The Yorkville Enquirer reported on April 17, 1884 – “Several families have left the Hickory Grove area to move to Black’s Station to take advantage of the opportunities there. They include; Dr. R.R. Darwin, Jerome Whisonant, D.C. McKinney, J.E. Plaxico, Dr. T.B. Whitesides, W.F. Dye, S.F. Brandon, A.B. Crosby, and B.W. Dawson.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Dec. 17, 1885 – “Several colored residents of York County attended a party on the Union Co. side of the Broad River last Tuesday night. While returning home about midnight across the river, the small boat sank. All were drown but Bob McGill. Those lost included: Joshua Smith, Andy Love, Lizzie Smith and Piney Love. The bodies of the two men have been found.”
The Herald reported on March 31, 1887 – “Thomas H. Glenn and W.D. Glenn have built a saw mill on the line of the 3C’s RR near Hickory Grove for the purpose of making cross ties.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 11. 1888 – “Last Friday on Mr. Kinsley’s work on the 3C’s railroad half way between Hickory Grove and Black’s a laborer was killed and two others seriously injured by a blast. Mr. Rhyne, the foreman, set off a blast and thought all workers were out of the way but that proved to be false.” Later on Dec. 19, 1888 the last rail has been laid between Hickory Grove and Blacks on the 3C’s Railroad. This completes the line from Rutherforton to Camden, and thence to Charleston.”
The Rock Hill Herald reported on Oct. 18, 1888 – “The tract of the 3C’s railroad has been laid to Hickory Grove and a regular schedule of trains should reach there next week.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 27, 1889 –“Hickory Grove now has seven residences, five storehouses, one livery stable, and one blacksmith shop. Several stores and residences are waiting for the builders. The building for the Hickory Grove School is proceeding. The ARPs will soon erect their house of worship. Mt. Vernon Methodist and Unity Baptist Church are not far out of town.” Also on Feb. 13, 1889 the paper reported – “Mr. Harris Wylie will soon begin building a ten room hotel.” Furthermore on this date the paper stated, “Hood Brothers will open their new storehouse here in Hickory Grove.” also the paper stated, Whitesides and Westmoreland will also open their new store.”
On June 26, 1889 the Yorkville Enquirer reported – “Mr. William Wilkerson is now building three cottages on his lots on Peachtree Street.” Also the paper reported – ” Dr. Ward and Mr. Harris Wylie have erected very handsome residences on Wylie Avenue.”
On Aug. 21, 1889 the YV Enquirer reported – “Mr. Harris Wylie is now having a new store built at his old stand on the corner.”
On Sept. 11, 1889 the paper reported – “Mr. Harris Wylie’s store is almost completed.” Also, Mr. C.W. Whisonant’s large store will be open for operation by the fall.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Oct. 30, 1889 carried a list of projects underway in Hickory Grove, S.C. this included a residence for John W. Smith, a residence for Dr. Ward, a residence for Harris Wylie, and the new ARP Church. W.S. Wilkinson was hauling lumber for another house. And two new stores are being erected including Whisonant’s New Store being plastered and Martin’s new store. Two blacksmith shops were also under construction by Robert Westmoreland and Newt Falls.”
The YV Enquirer reported on May 7, 1890 – “J.H. Wylie and W.H. Whisonant of Hickory Grove sold 200 acres three miles north of town to J.A. Carroll and S.S. Ross of Gaffney City. They plan to work the gold mines that are on the land.”
On May 8th, 1889 the Enquirer reported – “The store house of J.W. Allison in Hickory Grove was destroyed by fire. In the building was conducted a drugstore and a family grocery under the same ownership. It was located on the 3 CCC’s railroad and was situated between the stores of Dr. T.B. Whitesides and J.N. McDill, but these building were saved.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Dec. 25, 1889 – “Mr. C.M. Martin of N.C. has completed his new store building and is now moving in a stock of goods. His family has also moved to town.” Also, “Mr. C.M. Whisonant of Union Co., has finished his store building and will open soon.” On the same date the paper reported, “Mr. J.S. Littlejohn of Gaffney has bought property and has let a contract for a store building which will be 22-60 feet.”
The Yorkville Enquirer also reported that – “Dr. T.S.R. Ward has moved into his new two story residence.” And Mr. John W. Smith has moved into his new eight room residence.” Also on this date the paper reported – “Mr. C.S. Moorehead has recently purchased the house built by Whisonant and Castles at the corner of York and Pine Street.”
