade-name of “Bee-Hive,” little did they realize that more than 150 years later the enterprise still would be considered a thriving business. The Martin home adjacent to the store predates the store and is known to many as the “Squire Daniel Place/’ for it was James W. Daniel who built the house and the store.
With plans to run the store alone, James Cooper Martin bought out his eleven partners about 1876, but eleven days later he died, and a son assumed responsibility of the establishment. In 1931 J. H. and J. Y. Martin, grandsons of James Cooper Martin, took over the operation of the store known today as Martin Brothers General Merchandise.
The home and the store are located near Ware Shoals, the latter being one of the few general stores left in the county. It is stocked with such essential items for farmers as feed, fertilizer, tools and seeds; while for the homemaker items may be secured from kitchen utensils to all the well-known brands of canned goods and heavy groceries.
The hewn timbers in the store are held together with pegs and in the rear is a platform where molasses barrels were kept. Except for some minor remodeling and replacements the building stands as it did when erected. The upper floor was at one time a center of activity, serving as a Masonic hall, a doctor’s office and storage space. It is still used as Daniels voting precinct.
Perhaps James Cooper Martin was a descendant of one of the four Martin families to pioneer in Laurens County. According to Mrs. Nathaniel Gist Gee, in Some of the Descendants of Daniel Martin (1745-1829) of Laurens County, S. C., William Martin settled on Raeburn Creek about 1772. Apparently William was the father of Daniel Martin. At any rate, the Martin family has certainly made its contribution to the county in many ways from the earliest history.
The stately home is occupied by J. Harold and Elizabeth Latimer Martin. Harold, one of ten children, is the son of Jeremiah C. and Floride Proctor Martin. Still living on the plantation adjoining the Martin home, or the Daniel home, and the store, are Harold’s mother and his three sisters — Mrs. Gladys Martin, Mrs. Evelyn May and Mrs. Sarah McKnight —and his sister-in- law, Mrs. J. Yancey Martin.
James Wright Daniel, known as Squire Daniel, and his descendants have many branches on the family tree who have made outstanding contributions to the county. Among the descendants are Laura Jane Daniel who married Doctor W. T. Jones and from that line comes William T. Jones, solicitor of the 8th Judicial Circuit, Greenwood.”
Information from: The Laurens County Sketchbook, Author – J.S. Bolick, 1973
For additional information see: Martin Brother’s Store
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