“Lovely little antebellum village…..”
City Directories and History: This home reportedly burned two years after the survey team
Courtesy of the New York J.H. Colton and Company, 1856; from Colton’s Atlas of the World
visited the site and took images. Known as the Maybin house, constructed in circa 1820’s, this is a wonderful Federal style home found in the old Maybin Community on the Broad River.
On Feb. 2, 1871 the Yorkville Enquirer reported – “The barn and stables of A.G. Maybin of Newberry were destroyed by fire. Mr. Maybin lost eight mules during the fire. The Enquirer reported later that three men had been arrested for setting the fire.”
Maybinton
This name came from the family who settled there about 1771. Some of its members achieved distinction in the War for American Independence. The land was rich and well cultivated. The farmers were prosperous. Living on Broad River between the Enoree and the Tyger Rivers, the villagers sent their cotton and other products to the markets on flat boats. Since it was not easily accessible in those days to the county seat the community became a center for meetings in the interest of the entire state. A convention held there in 1840 nominated a candidate for the Congress. Culture and progress marked this whole area.
Derived its name from Colonel Benjamin Maybin, son of William Maybin, who settled there soon after the year 1771. Col. Benjamin Maybin was born in 1775. William Maybin, the settler of 1771, left three sons, Robert, Jesse and Benjamin—the Col. Benjamin from whom Maybinton derives its name. Jesse, the father of A. G. Maybin, served on the staff of General Jackson at the battle of New Orleans.
Maybinton for many years was a lovely little village, where refined and intelligent people made their homes, and which was surrounded by a fruitful and well cultivated country. Being the center of a rich and flourishing section, with good schools, and somewhat remote from the County Seat, it became the Capital to the surrounding country, and often public meetings were held there to take into consideration important affairs, such as pertained to the State at large. P. C. Caldwell received his nomination for Congress by a convention held there in 1840.
The writer did not know Col. Benjamin Maybin, so enthusiastically mentioned and written of by Judge O’Neall; but for many years he knew and honored A. G. Maybin—son of Jesse and grandson of Colonel Benjamin—commonly known as “Bert,” as a man of sterling integrity and worth. Bert Maybin was born and reared at Maybinton, where he lived until after the war of Secession, when he moved to Newberry and engaged in mercantile business with Col. Robert Moorman until the death of Colonel Moorman caused a cessation of the business. At the time of Mr. Maybin’s death, and for some time before, he was engaged in superintending and conducting a Dairy Farm at Newberry, now owned and managed by “Silas J. McCaughrin.
William Kelly inquires to the use of the Maybinton Campgrounds in 1842. Unclear as to purpose.
The situation of Maybinton was one well adapted to make it a place of great local importance—on Broad River between the Enoree and Tyger. By way of Broad River, which was navigable for flat boats, the inhabitants could send, and did send, large quantities of cotton and other produce to the markets below. 1 have seen such boats on the bosom of Broad River. A flat boat loaded with cotton moving down the river would be a rare and novel sight now, with a train of rail cars speeding up or down on the north bank.
The parts of the county which were richest, when the old system of labor was destroyed, suffered most. Maybinton section did not entirely escape, though there is still a considerable degree of prosperity, and the people are slowly but surely recuperating. There, as well as everywhere else, we find that there is life in the old land yet. Maybinton is near the birthplace and early home of the celebrated Emily Geiger.
(Information from: The Annals of Newberry Co., SC – O’Neall and Chapman, Aull and Houseal Publishers – 1892)
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R&R HISTORY LINK: Wm. Kelly the bargeman working the Broad River from the 1820s – 1860. See Section I and II.
BENJ. R. MAYBIN HOUSE RUINS – 2012
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