On July 9, 1890 the Yorkville Enquirer reported – “Dr. Allison will soon be ready to occupy his new house in Hickory Grove.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 4, 1891 – “Leaders in Hickory Grove are examining the possibility of creating a textile factory. Last week two men visited Clover, J.W. Castles and W.S. Wilkerson, and two others visited Rock Hill, J.N. McDill and S.B. Lathan to examine the mills in those towns. A committee of twelve has been appointed to solicit stock sales.”
The YV Enquirer reported on Dec. 16, 1891 – “George Hunt, a moonshiner, was apprehended near Hickory Grove. He has about 80 gallons of whiskey and two mules and a wagon.”
The YV Enquirer reported on Feb. 14, 1894 – “Dr. T.S.R. Ward, who sold out about six weeks ago to move to Texas, has moved back to Hickory Grove. He says the people in Texas are in much worse circumstances than here.” Also: The YV Enquirer reported on Feb. 14, 1894 – “Mr. O.H. Surratt of Gould has moved to Hickory Grove to engage in the woodworking business.” Furthermore, Mr. C.M. Martin has purchase the old Wylie Homestead which for the past few years has been run as a hotel.”
The YV Enquirer reported on Oct. 3, 1894 – “In the news from northern Union Co., our people patronize the Hickory Grove Roller Mills with satisfactory results. They get a fine grade of flour.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Oct. 24, 1894 – “The proposed dummy line (railroad), from Hickory Grove to the Broad River has not fallen through yet. Mr. Lumpkin went over the line last week investigating the practicality of the enterprise.”
The YV Enquirer of April 5, 1895 reported – “Mr. John Wright lost his house and its contents to a fire last Saturday.”
The Yorkville Enquirer on June 7, 1895 reported – “Nine car loads (rail cars), of machinery for the Lockhart Shoals factory have reached Hickory Grove and the machinery is now waiting to be transferred to the Broad River and down the river. The boat in which they expect to transport it is nearing completion.”
The YV Enquirer reported on Oct. 11, 1895 – “Mr. C.M. Martin of Hickory Grove has lost his gin house, two gins, a corn mill, a cotton press, four bales of cotton and 1,000 bushels of cotton seed to fire. The loss is estimated at $3,000.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on May 23, 1878 – “Hickory Grove, S.C. has the following business: wagon shop, blacksmith shop, tailor shop, barber shop, boot and shoe, saddle and harness shop, tan-yard, steam mill and cotton gin, country store, and chair manufacturer. It also has a Methodist and Baptist church.”
City Directories and History: Called the “Fifth Avenue of Western York County,” the town of Hickory Grove grew up at the intersection of the old Quinn’s Road and the Howell’s Ferry Road. A Post Office was established here in 1831 with James McKinney as Postmaster; it continued to the end of 1845. It was re-established in 1847 with Thomas G. Wiley, Postmaster. It was discontinued in 1866 and reestablished the following year. In 1895 the post office was listed only as “Hickory” but was renamed in 1907. The town was chartered in 1888.

Courtesy of the New York J.H. Colton and Company, 1856; from Colton’s Atlas of the World

1903 – Train Schedules printed in the Yorkville Enquirer
Originally this town was known as “Wylie’s” or “Wylie’s Store” as post office and precinct designation. Like its neighbor, Sharon, it owes its 1888 incorporation to the building of the 3 C’s Railroad. On February 20, 1889 J. N. McDill was elected as intendant of the town with T. M. Whisonant, Dr. J. W. Allison, J. W. Castles and J. H. Wylie as wardens. The selection of a marshal and town council were in the near future. At the time the town consisted of seven residences, five stores, a livery stable and a blacksmith within the town limits. Plans for several more house and stores had been announced as they awaited for the availability of carpenters.
In 1904, James Carswell recorded his visit to Hickory Grove and sent them to a local newspaper for publication; Carswell’s observances gives us a good deal of information on the business and the appearance of the town. He wrote: Hickory Grove is a lovely place and healthy. Its main street, with a handsome block of brick and frame shops, is short, as it becomes a lovely avenue with big armed leafy trees and green wards and be-gardened houses, over which four churches and a two story school are guards and sentinel.
