City Directories and History: 1922 – E.G. Hembree, 1938 – Elizah G. Hembree – 1958 – Mack Wade Bratton (Industrial Mill Employee)
I am the granddaughter of Elmer Ward Bratton and Ola Jane Montgomery Bratton. My grandparents moved their family from the Hickory Grove area in the late 20’s after Elmer lost his farm due to the boll-weevil and the depression. Elmer found a job at the Industrial Plant in Rock Hill and was assigned a house at #4 Parker Street. This is where they lived until their next to youngest daughter Jennie Lind graduated from high school. This was about 1943. The mill had a policy that all working age members of a family had to work in the mill to receive the housing allowance that they offered. Elmer had already had his older children go to work in the mill but he said no, to Jennie going to work there, her grades in school and her musical talent was to high.
The company gave them 30 days notice to vacate their house. My Uncle Mack who was a weaver at the industrial said he would help Granddad find a house they could buy. He found the house at 709 Standard Street and secured a loan from the bank in 1944. The house had been built in the early 1900’s and was in bad shape since it had been used as a boarding house for several years by the Eli Hembree family. They bought the house and land for less than $1,500. My grandfather quit the Industrial and went to work at the Bleachery and stayed there until his retirement. Grandmother was a typical wife of the times. She stayed home and kept the home for her family. She had a cow, chickens, a garden, and beautiful flowers.
She sewed her own family’s clothes and also took in sewing for other people. Jennie went on to work in the insurance business and then married Milton A. Mahaffey. Margaret graduated from high school then worked at several businesses in the downtown area before becoming employed at Winthrop. She married Charles J. Hartis in the living room of 709 Standard Street. As time went on Mack Bratton married Mabel William Bratton and they lived in the house until both had passed away and the house was left to the Williams family and it was sold. [Written and shared with R&R by Ella Messer for R&R – 10.13.14]
The earliest Bratton recorded in this line lived on the Stewart Farm outside of Hickory Grove, in western York County. He was recorded on the census in 1850.
In 1920, Elmer Ward Bratton was buying a tract of land for farming on what is now called Beersheba Road. My father was born in 1913 and is on the Cradle Roll at Beersheba Presbyterian Church. It was in the old Cotton Belt community because my father and his older brother and sister walked about a mile or more to the old Cotton Belt one room school house.
My grandmother’s family of brothers, the Montgomery’s, also bought land in this area and they also lost all of their land in the 20’s. They all went back to sharecropping until they got back on their feet in the late 30’s.
See additional information on Industrial Mill here.
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Andy Douglas says
I loved reading this. What a great story. It took guts to escape from the mill. I have great respect for these folks-another wonderful example of “The Greatest Generation.”
rradmin says
I too think the lives of that generation were difficult and dangerous. R&R is coming to Spartanburg early next year, hope you will share your family’s history and stories!
Regards,
WBF