The Yorkville Enquirer reported on April 27, 1876 – “contained an ad for by James Bynum, who will start a new weekly newspaper at Rock Hill to be called the Public Benefactor.”
The YK Enquirer of July 20, 1876 reported – “We have received the first number of a new paper bearing the name of the Benefactor and issue from Rock Hill by James Bynum, Esq., Editor and Prop., The Benefactor is a very handsome two four column sheet replead with entertaining and instructive matter, and published at $1.25 per year to single subscribers.”
(The Rock Hill Herald, Sept. 23, 1930, ran a story on a planned Rock Hill homecoming. Adolphus Eugene Hutchison commented that the picture gallery display did not have enough pictures of the first generation of Rock Hillians of which he had two sets of grandparents, Capt. A. E. Hutchison and Dr. T. L. Johnston. He then contributed the following list of white and black first-generation Rock Hillians with their occupations. He defined a pioneer settler as one who came between 1850 and 1870.)
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“Lawrence Moore, farmer; J. M. Ivy, merchant; James Bynum, farmer; Lucius Sadler, P. O. and merchant; Dan Button, painter; Joe Button, harness maker; J. M. Rutland; Joe Miller, farmer; John Campbell, farmer; Sam Fewell, farmer; Mrs. Ann H. White; Thomas Woods, brick mason; Billie Marks, cabinet maker; David Gordon, hotel keeper and merchant; Sam Keisler, policeman; Jim Steele, farmer and foxhunter, former owner of Cherry’s Park; Mayor T. C. Beckham, magistrate; Mrs Eliza Steele; Miss Buena Vista Woods, Postmistress (still living); Otis Sitgreaves, merchant; James Daniels, clerk; Old Man McCloud, blacksmith; Foster Woods, contractor; Dan Williams, merchant; Miles Johnson, harness and saddle maker; J. M Russell, merchant; Col. Cadwallader Jones, farmer; Capt. Iredell Jones, farmer; William Whyte, farmer; Dr. Robert Hope, (who first announced many of us into the world); Capt. J. C. Witherspoon, farmer; Capt. L. M. Davis, merchant; John Ratteree, merchant and farmer; Capt. W. L. Roddey, merchant; Arnold Friedheim, merchant; F. H. Barber, farmer; John J. Roach, merchant; William Roach, merchant; John R. Allen, merchant; Capt. A. D. Holler, contractor; Capt. E. S. Wallace, superintendent of streets; Capt. E. B. Mobley, farmer; Mayor John R. London, merchant and cotton mill president; Ed McCosh, merchant; Ed McCosh, Jr., first to be buried in Laurelwood cemetery; Scott Owens, contractor; Mack Steele, merchant; Jeff Hagins, druggist; Dave Hagins, druggist; Joe Hagins, optometrist (still living); Dr. White, physician; John Harvey Neely, livery stable proprietor………
“Of the old time colored people and family servants I will submit the following: Dick Latta, also known as Dick Hackett, famous fiddler; Henry Toole, barber and Democrat in ‘76;9 Amelia Davie (who helped Dr. Hope with a lot of us); Jim Scott; Jim Gooch; wife, Aunt Katie Gooch; Jake Campbell; wife, Aunt Collie Campbell; John Wheat, who lived to be over 100 years old; Elias Gist; wife, Aunt Sylvia Gist, still living; Aunt Viney Wherry; Aunt Hoppie Massey; Aunt Mary Ann West; Jim Reynolds and Aunt Amelia Reynolds.”
Hutchison concluded his list with the statement, “It would give a lot of enjoyment to look upon their likenesses again.” Charles L. Cobb was chairman of the festivities; T. L. Johnston was in charge of finances ($800 proved to be adequate). G. A. Howell was responsible for boulevard lights and the red, white and blue bunting. Chester and York football teams played a game on the Winthrop College athletic field. Information courtesy of YCGHS, September 1993
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