City Directories and History: This historic map, on the wall of the S.C. Dept. of Archives and History, exhibits some of the numerous locations across S.C. and Richland County, which have been nearly forgotten. Rural names and forgotten places recorded on this map, have been extracted and placed in alphabetical order to assist researchers. Also see the entire map under the History Thread link – right.
From the Yorkville Enquirer, June 18, 1885
We report the death of Maj. Benjamin F. Briggs, who lived six miles northeast of Yorkville. He was born near Fairmount Waterworks in Philadelphia in 1819. His father was an architect and builder who in 1823 was engaged by the State of South Carolina to work on the locks connected with the State Canal near Beckhamville in Chester County. He lived nearby in Lancaster County for a few years, then moved to Columbia. There he built the first permanent bridge ever erected at Columbia over the Congaree River. He then superintended the construction of the iron furnace at the Cherokee Iron Works and moved to York County. He acquired an interest in the iron works and lived there until his death. His son Benjamin worked as a clerk in the store at the iron works and then began working at iron works in Gaston County on the property of All-Healing Springs. In 1863 it was sold to Garrett Brothers. He also, previous to the war, was engaged in other mining enterprises and for several years operated the Kings Mountain Gold Mine. He moved to Yorkville in 1855. In the war, he raised a company in North Carolina. After the war, he served as a York County Commissioner, was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1870, and later served as County Auditor. After 1887, he retired to his farm where he was a successful farmer.
The book Historic Canals & Waterways of South Carolina by Robert J. Kapsch (USC Press, 2010) mentions Benjamin Brigg’s father (page 100-101). In the discussion of the canals on the Catawba River, the Catawba Canal (also known as the Fishing Creek Canal) was the first of three constructions at the Great Falls area. The state Board of Public Works contracted for the construction of this canal in 1820. The contractors listed were Thomas and Briggs. “A contract
has been made with Messrs. Thomas and Briggs, who erected some of the locks on the Schuylkill, for the first section [Fishing Creek Canal] covering three miles and requiring six locks.” By 1821, about one and one-half miles had been completed. By the end of 1822, work was nearing completion. “There have been constructed on this canal five stone locks of the best materials and superior workmanship. The contractors are entitled to the highest credit for the skill and faithfulness with which they have executed this work.” (Quotes are from the yearly report of the Board of Public Works).
INDEX OF NAMES – Does not include roads and rivers…., names are often spelled differently than contemporary spellings.
Barhamville |
Cedar Creek P.O. |
Killwine |
McDaniels Homeplace |
Myers Homeplace |
Smith Homeplace |
Steam Mill@ Burgess Creek |
Adams Hill |
Adams, J.H. |
Bay, Dr. |
Black |
Bookter, C. |
Bulow Church |
Bynum’s |
Camp Ground |
Carter’s |
Chappell, J.J. |
Clarkson |
Columbia |
Congaree Bridge – See Briggs History this page… The Yorkville Enquirer reported on June 22, 1887 in an article taken from the Columbia Register – “Two steamers, the Eutaw and the Farmer are now loading from Peterkin’s Yard at a point just below the Congaree Bridge. They are hauling staves to Charleston.” |
Doby |
Douglass |
Edmund’s |
English |
Fenley’s |
Frost Homeplace |
Gadsden |
Gaffney |
Garner’s Mill |
Goodwyn |
Hampton |
Hampton’s |
Harman’s |
Heith |
Hopkins T.O. (Turnout) |
Howell, M. |
Kensler Homeplace |
Level P.O. |
Littleton Depot |
Lorick’s |
Maxey |
Messer, J.J. |
Moye |
Muddy Springs |
Murrell Homeplace |
Myer’s |
Nelson’s |
Pearson |
Pine Bluff |
Rice Creek Springs |
Rives Homeplace |
Roberts |
Seay |
Sharp |
Singleton, R. |
Souter Homeplace |
Steam Mill (Lower Richland@ Wateree River) |
Taylor’s |
Traveller’s Rest or Traveler’s Rest |
Turnipseed |
Weston |
Woodlands T.O. (Turnout) |
Woodward’s |
Woodward’s |
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