Near the railroad was Whiteside’s grist mill and cotton gin. Several lumber mills stood nearby. “Professor” W. T. Slaughter, an immigrant from Georgia had purchased the J. H. Martin home and was planning an addition to convert it into a hotel which he would call the “Central Hotel.” Locally it would be known as “The Slaughter House.” The house had wide veranda on three sides and the lawn sported large oaks. Slaughter’s nickname was “Sech;” having been born three days after the secession of South Carolina, his father called him “Little Secession” which his friends shortened. Mr. Slaughter, had been elected as president of the local Woodmen of the World in 1903 and would continue fill that position at least for seven years.
Carswell reported that J. N. McDill, who had been a merchant in the area for forty years had sold out his mercantile business and was opening an “undertaking business.” However, McDill must have added this service to his mercantile business since the 1910 census reports him as a merchant. McDill also owned a farm and other town properties. Another merchant, T. M. Whisonant had left the mercantile trade and was organizing a bank and presently had $12,000 in subscribers. We are unsure if this bank was organized or if it became the Bank of Hickory Grove.

Election of Alfred Stilwell as York County sheriff in 1858. He lived in what is today, Newport, S.C. where he built coffins and carved tombstones. Note the misc. locations listed as voter sites in 1858 York County, S.C., Wylie’s Store is believed to be at Hickory Grove.
John K. Allison had been in partnership with McDill and had been the Hickory Grove Postmaster for eight years and was assisted by Nixon M. McDill, a graduate of Erskine College. Nixon McDill would later sell fire, life, accident and health insurance and serve as a cashier in the Bank of Hickory Grove. The Post Office received mail four times a day by rail. The post office supported two rural routes with John W. Leech and John H. Wylie as carriers.
Recently A. T. Helton, a member of the Helton family pottery makers of North Carolina and Sharon had become the railway agent. He learned the Morse code at the Sharon Depot in 1895 and later transferred to Hickory Grove.
In 1904, the Grier Orphanage was functioning with 16 youngsters being supervised by Reverend J. H. Simpson.
C. M. Whisonant was the principle cotton buyer of Hickory Grove, handling about a thousand bales a year. He also was a merchant and owned the Commercial Hotel. At the time he was entertaining the idea that Hickory Grove needed a knitting mill to round out its economy.
R. L. A. Smith was the magistrate who had superseded George C. Leech who had filled the office for twenty years. J. M. Leech was the Constable in 1904 and had been so for ten years. The town mayor was I. J. Whitesides.
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 25, 1891 – “Hickory Grove has had a citizens meeting to discuss erecting a cotton factory. A committee was appointed to visit other factories and to determine the best plan to proceed. It consists of: J.N. McDill, W.S. Wilkerson, and G.C. Leach.”
The Enquirer reported on July 29, 1891 – “The Hickory Grove Academy is progressing nicely. There are at present fifty students. The young men are boarding with Mr. James Castles. Ms. Bessie Barron of Yorkville began her labors on Monday as Assist. Principal at the academy. She will have charge of the primary department and the French classes. She is boarding with Mr. (S.P.) Lathan.”
The Yorkville Enquirer of May 11, 1892 – “It has recently been discovered that there are considerable deposits of iron pyrites, suitable for the manufacture of sulfuric acid in the Hickory Grove area. Mr. M.R. Reese of Blacksburg and Mr. Vale Thomasson of Hickory Grove are investigating the matter.”
The Enquirer reported on May 11, 1892 – “Mr. C.M. Whisonant has moved into his new house on Wylie Ave., in Hickory Grove. Also reported at the same issue, The handsome new residence of Rev. G.H. Waddell is nearing completion and will be occupied by Dr. Miles Walker of Union County.”
The YE reported on May 25, 1892 – “Ms Mary Allison is at home in Hickory Grove from the High School at All Healing Springs.” (Alexander Co., NC)
The Herald reported on Dec. 30, 1896 – “The house of George C. Leech of Hickory Grove, a candidate for county supervisor last summer, was destroyed by fire Monday night. (Dec. 28th)
Carswell noted that Hickory Grove was a “delightfully white sided community” since so many members of the Whitesides family had business in the area. The Mayor, I. J. Whitesides was the general manager of Whitesides Brothers Mercantile Company and managed his mother’s plantation, supervising 25 plows. Three brothers of the Whitesides family were forming a gold mining company, J. D. Whitesides, W. C. Whitesides and R. D. Whitesides. W. M. Whitesides and J. H. D. Whitesides owned gins, saw mills and other interests.
