McElwee or Deas Grist Mill

Yorkville Enquirer, Thursday, June 27, 1861 – N. McElwee resumed position of Postmaster at Taylor’s Creek (resigned as Federal Postmaster)

Jona. N. McElwee, Jr. resumed his duties as Postmaster at Taylor’s Creek P. O. under the authority of the Confederate Postmaster General.  McElwee suspended his work.  “The reason of the suspension of the office, was my unwillingness to hold a commission under a Black Republican.”

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City Directories and History: The historic McElwee or Deas Mill was constructed on Fishing Creek, just south of Rock Hill, S.C. to allow the community to take advantage of water power to operate both the cotton gins and grist milling operation of post Civil War redevelopment.  Inspection of the old mill reveals the use of an undershot wheel to originally power the mill and was later converted to a turbine powered operation.  Construction details and available historic information suggests the mill could date to ca. 1870-80, but there is not sufficient documentation to clarify an exact date of construction.

Western York County Historian, Mr. J.L. West writes in his article about 1879 – 80: “The county was seeing more mechanization in July, when Jonathan Newman McElwee, Sr. not J. N. McElwee installed a turbine water wheel at his Bullock’s Creek mill, and a new bolting cloth machine. The mills were under supervision of Joseph Wood, a miller with 30 years experience. The

following November Newton Whitesides, the 18 year old son of Major T. P. Whitesides, broke his leg while operating the bolting machine. McElwee’s competitors, the Herndon Brothers, were upgrading their mill as well. Joseph Herndon installed a turbine water wheel at their mill on Turkey Creek. The brothers were agents for the Farrar Turbine Water wheel.”  

J.N. McElwee of western York County,  may have also played a part in getting the McElwee’s Fishing Creek mill placed in operation, in conjunction with the younger J.N. McElwee, II of Rock Hill and the Taylor’s Creek Communities.  It appears the McElwee – Deas mill was placed in operation, using the turbine system, at approximately the same time when the elder McElwee was building the turbine gin on Bullock’s Creek. Mr. McElwee was living near Mt. Holly and wanted to see the area prosper.

So, no sooner had Mrs. Ann H. White purchased the lands of the late James Miller than sundry citizens of the community, led by a Rock Hill merchant, Jonathan N. McElwee, Jr., petitioned the South Carolina Senate to open a new road from the Rock Hill Depot to the residence/plantation of Mr. McElwee, located some four or five miles south of Rock Hill (where the present Mount Holly community is now located).  This proposed road would have cut across the Miller property aforesaid, and “The Widow White” was entirely averse to having her new fields and forests invaded by unwelcome travelers.  Accordingly, she filed a counter petition with the South Carolina Senate in November, 1853. (Along the Landsford Road, by Wm. B. White, Jr. Vol., I – 2008)

The Rev. Donald Scoggins reported to R&R’s founder, Wade B. Fairey, that the old Jonathan Newman McElwee – Deas Mill on

Fishing Creek was owned by his Grandfather, Mr. Levy Deas, who had originally owned the Deas Grocery Store in Rock Hill. He also worked as the yard foreman at the Blue Buckle Mill in Rock Hill prior to moving to Rambo Road to operate the mill. Rev. Scoggins recalled his mother stating she (Niven Deas) and a friend, who lived on the Rambo property across the street, Thelma Porter, often stomped cotton into the baling press at the mill complex.

On Dec. 12, 1900  the Herald reported, “on Wednesday of last week, near McElwee’s Mill, five miles south of Rock Hill, an infant was drowned in Fishing Creek.”

The Herald reported on Jan. 30, 1901 – “Mr. George Ayers, who is an experienced miller is now in charge of the McElwee Mill.”

The Herald reported on Nov. 2, 1918 – “Levy Deas and family will return to Rock Hill from Fort Mill. They will occupy a residence on East White Street.” (The 1922 City Directory lists Mr. Deas and his wife, Mittie living at 503 Hutchinson Street and listed his occupation as carpenter at the Blue Buckle Mill.)

[Another-words, using hydroponic power provided from the turbine mill, cotton was not only ginning but also pressed into bales at the mill. It also provided a hammer mill for feed stock.] Besides operating the grocery, Levy Deas was known for making taffy candy which was sold at his store. His grandson, also stated that his grandfather, had planted many of the historic Willow Oaks, which surrounded the Northside Community in Rock Hill.

Mrs. Kate J. Hutchison on March 4, 1935 – “Mr. Deas ginned two bales of cotton.”

Also see the MORE INFORMATION link below the primary image for a 1896 map of York County.

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DEAS MILL IMAGE GALLERY – 2018

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DEAS FAMILY GENEALOGY – Contributed by R&R member Steve Beaty (2017)

Descendants of Wilson Nelson DEAS

Generation No. 1

1. Wilson Nelson¹ DEAS was born 15 May 1835, and died 25 Nov 1892.  He married Mary Anne ROLLINS 15 Aug 1855.

Notes for Wilson Nelson DEAS:

http://person.ancestry.com/tree/103688989/person/150028894251/facts    …

Wilson Nelson Deas

Birth 15 MAY 1835 • Chesterfield, Chesterfield Co, SC.

Death 25 NOV 1892 • Rock Hill, York County, SC.

Children of Wilson DEAS and Mary ROLLINS are:

2               i.    Asa Jackson² DEAS, born 06 Mar 1860.

3              ii.    John Wesley DEAS, born Sep 1865.

+     4             iii.    Levy DEAS, born 30 May 1874; died 30 Dec 1962.

5              iv.    Richard Birdine DEAS, born 03 Apr 1870.

