Marlboro County, South Carolina

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Marlboro County, South Carolina

• Leader of this Project is Paula J
• Coordinator is Mary Richardson
• Amy F

History/Timeline

Marlboro co. logo

Pre-1000 CE.- 5% of the county population identify themselves as Pee Dee people. These peoples are the descendants of an indigenous tribe that occupied this area. They built elaborate mounds and palisaded villages. Today the South Carolina recognizes the Pee Dee Tribe of South Carolina (2006) and the Pee Dee Indian Nation of Upper South Carolina (2005), among other Native American tribes.^[1]

The Pee Dee are believed to have spoken a Siouan language, similarly to other historic tribes of the Piedmont, such as the Cheraw.^[1]

Marlboro County map.

1737 Over two hundred years ago, Welsh Neck was settled by sturdy Welsh Baptists. These were strengthened by hardy keen Scots and English. Marlboro county has notable men in politics and industry. There are mentions in its records of strange stories: "Mason Lee's Will," "Baron Poellnitz," and the "Bodiford Murder Trial," of which Duncan D. McColl has written in "Sketches of Old Marlboro."^[2]

1759 Tristam Thomas migrated from Virginia to settle in Adamsville, with grand sons, Lewis and Phimelion. ^[3]

1768 Marlboro was part of the St. David's Parish, established by the General Assembl^[3]

1769 Judicial districts were created by the legislature. Marlboro area became part of Cheraws District. This area began as part of the large "Royal" appointed county called Craven County. Craven County stretched from Santee River in the South and covering 1/2 to 2/3rds of the upper part of the State.<^{[3] [2]}

1771 Henry Easterling of Beaver Dam was a soldier of commanded by Gen. Francis Marion. ^[3]

Pre 1775 A Quaker colony came to Adamsville and built a place to worship in the house of Jonathan Marine. Pine Grove Church of current years is in this location. Following the Revolution, The Quakers felt slavery which was a fixture of the southern colonies was religiously wrong. They moved away. After this Baptists and Methodists used the house of worship. Pine Grove church of today is a Baptist church. ^[3]

Mar 12, 1785 State law formed Marlboro County, named for the Duke of Marlborough. Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England, was a gift to him from Queen Anne.^[2]

Mar 12, 1785 - Marlboro District was established by SC law and carved from Cheraw District. Later Marlboro, Chesterfield, and Darlington Districts became Counties. It received its named from John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough and ancestor of more recently known, Winston Churchill. ^[2][4]

^[5]

Early years settlers arrived, cleared the giant forests to make way for any fields and tilled the soil. This land could be bought cheaply. People raised cotton, corn, grain. One hundred years of working the soil exhausted it. ^[5]

1851 a spark in the cotton picker caused a fire which burned the factory was burned, thus the name: "Burnt Factory".^[2]

1865 - Civil War General William T. Sherman's Union Army units left Cheraw, and plowed through Marlboro County when it was heading to the last battle in North Carolina. Homes, warehouses, downtown buildings were burned in Bennettsville, SC, but the courthouse was saved, which saved the oldest county records.^[5][2]

Mar 6, 1865 Bennettsville, SC. was captured by Major General Frank P. Blair, commander of the 17th Corps. Gen. Blair occupied the Jennings-Brown House for his headquarters. general of the Union Army's 17th Corps. While here, General Blair used the historic Jennings-Brown House as his headquarters. Today, this home is part of the Marlboro County Historical Museum complex.^[5][2][3]

River bridge - where Gen Logan, (Union) and Benjamin Harrison fought the Confederates, who burned the bridge before retreating. the river bridge, Sherman built a pontoon bridge for his soldiers to cross below the site of the current bridge. "Col. Hugh K. Aiken of the 6th S. C. V. was killed here". ^[3][2]

The cemetery near Kollock, is the field where Green (union) made his camp not far from Camden. Here he was joined by Harry Lee (father of Gen robert E Lee). Green then marched to the Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina to fight Cornwallis. In this The British retreated to Yorktown and surrendered.^[3]

Mar, 1865 Stage Road- Sherman's army camped at Easterling's Mill find Sherman’s army encamped at Easterling’s mill in March 1865 (just fifty years ago), for several days. ^[6]

Next campground was near Bright, on the Stage Road (another graveyard. ^[6]

Next day they burned Dr. Easterling's house and destroyed everything the Union forces could not steal. ^[6]

1876 Gen. Wade Hampton with Col. John Harrington, led the red shirts forth - to redeem their state and property from the carpet baggers and robbers. ^[6]

http://sciway3.net/proctor/marlboro/history/adamsville.html

W S. Rowe House, Bennnettsville, SC

1883 - New York to New Orleans Stage Coach from Cheraw to the "Old Scotch Fair Ground" up in North Carolina was established. This started near the old Cheraw Hotel, which was a tavern for Stage Coaches (it is still standing).^[6]

After the Cheraw Hotel tavern, the New York to New Orleans line radiated in branch lines as connecting lines for the daily stages which left for Charleston, Charlotte, etc.. The stage lines were owned by wealthy men, who were awarded the lines with contracts. Marlboro line was owned by Haynesworth of Sumter; McLean of North Carolina and Stgall. ^[6]

