The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 23, 1887 – “Frel Mobley and J.W. Westerlund have established a Sassafras Oil Mill on Finley’s Branch on the edge of Rock Hill. The oil is made from the Sassafras roots.”
The YV Enquirer reported on Oct. 8, 1890 – “Mr. W.J. Roddey and W.C. Whitner have rented the residence of Ms. Sallie Gibson and will occupy it soon.”
City Directories and History: 1908 – Miss Sallie J. Gibson, 1917 – S.J. Gibson, 1933 – Caldwell T. Rawlinson, 1946 – T. Caldwell Rawlinson, Mary Rawlinson, 1963 – Cam R. Rawlinson
The Gibsons built the home and maintained it beautifully for
decades. During this period they rented the second floor to members of the professional community including for a short time, Dr. and Mrs. William Francis (Frank) Strait. It was on the second floor of this home that their son, Wm. F. Strait, Jr., was born and lived for a short time before the family moved across the street to #153 Johnston Street. Rosa B. Guess, his sister, wrote – “We lived on the second block of Johnston Street, nearer the railroad and on the north side of the street. My father and mother moved there after my brother Frank and I were born. I was born in 1892 on Hampton Street in a charming white frame cottage (May Home), two doors from Dr. T. A. Crawford’s house. Frank was born upstairs in the large residence of Misses Sally and Lizzie Gibson, at the SE comer of Hampton and Johnston streets. Mama said Miss Lizzie was so afraid that she (Mama) would make a commotion when the baby was born and was quite shocked to find that the baby was there and the night had been quiet. It was just like Mama to make no noise at all.”
” Across Hampton Street .from the Hutchison house was the lovely old two story residence of Misses Sallie and Lizzie Gibson, built about 1874. These maiden ladies owned a great deal of land in Lancaster County. Their home was probably the most beautifully appointed residence in Rock Hill in the years from 1874 to about 1900.” [Robbins – White Tour Booklet]
Following the Gibson sisters, a local farmer Mr. T.C. Rawlinson and his wife (Cam), a local teacher acquired the home. In the late 1980’s a local attorney, Mitchell Bird purchased the house to convert it into a restaurant.
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Oct. 19, 1882, reported a sad accident. “Frel Mobley, the Rock Hill boy attending the school of Major Lynch at High Point, N.C. was handling a gun and accidently shot and killed a fellow student, D.R. Routen of Oxford, N.C. Frel is the son of Dr. James Mobley of Fairfield County, but he was raised by his aunt Ms. Lizzie Gibson of Rock Hill, as his mother had died when he was very young.”
The Herald reported on Oct. 28, 1886 – “While on his way to a camp meeting in Chesterfield County, the Rev. J.C. Kilgo dropped his wallet at Cureton’s Ferry. Mr. Frel Mobley of Rock Hill crossed at the ferry a few minutes later and found the pocketbook. He brought it to Rock Hill and left it with Capt. Davis for recovery by the owner. It contained a neat sum of money.”
On May 11, 1892 the Yorkville Enquirer reported, “Mrs. Frel Mobley has had an accident, falling from the piazza of her house about 18 ft. to the ground. When found she was unconscious and remains so.” It is unclear where the Mobleys were living at this time.)
The Herald of Aug. 8, 1900 reported that Mr. and Mrs. Frel Mobley returned to Rock Hill Saturday and are now at the home of the Mrs. Gibson on Hampton Street.”
The Herald reported on July 2, 1902 – “Mr. Frel Mobley has left for a large job. He has the contract for grading a railroad of 230 miles between Ga. and Florida.”
July 16, 1902 – The Herald reported that this lot was one of a number offered for sale for the location of a proposed post office. Miss Sally Gibson offered here “home lot” which had a frontage of 150 ft., on Hampton and 120″ ft., on Johnston.
The RH Record reported on Jan. 14, 1909 – “Mr. J.M. McFadden and family have moved into the Rawlinson House on Johnston Street, recently vacated by the Wrights. The house vacated by Mr. McFadden will shortly be occupied by the family of Mr. W.J. Neely, the owner of the property.”
The Rock Hill Record July 22, 1909 reported, “Ms. Sallie Gibson has erected a handsome iron fence in front of his residence on Johnston Street. It was purchased at the Rock Hill Hardware Company.”
The McElwee Store ledger stated that Sallie B. Gibson was an account holder at the store in 1915-16.
Click on the More Information > link found below the picture column for additional data on some of Rock Hillian’s leading citizens.
Capt Frel Mobley was a nephew of E. B. Mobley, mentioned herein. Captain Mobley’s mother was a sister of E. B. Mobley. In other words, a Mobley had married a Mobley. There was absolutely no blood connection between Capt Frel Mobley and the Gibson sisters, who reared him, only a tenuous connection through marriage. Captain Mobley’s daughter-in-law Mrs. Robert H. Mobley (nee Virginia Cork) always said that “Frel” was not Captain Mobley’s baptismal name. She said that “Frel” was a term of endearment used by Miss Sallie and Miss Lizzie Gibson in referring to their ward. Evidently the Gibson sisters called him “Little Fellow.” The young child could not pronounce “Little Fellow” properly, and it came out as “Frel.” Mrs. Robert Mobley said that she had seen the name “Samuel Faust Mobley” written in several books found in family papers and that there was a strong possibility that Captain Frel’s name was “Samuel Faust Mobley.” Since everyone connected with the older generations of the families is now deceased, it is likely that we will never know the truth of the matter. This is obviously an outstanding example of a nickname completely obscuring the baptismal name. Courtesy of the YCGHS—June 1998
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