116 Johnston Street – London Home

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Sept. 12, 1872 – “John R. London, Esq. has completed a handsome residence.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 16, 1879 – “Mr. J. R. London has sold out his stock to his brothers F.H. London and F.O. London and to Mr. Peter Ihrie.”

The Rock Hill Herald on Aug. 25, 1881 reported – “Mr. F. H. London is building a private residence on Johnston Street.  Mr. M.A. Thompson is the contractor.”

The Rock Hill Herald reported on July 1, 1886 – “It is reported that J.R. London of Rock Hill intends to go to Columbia to organize and new national bank.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on March 13, 1889 – “The stock holders of the RH Loan and Real Estate Co., have meet.  The board of directors includes: John R. London, R.T. Fewell, T.L. Johnson, D. Hutchison, Robert Frew, J.M. Cherry, J.Q. Adams, N.P. Alexander, and W.J. Rawlinson.”

City Directories and History:  1908 – Mrs. Emma Frew London, 1917 – Emma London, 1922/23 – R.M. London, 1933 – John Wood, 1946 – William H. Stowe, 1963 – Emma F. London

R&R HISTORY LINK:  FERTILIZER FOR THE BLACKJACK SECTION – SOIL TEST

F. “Fred” H. London was one of the leading businessman of the late 19th century.  This etching was featured in the Charleston News and Courier – 1890. (Emma Dora Frew, born July 30, 1858, married December 18, 18?8 to Fred Hill London)

“Next to the Frew house (to the east) was Mrs. Emma (Frew) London and family: Mr. Rufus London of London Printery; Mr. John R. London of the People’s National Bank; Miss Sallie London, who married John Wood, connected with the Rock Hill Chamber of Commerce; and Miss Emma London, a teacher who was connected with an Episcopal school in Baltimore.“

[Robbins – White Tour Brochure]

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 6, 1892 – “Reported on the wedding of Anna Belle May to J.E. Parker.  They will board with Mrs. F.H. London.”

The Charleston News and Courier stated on June 7, 1890 – “Mr. F. H. London who is the efficient News and Courier correspondent at this place, does a general brokerage business. He deals in all types of brokerage and is one of the younger mainstays of the city.  Mr. London is also the representative of a number of fire and insurance companies.”

The YV Enquirer reported on Jan. 25, 1893 – “Major John R. London, Pres. of the Standard Cotton Mill recently celebrated his 60th Birthday.  Operatives at the mill represented by A.S. Hand, a weaver, presented him with an ebony cane with a hold head engraved, John R. London from the employees of the Standard Cotton Mill., Jan 20, 1893.”

The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 22, 1893 – “Major John R. London has been elected President of the Rock Hill Machine Works and B.N. Craig is Sec. and Treasurer.”

The Herald on April 27, 1901 – Reporting on a court case of John R. London verses the Landsford Power Company. “Major London sued for $2,000. as reimbursement for five years service as Pres. of the company.  The company claimed that Major London was to have served without compensation.  The jury awarded Major London, $1,054.57.”

MEMORIES OF EMMA DORA FREW – LONDON
(The following was submitted to the Historical Committee of the Rock Hill Centennial Committee, 1952, by Frel M. Johnstone who copied and typed an anecdotal account by Mrs. Emma London, b. 1858, of her Civil War memories and something about each of her siblings. We have rearranged the original in order to group information about Mrs. London’s family that apparently came from her family Bible.)

During the war when we were living in Charlotte, my father became desperately ill with pneumonia and died. He left my mother with eight children, four boys and four girls, but with no home, no money, no income of any kind. Her brother, Sam Keesler, was living in Rock Hill, and came to Charlotte to persuade his widowed sister to live in Rock Hill. Uncle Sam had ten children; he family were poor but they were happy, good-hearted people, and he thought if his sister lived in the same time, he could be of some help to her.

So my mother packed her few belongings and with her many children started to Rock Hill, but the Yankees had been before her and burned the bridge over the Catawba River. We crossed on a pontoon bridge; remember holding to a rope with one hand and carrying my little yellow dog Penny under my arm as I watched the muddy Catawba swirling beneath me.

My mother rented a big frame house, and kept boarders. The house was probably where Friedheim’s store now stands. We lived there a while and then moved to the old “Dick Springs” house in the grove back of where Friedheim’s Store now is, near the Caldwell house on Caldwell Street. My mother was fearless, courageous and industrious. Atone time her hands would be busy with her knitting, her eyes on a book, and with her foot she would rock the baby in the cradle. One of the girls was frightened one night and thought she heard someone in the house; she wakened my mother who without hesitation lighted a candle and picked up a hatchet and searched the house, finding no one. She. kept diligently at the work required to run a big house, taught her children to help her in housework, sewing, and gardening.

My sister Mary (Mrs. Charles E. Cobb) thought more of her appearance than any of the other girls, she was quite“fixy,” and told scary stories to the younger children and enjoyed it when they became frightened. She was full of pep and loved to sing. She took charge of the baby, Sam. My sister Laura (Mrs. Tom May) was considered the prettiest of the girls and had the sweetest disposition. She took care of Bob, the next youngest in the family. She was clever with her needle, made dresses and whatever she needed.

Note on this letterhead that John R. London was listed as Asst. Cashier at the People’s National Bank. Courtesy of the Fennell Collection – 2012

My sister Sallie (Mrs. Will Wetmore) was the most industrious and accomplished the most work. She would put the family wash on the line before breakfast and think nothing of it. Sallie had a sweet voice, and sang alto in the choir. The choice of my name was left to her and she always looked after me. My brother Charlie used to sew too; his sisters taught him and made two quilts. He went to work very young, clerking at Friedheim’s. He worked hard, was steady and honest and seldom had any recreation and was very shy and quiet.

