NEWBERRY COUNTY POST OFFICES – 1896

City Directories and History:   Click on the MORE INFORMATION links, found under the primary picture, to see an enlargeable postal maps (sections North and South), of the county Post Office locations in 1896.  Enter the specific name in R&R’s search box to locate additional information on each of these locations found on R&R’s pages. (Old Postal Maps – Newberry County, S.C.)

LIST OF LOCATIONS:

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.

(Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC)

Jalapa
Mr. Thomas H. Pope of Newberry, now President of the South Carolina State Bar Association, relates that from older members of his family he had often heard a legend about the origin of this name. It is said that members of the Palmetto Regiment stopped here on their way home from the Mexican War. The pleasing area reminded them so much of a place in Mexico they had liked that they named Jalapa after that town. Incidentally, because of their ferocity in battle General Scott is said to have named this group of soldiers from South Carolina “The Tigers.”

(Information from: Names in South Carolina by C.H. Neuffer, Published by the S.C. Dept. of English, USC)

“The old Methodist Church called Kadesh was on the road leading from Newberry C. H. to Belfast, six miles from Newberry, and very near to where the present residence of Dr. Thomas W. Boozer now stands. I am inclined to think that at one time the membership at Kadesh was pretty large, but for some cause or other it gradually dwindled away until it was finally joined with old Shady Grove to make Trinity. For many years before and several years after its final abandonment as a church it was used as a school house, and several pedagogues with whom I was acquainted once swayed the birch within its walls. Col. James L. Gilder once taught there. His school was large and flourishing, and among his pupils at one time was my old and staunch friend, W. D. Reagin, who was then nearly a grown man. During the year he had a difficulty with some of the other boys, and it turned out that he was given the choice of leaving the school or taking a whipping. Being anxious to get an education he decided at once to take the whipping, and accordingly did so. The trustees of the school, however, heard of the difficulty and took the matter in hand. They had a meeting and investigated the affair and decided that although he had taken the whipping he should leave the school. lie then began attending the school at old Shady Grove taught by the late Daniel Goggans.

“I remember to have hoard an anecdote told a; having happened in Colonel Gilder’s school, which I will relate for the benefit of other teachers who may sometimes happen to meet up with similar cases. The Colonel was examining a class, and among other things asked if they could tell in what zone we lived.

“William Owens lived and kept a store just on the top of the hill about one hundred yards from D. Boozer’s present residence and down the road in the direction of Newberry. In those days it was a rare thing to find a storekeeper who did not keep among his stock in trade a pretty liberal quantity of something to keep the spirits up. Mr. Owens being in Rome of course did as Rome does, and so Owens’ store became famous as a place for fun and frolic. Mr. Owens died young, leaving, for that day and time, a pretty fair property. Fergus McClellan married the widow, with whom he lived a good many years, and after her death he removed to Alabama.

“Andrew McConnell lived about one mile farther up the Belfast road, near Kadesh, at the place now owned by his nephew, Andrew J. Longshore. He was descended from Irish parents and, I think, was born on the Green Isle, but brought to this country by his parents when a child. After the death of his father the support and maintenance of the family devolved on him and his mother, but she was a host within herself. I suppose there is still quite a number of the old persons living in that section of country who remember Mary McConnell and the anecdotes that used to be told of her shrewdness at a bargain and of her untiring industry and perseverance. I have always understood that they began keeping a little jug tavern in a room of the dwelling house, and, as they prospered, gradually increased it to a store. He continued to merchandise up to the time of his death and left quite a handsome property.

“Andrew J. Longshore’s mother was McConnell’s sister. He has lived at the old place for the last forty years, and has exhibited, in a marked degree, those characteristics of industry and perseverance possessed by his grandmother and his uncle Andrew McConnell…..

Information from: The Annals of Newberry Co., SC – O’Neall and Chapman, Aull and Houseal Publishers – 1892

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