City Directories and History: 1922/23 – U.M. Pursley (#722 East Main St.), 946 – William S. Pursley, 1963 – Mrs. Vera A. Raggio, William S. Pursley, 1975 – W. Steve Pursley, W. Steve Pursley Building Contractors
The McElwee Store ledger states that U.M. Pursley and wife Alice (Manager Catawba Lumber and Manufacturing), hold an account at the store.
The Herald reported on Nov. 25, 1896 – “A petition is to be circulated among east and south of Rock Hill asking the county commission to open the road from the point where Main Street terminates, near the Standard Mill to the railroad crossing near the home of Mr. J. G. Steele. The old road (East White Street), passes almost immediately along the OR &C Railroad and horses are often frighted there, besides the building of the new road will shorten the distance to town.”
The Rock Hill Herald on Jan. 11, 1902 reported, “Mr. U.M. Pursley of Ramah lost as dry kiln last Monday together with about 7,500 ft of lumber. The kiln probably caught from a spark.”
PURSLEY FAMILY – Courtesy of P.M. Gettys – 2017
Ureanus Meek Pursley was born August 25, 1873 in the Clover area of York County. He was the son of T. L. and Ellen Gardner Pursley. He married Alice Hope, who was also from western York County in the area near Sharon and Smyrna. Her parents were Julius Hope and Anne Ferguson Hope. In 1912, the couple moved to Rock Hill, where U. M. Pursley opened Catawba Lumber Company on West Main Street. This business was an important supplier of building materials for eastern York County for many years.
The family home was at 672 East Main Street. The couple had several children, including M. G. Pursley, Ben O. Pursley, William S. Pursley, Mrs. Mayme Pursley Oates, Mrs. Rena Pursley Large, Mrs. Annie Pursley Hoyle, and an adopted daughter, Alicia Pursley. The family belonged to First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Rock Hill.
Mr. Pursley died suddenly at his home on October 9, 1929 at the age of 66. Mrs. Pursley died on December 8, 1936 at the home of her son M. G. Pursley on Charlotte Avenue. The funeral was at the family home at 672 East Main Street. The Pursleys are buried at Neely’s Creek Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Cemetery near Lesslie.
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