James Milton Cherry (1856-1920) was indeed one of Rock Hill’s most influential business leaders in the late 19th and 20th centuries. He was involved in nearly every aspect of Rock Hill’s prosperity following the Civil War, as the city grew from a small hamlet to a impressive industrial and banking center in South Carolina’s Upcountry. In 2014, he is best known for having given his name to Cherry Road, a section which he owned significant acreage along and helped develop from a rural farm area into a housing and commercial power. As a principle in the Rock Hill Land and Town Site Company, he was also instrumental in opening what is today the Oakland section of Rock Hill, where he and others moved at an early period to stimulate growth along the Avenue leading from downtown Rock Hill to Winthrop.
J. M. Cherry was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Denver in the summer of 1908. One of the things that impressed him most was seeing large fields of high-grade alfalfa. Alfalfa, called by some “green manure,” had an almost magical capability of transforming red clay land worn out by cotton and com into highly productive soil. – Louise Pettus
“When we moved to what was then Hollis Post Office, from Rock Hill, my father bought me a small horse named Daisy and a pony buggy from Mr. Cherry in Rock Hill. Mr. Cherry had used the horse and buggy to ride around his farm which was located on one side of Nation’s Ford Road from Winthrop College. He bought him a car, so he did not need the horse and buggy anymore.” THE ROAD TO RICHBURG (Information courtesy of and from: CDGHS Magazine) by Arthur S. Lynn – October 19, 1986
Click on the following links for additional information, Cherry Home and Cemetery Finder.
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.
Share Your Comments & Feedback: