“Perhaps Rock Hill’s earliest drugstore.”
City Directories and History: Dr. John William Fewell, a medical doctor, was the partner of pharmacist, W. M. McCully. This may have been Rock Hill’s first drugstore? From 1851 to 1892, Rock Hill had intendants, as they were called, to head the city government. When Rock Hill was incorporated in 1892 Dr. Fewell became the town’s first Mayor.
See receipt for payment, this page, from Ann H. White for glass, paint, dyes, etc. in 1870, at the time she is completing the work on the White Home Annex. Note, that contractor George B. Anderson, had directed this work and asked for the materials sold to Mr. White in 1870 to be used in the completion of the White Home Annex.
Ann H. White buys pitcher from the McCully firm, 1872 – Courtesy of the White Collection/HRH 2008
Mr. McCully (McCaully) druggist, was the nephew of prominent Chester County farmer, Jacob F. Strait and was one of the first of the medical profession in the Gaston – Strait – Wylie – Lyle cousins to make Rock Hill their home and begin their medical practices here. He was the cousin of Rock Hill’s early surgeon Dr. Wm. F. Strait who moved to Rock Hill shortly after McCully. It is unclear when W.M. McCully and his wife Antonia Wylie McCully moved to Malvern, Hot Spring County, Arkansas with the rest of his family, their children included: Susie Adams McCully, James Bradner McCully and Anna Roddey McCully.
A part of McCully’s family had moved to Arkansas just after the Civil War and they carried on correspondence. One of the letters he wrote stated, “Our garden was not injured or much affected by the cold and rain. We have had Potatoes for nearly three weeks, and today a mess of Beans. Had Strawberries in abundance. Have a good cow which makes us milk and butter plenty. Antonia has been talking to me all the time I have been writing and I came very near omitting “cow”. She is very busy tonight making Syrups for our Soda Fountain. – and eating Ice. Call at the Drug Store tomorrow (joking), and we’ll give you a drink of Ice Cold Soda Water. I wish you could see Antonia eating ice. It is funny, her hands are in the Syrup and she can’t take hold of anything, has it in a Saucer on the table and sits down and eats it out of the Saucer. She got such a nice present this evening, a nice Squirrel already dressed – is going to have such a nice breakfast tomorrow morning.” Information from the YCGHS Magazine – March 1993
(Below we continue printing excerpted letters of Dr. William Milton McCully and his wife Antonia Wylie McCully to her parents, DeKalb and Janette Wylie who left Chester for Arkansas some time before 1868. Antonia had stayed in this area and married Dr. W. M. McCully, a Rock Hill druggist, ca. December 1870.) Rock Hill, S. C. March 16th, 1871
My dear ones, Time and space will not permit me to go into detail on our Political Condition at this time, which has been up to this date, for the last two weeks, a deplorable one. We have evidences that now Peace may prevail for a time at least. There has been an actual conflict in Chester County, between the Whites and Scott’s Negro Militia. The particulars I cannot give you. Several Negroes were killed and but one white man severely wounded. I think originated from a “Ku Klux” raid in Chester County. Our Governor (Scott) has disarmed his Negro Militia, and it is thought that hereafter we may have no more troubles. We have had a company of U. S. Troops in our Village since Sunday, last, but leave tomorrow. Some of the Privates say they are going to Little Rock, Ark. but I doubt whether or not they know. I will drop the subject at this time and tell you some-thing about our-own-dear- selves How I do wish you could see us keeping house. Yes we would like to see you all any way. After waiting long, but I cannot say patiently, for a letter from you, I have almost concluded, you have ceased to care for us but will write again. I would have written sooner but thought Anna had written She would have said Milt and I were well and looking anxiously for a letter from you every day. The last letter I received from you was written Dec. 11th How much I would like to see every one of you but I haven’t even a good picture of a single one. Do have some taken at the first opportunity and send them We are anxious to go to Ark but you give us such poor encouragement or I charmingly and so she does, and now, she seems perfectly at home, in less than one week’s time. As she says we are not as well prepared for House-Keeping, as we ought to be or would be, if we did not expect to go to Arkansas. There is always a sacrifice in selling second-hand furniture, &c. However, as I tell Tonia, I think we do very well, we are comfortable, and I am sure happy. Could you see us, even tonight as we are nestled around our little table, you could not have a single doubt of this fact.
Tonia, sometimes gets a little sad, because we do not hear from you, but I try to cheer her.. .. With what joy would we hail any message. Even the simplest from you Dear Father, Mother, Sister and Brothers. The friends, as far as we are aware, are all well. Kindest regards to all. I close hoping ere long to hear from you all.
Yours with much love, Wm. M. McCully
FEWELL & McCULLY dealers in Drugs, Medicines, Rock Hill, SC – May 18th 1871…..Tell Mamma Tonia is learning a great deal in the Culinary Department, made some Strawberry Preserves this week. She is so fond of cornbread and Buttermilk …. She [Tonia] told me to tell Papa that Old Mr. Jno McKee of Chester is dead. Uncle Alex and Aunt Juliet Wylie’s [family] are in better health than they have been for some time. We haven’t been to see them but once nor have we been anywhere else but once since we were married. Haven’t been back to Uncle Jacob Strait’s yet. Shinkir is now in Chester and is expected up next week. Aunt Hanna is also in Chester. Love to all, Your brother Milt McCully Rock Hill, S. C. – Oct 24th 1871
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