I. N. McGill was another man with various interests. He owned and kept 60 bee hives and had been cultivating honey bees for thirty years. He managed a herd of 60 beef cattle, and owned and operated a five year old mercantile business with $4,000 stock in of one of the brick buildings, which was managed by his son, T. M. McGill.
The Hickory Grove Drug Company was a partnership between brothers, L. M. Leech and Dr. C. C. Leech. The business not only carried drugs but general merchandise as well. Dr. T. S. R. Ward arrived in town about 1883 and developed a practice in the area and opened a pharmacy. In 1904, he also owned a real estate business and was in practice with Dr. Ben N. Miller. Ward’s son, Renbert, was employed as an operator and clerk with the Southern Railway at York.
Walter J. Moorehead owned one of the brick buildings where he ran a mercantile business. He had come from Wilkinsville some fifteen years before.
HICKORY GROVE ACADEMY: By 1870 it was part of the public school system of the Broad River School District. That year Mary M. McDill was its teacher during the term beginning 25 April to 24 June. T. G. Wylie owned the frame school and charged no rent.
HICKORY GROVE ACADEMY – (The following account is taken from a Master of Arts thesis, “Cultural Factors in the History of York County” by Eula B. Thomasson, Winthrop College, June 1937. Schools in the pre-Civil War era woe not nearly as standardized as they are at the present, but tended to reflect the teachers’ personality and personal philosophy of educational theory, none of whom had specific instruction in teaching methodology. Supervision of teachers was entirely in the hands of the local trustees. All of this made schools highly individual; Hickory Grove undo- Meredith Shurley may have been the first in the county to offer military instruction.)
In 1848 Meredith Shurley taught school near the residence of G. C. Leach, Esq. Many grown men and women were pupils. The Berrys, Leaches, Hemphills, McKinstrys and Whitesides were the most loyal patrons of the school. For a week before the closing of the school, Mr. Shurley drilled his pupils in their studies thoroughly. The boys were put through a military drill. And the teacher was noted for his interest in the hygenic welfare of his pupils. The last day of his school in 1848, he drilled the boys for two hours, despite the fact that it was raining. They used sticks for guns. Anyone who failed properly to perform his duty in ranks was taken out and drilled in an “awkward squad”. Spelling matches were popular, and tickets were given out each evening to those standing at the head of the class. These tickets were kept and counted before the patrons and trustees at the end of each term (a term was one-fourth of the time agreed to teach – usually twelve months). Mr. Shurley boarded among the pupils. The pupils were proud to have him in their homes, and many times arguments and perhaps feelings arose between pupils as to who had the right to his company.
The last day of school in 1848, Captain Montgomery formed a cavalry company of the visiting men and drilled them in cavalry tactics. There were perhaps seventy-five or a hundred in line.47 In 1849 Mr. Shurley taught school in a log cabin, built for that purpose, about one- fourth of a mile from Hickory Grove. He followed the old method of conducting his school. He would take up school as soon as pupils could get there in the mornings, and many evenings he did not dismiss the pupils until the sun went down. In his day he was a first-class teacher. He was a splendid penman. The Bible, Webster’s Spelling Book, Walker’s Dictionary, Pike’s and Smiley’s Arithmetic’s were the principle text books used in his school. Mr. Shurley was good at promised whippings, many of which he never gave, but when he did, it was well done. His method of teaching spelling and reading was for all die pupils to spell or read aloud in learning the lessons. He often had as many as forty pupils on the floor spelling at the same time. Frequently a bench ten feet long was crowded with bare-footed boys, all swinging their feet and swaying their heads, and spelling at the top of their voices. The old man, when he had a chance to be heard, would say, ‘Hurrah! boys; that’s the way.’ Then they would all begin again joined by as many more. In spite of all this, some eminent scholars and men grew up in this neighborhood as well as other parts of the county, that were students of Meredith Shurley. 48 Nothing further was found of the school until about 1853. Samuel Strain taught for a while, after whom Dr. T. B. Whitesides taught until he went to Kansas in 1856. In 1860, Dr. S. M. Wylie taught in the Academy, and most of the young men in the neighborhood were his students besides several from a distance.49 This announcement appeared January 31,1861 in the Yorkville Enquirer: ‘The exercises of this Institution will be resumed on Monday 28th of Januaiy. This Academy is situated twelve miles from Yorkville on the road leading to Smith’s Ford. The health of this section of the county, and the moral character of its citizens will equal another locality in the District. ‘Students will be received at any time, and charged from time of entrance. Deductions will be made in case of protracted sickness. Board can be procured in good families, convenient to the Academy at $7 or $8 per month. ‘Terms of tuition per session of ten months: English, Grammar, Geography and Philosophy $15.00 Primary English Branches 10.00 Latin, Greek and Math 30.00 S. M. Wylie, Prin.”50 As seen from the above announcement, arrangements had been made for the school to be in session for the next year, 1861. Early in that year while the young men were hard at their studies, a call came for troops. Some of the boys began to drop off, and by the time of the bombardment of Fort Sumter, April 13, the school was considerably reduced in numbers. However, the school continued until fall. By that time time the war had begun in reality and Mr. Wylie and some of his pupils volunteered.51 The next account found of this academy was in 1881. Professor Bottles was principal. A picnic was enjoyed at the Academy on August 6, 1881, by a large number of patrons and friends of Mr. Bottles. The Bullock’s Creek Band furnished the music for the occasion….