 

Notes for Richard Birdine DEAS:

DOB ???????  http://person.ancestry.com/tree/103688989/person/150028894251/facts    …

6               v.    James Franklin DEAS, born 12 May 1870.

Notes for James Franklin DEAS:

DOB ?????????

Generation No. 2

4. Levy DEAS (Wilson Nelson¹) was born 30 May 1874, and died 30 Dec 1962.  He married Sarah Mittie HOWIE.

Notes for Levy DEAS:

https://www.rootsandrecall.com/york-county-sc/buildings/mcelwee-or-deas-mill-on-fishing-creek/  …Deas Mill, SC.

http://www.youryc.com/history-of-york-county   …York County History

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=55051721    … Find A Grave Memorial# 55051721

Parents:  Wilson Nelson Deas, Mary Anne Rollins

Birth:   May 30, 1874

Death:             Dec. 30, 1962

Family links:

Spouse:   Sarah Mittie Howie  (1878 – 1962)*

Children:

Lillian Jewel Deas Ferguson (1900 – 1990)*

Olin Lafayette Deas (1902 – 1988)*

Ervin Levy Deas (1905 – 1983)*

Niven Deas Scoggins (1907 – 1999)*

Loma Belle Deas (1911 – 1981)*

Buster Deas (1913 – 1991)*

Sarah Deas Moody (1915 – 2002)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Laurelwood Cemetery

Rock Hill

York County

South Carolina, USA

Plot: Section 13, lot 299

Created by: Rick and Kathy Wright

Record added: Jul 17, 2010

Children of Levy DEAS and Sarah HOWIE are:

+     7               i.    Olin Lafayette³ DEAS, born 14 Jul 1902 in Rock Hill,; died 01 May 1988 in Rock Hill, York Co, SC..

8              ii.    Ervin Levy DEAS.

 

Generation No. 3

7. Olin Lafayette³ DEAS (Levy², Wilson Nelson¹) was born 14 Jul 1902 in Rock Hill,, and died 01 May 1988 in Rock Hill, York Co, SC..  He married Cathrine Agnes RUFF.  She was born 01 Nov 1905, and died 11 Jan 1974.

Notes for Olin Lafayette DEAS:

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jtesterman123&id=I0233      …

Children

William Olin DEAS b: 17 MAR 1925 in Rock Hill, Rock Hill Co, SC.

James Ray DEAS b: 1926 in Rock Hill, Rock Hill Co, SC.

Living DEAS

Claude Levy DEAS b: 1935 in Rock Hill, Rock Hill Co, SC.

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http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=36228960   …Find A Grave Memorial# 36228960

Birth:   Jul. 14, 1902

Death:             May 1, 1988

Family links:

Parents:

Levy Deas (1874 – 1962)

Sarah Mittie Howie (1878 – 1962)

Spouse:  Catherine Agnes Ruff  (1905 – 1974)*

Children:

William Olin “Bill” Deas (1924 – 2014)*

Claude Levy Deas (1935 – 2007)*

Siblings:

Lillian Jewel Deas Ferguson (1900 – 1990)*

Ervin Levy Deas (1905 – 1983)*

Niven Deas Scoggins (1907 – 1999)*

Loma Belle Deas (1911 – 1981)*

Buster Deas (1913 – 1991)*

Sarah Deas Moody (1915 – 2002)*

Burial: Forest Hills Cemetery. Rock Hill, York Co, SC.

Plot: Section # 1

Notes for Catherine Agnes RUFF:

http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jtesterman123&id=I0173     …

Father: Ebernezer Leeget RUFF b: 30 NOV 1874 in SC.

Mother: Ida Belle SWEATT b: 1882 in SC.

Children of Olin DEAS and Cathrine RUFF are:

9               i.    William Olin “Bill”⁴ DEAS, born Bet. 1924 – 1925; died 27 Aug 2014 in Myrtle Beach, Horry Co, SC..  He married Catherine L. STRAIT.

Notes for William Olin “Bill” DEAS:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=135075022&ref=acom   … Find A Grave Memorial# 135075022

Mr. William “Bill” O. Deas, 90, formerly of Rock Hill, S.C., passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014, at Grand Strand Healthcare. A graveside service will be 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, at Forest Hills Cemetery, with the Revs. Wallace Tinsley and Dave Hall officiating. Born in Rock Hill, Mr. Deas was a son of the late Olin Lafayette Deas and the late Catherine Ruff Deas. He was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII and a member of the VFW. He was retired from Celanese with 25 years of service and was a member of Woodland United Methodist Church. He was the widower of Catherine Strait Deas and was also preceded in death by his brother, Levy Deas. Surviving are his sons, Tommy Deas and his wife, Patricia of Myrtle Beach and David Deas and his wife, Janette of York; his brother, Ray Deas of Rock Hill; his sister, Mary Ellen Whisonant of Rock Hill; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, 2014, at Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel, 2133 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill. Memorials may be made in Mr. Deas’ name to Woodland United Methodist Church, 801 N. Cherry Rd., Rock Hill, SC 29732 or to the, 1901 Brunswick Ave., Ste. 100, Charlotte, NC 28207. Condolences may be made at www.greenefuneralhome.net.

Funeral Home

Greene Funeral Home – Northwest Chapel

2133 Ebenezer Road Rock Hill, SC 29732

(803) 326-2051

Funeral Home Details

Published in The Herald on Aug. 29, 2014

Family links:

Parents:  Olin Lafayette Deas (1902 – 1988)

Catherine Agnes Ruff (1905 – 1974)

Spouse:  Catherine Strait (1929 – 2005)

Sibling:

Claude Levy Deas (1935 – 2007)*

Burial: Forest Hills Cemetery. Rock Hill, York Co, SC.

10             ii.    Claude Levy DEAS, born 1935.

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