My brother Willie also went to work very young. He was considered unusually bright. My brother-in-law, who employed him, said he was a very clever bookkeeper. Charlie and Willie established their firm “Frew Bros.” It must have prospered, because they built two home “High View” when they took care of all the family. I was next in the family and I am going to tell more of my early life later on. Known as “Stoneman’s Raid,” the skirmish between Union soldiers and the Confederate’s local Home Guard, occurred on April 19, 1865 at the Old Nation Ford crossing. The Charlotte, Columbia and Augusta (C. A. & A.) Railroad trestle is the bridge referred to. It was so constructed as to allow people to cross on foot by walking on a plank laid alongside the rails. The pontoon bridge was constructed by the army to replace the bridge. On April 20, 1865, the day following the raid, Jefferson Davis and his party used the pontoon bridge.

My brother Bob was considered very handsome. He was tall, straight and good looking. My brother Sam, the red-headed baby, was a happy fellow. He was called on to do the “fixing” about the house; he was handy and could mend anything. He entered business young, opening a furniture store. My older sisters were so capable and efficient at household tasks that they did them rather than teach me, but they did leave the darning for me to do.

How I loved my teacher, Mrs. Reid, and the school we attended, “Pine Grove Academy”. Mrs. Reid might be criticized as a teacher today, because I can remember she let many days go by without an arithmetic lesson — she did not care for arithmetic — but she made the characters of history and literature live. She inspired each of us to do the best we could. We had such a happy time playing in the woods nearby and at May Day when we danced around the May Pole our joy was complete.

Minnie Hope (Mrs. Ratterree) was one of my good friends, as was Hallie Caldwell (Mrs. Mills Mooney). Tom Johnston was a great tease. I was learned to write my name and made the “E” backwards; he called me “3” a long time afterward.

We all went to the Methodist Sunday School and Church. I went to the Presbyterian Sunday School too in the afternoon, to be with my friends; Miss Mary White was the teacher of the class and she presented me with a book as a reward for reciting the Shorter Catechism perfectly. The Rev. Olin Watson came to see me and said he was surprised that I, a member of the Methodist Church, would attend dances. He tried to get me to promise that I would not attend any more dances, but I did not promise.

Now I will tell you something of my father’s forebears. My father, William Michael Frew, had two sisters, Mary and Sarah Ann Frew, bom November 18, 1824, and the brothers were Archibald (bom July 27, 1851), Charles and Junius. William Michael was the only one who married and their father was Archibald Frew who was bom October 7, 1776 in Philadelphia. He married Ann Cowan in 1806. Ann Cowan was born in 1786, daughter of William Cowan, Member of the Committee of Safety from Rowan County (Wheeler’s History of N. C., Vol. II, p. 368). Archibald Frew built the homestead in Mecklenburg County at Sugar (Sugaw) Creek, now on the Salisbury Road, occupied by the Davidsons. It is known as “Frew’s Folly”. He had several sisters and brothers, none of them married.

My mother was the daughter of Ralph Keesler, who came from Elizabeth, New Jersey, a clockmaker. He married Nancy Reeves January 6, 1814, the daughter of William Reeves. Ralph Keesler died April 1842. William Reeves married twice; the second wife was Eleanor Wakefield, of Maryland, mother of Nancy Reeves.
William Michael Frew, born December 21, 1817, at Salisbury, N.C., died June 21, 1863, at Charlotte, North Carolina.
Sara Ann Keesler, born November 20, 1824, Rowan County, N.C., married June 11, 1844, to William Michael Frew, died 1885, at Rock Hill, S. C.
Samuel Golden Keesler, born November 16, 1832, married April 15, 1860, to Sallie Caston, of Lancaster, S. C., died June 29,1894.
Mary Ann Frew, born April 17,1846, married January 1870, to Charles E. Cobb, died March 18,1922.
Laura Frew, born December 19,1847, married to Tom May on .
Sara Frew, born July 12,1849, married to Will Wetmore, died August 18,1879. William M. Frew, born August 17, 1855, married to Sallie Sturgis, died February 7, 1893.
Emma Dora Frew, born July 30, 1858, married December 18, 1878 to Fred Hill London
Robert Frew, born July 5,1860, married to Lillie Sadler, died October 10,1889.
Samuel T. Frew, bone August 15, 1863, married to Mattie McElwee October 15, 1891.

And Charles Wakefield Frew, born November 6, 1852, married January 21,1891 to Ella T. Tollinger, died May 18,1917.

Also see additional information on J.R. London, Fred London and other family members – other Rock Hillians who made a difference under the picture column – the MORE INFORMATION link.

William M. Frew and Mrs. Emma Frew London were children of William Michael and Sarah (Keesler) Frew, both natives of North Carolina. There were eight sons and daughters in the Frew family: (1) Mary Ann, who married Charles E. Cobb; (2) Laura, who married R. Thomas May; (3) Sarah, who married Will Whetmore; (4) Charles Wakefield, who married Ella T. Tollinger; (5) William M., who married Sallie Sturgis; (6) Emma Dora, who married Fred Hill London; (7) Robert, who married Lillie Sadler; and (8) Samuel T. who married Mattie McElwee. The last-named was a posthumous child of William Michael Frew (1817-1863).  Courtesy of the YCGHS—June 1998

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