In 1891, S. B. Lathan was principal and Miss Nell Lathan was assistant. They offered thorough instructions in English and classical branches and a complete course in both vocal and instrumental music. Terms were given upon application.53 A full corps of competent teachers was added for the session beginning Monday, July 13,1891. In addition to the regular course, instruction was given in German, French, Painting, Drawing and Music.54 [Editor’s Note: Meredith Shurley, son of Thaddeus and Elizabeth ________ Shurley, had a log cabin school in the Gold Hill area north of Fort Mill in 1846. “The cabin stood 100 yds north of Fred Wilson’s home,” according to J. H. Coltharp, writing as “Splinter,” in the Fort Mill Times, March 2, 1916. During the Civil War Meredith Shurley was a farmer in Florida. Shurley’s son John Rucker Shurley (Nov 1818-15 Mar 1863) was a famous schoolmaster (headmaster of Shurley Institute in Winnsboro and Ebenezer Academy in York County) as well as his grandson, Leitner Shurley (Ebenezer Academy and Carolina Academy in upper Lancaster County).]
HICKORY GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH: This now defunct church was organized in May of 1892 with its first pastor, J. L. Hoffman. On May 23, 1897, a new, building was dedicated; this structure had a tower rising from the pulpit end. By 1942 membership had fallen to fifteen and they were without a pastor, but a Sunday School continued until 1949 when its membership fell to six. Unbelievably, five members of the Women’s Missionary Society continued to meet for several years when it was decided to sell the building. When the last member died, Mrs. C. S. Moorehead, in 1960, $5,500 was left to be used to revitalize the church.
HICKORY GROVE HIGH SCHOOL: Built in 1916 and housed both grammar and high students. In 1939 a two story teacher age was constructed by Works Progress Administration to provide housing for single teachers. At the same time the WPA constructed an agricultural building and lunch room. The school operated into the 1980s before closing for forced by consolidation.
WYLIE’S STORE: Prior to 1867, __ Wylie was conducting his mercantile business near the intersection of Howell’s Ferry Road and Quinn’s Road, in what is present day Hickory Grove. The store was used as a voting precinct, where in 1868, Thomas Hartness, Morgan Dover and James Wallace managed the ballot boxes.
Open the MORE INFORMATION link (found under the primary picture), to view an enlargeable, 1896 Postal Map of York County, S.C.
Stay Connected
Explore history, houses, and stories across S.C. Your membership provides you with updates on regional topics, information on historic research, preservation, and monthly feature articles. But remember R&R wants to hear from you and assist in preserving your own family genealogy and memorabilia.
Visit the Southern Queries – Forum to receive assistance in answering questions, discuss genealogy, and enjoy exploring preservation topics with other members. Also listed are several history and genealogical researchers for hire.
User comments welcome — post at the bottom of this page.
Please enjoy this structure and all those listed in Roots and Recall. But remember each is private property. So view them from a distance or from a public area such as the sidewalk or public road.
Do you have information to share and preserve? Family, school, church, or other older photos and stories are welcome. Send them digitally through the “Share Your Story” link, so they too might be posted on Roots and Recall.
Thanks!
User comments always welcome - please post at the bottom of this page.
Is there more information on the orphanage on Wylie Avenue? I use to live in the house with my mom, dad, and big brother.
I would suggest checking with the Historical Center Archives “McCelvey Building” in York, S.C. They may have additiional information.
Regards,
Wade@R&R.com