The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 11, 1893 – “Mr. J.G. Gwinn has bought and moved into the house vacated by Mr. W.L. Plexico.”
City Directories and History: In 1921 a beautiful mahogany grandfather clock stood in the house and was said it had ran continuously for 130 years. The clock had been purchased by Captain James Gill in 1791 and was passed to is son, John Gill. Upon his death it was passed on to Mrs. Gwin, a descendent. In 1929 the Gwin House was the only hotel accommodations within the town and there genuine hospitality could be found there for $2.00 per day. The house did not give a metropolitan air, but an atmosphere of “home” prevailed and created within the guest a desire to “Come Again!”
The Yorkville Enquirer of Jan. 14, 1891 reported, “Sharon will have a grist mill to be owned and operated by Gwinn and Rainey.”
Jeptha Decatur Gwin was born 17 June 1853, son of J. D. Gwin and Susan Abell Gwinn. For 35 years he had been a miller for John L. Rainey, and then during the last years of his life he operated the business for himself. He also managed a saw mill for Rainey near the “Rainey Place”. He was a staunch Jeffersonian Democrat and took part in Hampton’s Red Shirt Campaign in 1876. He served as town councilman at least three times–1893-1894. 1895-1896, 1901-1902 Just before his death 18 March 1935 he campaigned for the office of County Coroner and served 15 years on the County Board of Registration. Rev. Ebenezer B. Hunter of the A.R.P. Church and Rev. Carl W. McCully of Woodlawn Pres. Church and Rev.
R. M. Bell, former pastor of the A.R.P. Church officiated at his funeral. He was buried at Sharon A.R. P. cemetery beside his former employer, John L. Rainey. Just two weeks before his death, he visited Rainey and asked to be buried next to helm. In 1891 it was reported that T. A. Gwin who lived a few miles south of Sharon owned a trunk that was brought to America by someone involved in the colony of Lord Baltimore at the time Maryland was settled. The trunk was described as having hinges “almost as long as a man’s arm and so old that nearly all the hair on the leather covering was worn away. [Contribution by J.L. West]
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