After completion of the railway, the stage route ceased. The last gap was between Camden, S.C. and Warsaw, N.C. Four horses pulled the stage coaches and each coach held 8 passengers with seating facing each other. Baggage was carried either under the seats or on top of the coach. Mail was in a leather bag. The coaches ran two times/day, one coming and one going There were fresh horses every 9-10 miles. ^[6]

Everyone moved out of the way of the "Dashing Stage Coach" when the driver blew his horn (a 4-6 foot long, tin trumpet), which could be heard within 2-3 miles. Roads were narrow, so all people had to ckeep the road clear. ^[6]

Stagecoach travel was hot, dangerous, due to wrecks or bandits. Near Easterling's mills the horses jumped into a pond, causing the coach to became unhitched. Horses went one way, the coach's back wheels stuck on the dam, which dumped the passengers into the pond. Another time, the coach was crossing near a saw mill, but the water was shallow so horses could drink before crossing. The horses stepped into a hole, upsetting the coach. Two passengers drowned!^[6]

Gibson, SC was a small commercial village with Noah Gibson as the merchant. With Honesty and hard work, he acquired his wealth.^[3]

Adamsville, SC is in the NE part of our county, named this due to large % population had the name of Adams.^[3]

Jonathan Adams (Scotch Irish), a Revolutionary war soldier settled near the "Burnt Factory" after the war ended and died. Son William, was captured by Tories, tied to a tree and left him hanging. His mother was alerted by the horse arriving home, so she cut William down from the tree. This boy lived to be 100 years old, leaving many descendants.^[3]

Fletchers and Adams have intermarried to such an extent the two families go hand in hand so to speak. This began with Joshua Fletcher of Adamsville. ^[3]

1870's D.D. McColl brought the first railroad to the county during the 1870s^[5][2]

1880's - the first bank began during the 1880s,^[5][2]

1889 Captain Zachariah Jordan Drake produced 255 bushels of shelled corn, 239 bushels crib cured, on an acre, winning the prize offered by the American Agriculturist. Marlboro's great fame is as a cotton county, one of the two or three highest acreage production in the United States.^[2]

Bennettsville, old

1890's cotton mills began operating in to McColl and Bennettsville and early years of the 20th Century. Railway arrival brought more development as it was a way to transport Marlboro- cotton to markets and mills.^[5][2]

1890's McColl, Clio, Tatum, Blenheim and Bennettsville grew with mercantile stores, doctors' offices, and grocery stores. Postal service improved drastically and schools were built all across the county.^[5][2]

1892 South Carolina General Assembly enacted the dispensary law, and the state controlled liquor for 14 years. Marlboro County was already a "dry county". Marlboro counties the historic prohibition county of South Carolina. the special act created Marlboro dry all of its years as county. .^[2]

1917-18 - World War I Marlboro men fought and gave their lives in the war.

1930'sForty odd years ago people spoke of "intensive farming," Planters in this county, immediately began to intensify their productivity, by crop rotation and fertilizing the fields.. They were years ahead of other counties farmers. "Economic surveys of the Department of Agriculture show that in normal times in any well-established farming area where fertilizers are used the farmers who use the most fertilizers are the ones who on the average are making the highest profits," Marlboro, where has the "highest yields of cotton, the highest priced lands and as prosperous farmers as any part of the whole Cotton Belt," .^[2]

1941 - World War II more Marlboro men fought in the war. Palmer field was built west of Bennettsville for cadets to obtain their primary flight training. ^[5]

1946 - . - The base became the home of Powell Manufacturing Co., Inc., an internationally-known leader in manufacturing of farming equipment, tobacco harvesting, and bulk curing equipment.^[5]

1960 -early 1970's Numerous sites were identified associated with "South Appalachian Mississippian culture". which developed after 1000 CE. Similar to the other Mississippian cultures, the Pee Dee built their settlements in the form of earthwork mounds. These sites also served for religious and political ritual. ^[1]

1989 - South Carolina built a minimum-maximum security prison, Evans Correctional Institution for 1200 inmates and named for U.S. Senator Josiah J. Evans of Society Hill, who was born in Marlboro County.^[5][2]

1940s, 1950s, 1960s, more industries formed to give employment to citizens. Earlier mechanized farming had taken many jobs from the citizens. ^[5]

1950s Crooked Creek was dammed on north side of Bennettsville to form Lake Paul A. Wallace. This lake has a part for swimming, boating with a one-mile skiing channel. Also grassy terraces with white sandy beaches for swimming. The far side of the lake has a diversion dam to provide larger fishing and sailing. This is stocked and fertilized by the S.C. Wildlife Department. It is a man-made fishing lake. Portion #3 insight of Beauty spot Road for the reservoir for water system of Bennettsville's. It is also a waterfowl refuge for Canada Geese, ducks, coots, herons, mergansers. ^[5]

1900-2000's Marlboro County is represented by a Council member elected by the citizens of that district. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected each January by the Council members from the eight districts. The Chairman has full voting rights. Regular Council meetings are held the second Thursday of each month. Following are a few pictures of the old Marlboro County Courthouses.^[5]

Bennettsville, SC.

1900's-2000's Marlboro County has always been continually an agricultural economy. Legend says the land was sold by the pound rather than per acre. This county was originally classed as one of South Carolina's wealthiest counties. Today Bennettsville, SC. and Clio, SC. have many beautiful homes left from the county's gracious past.^[3]

1900-2000's Adamsville is excellent land with prosperous settlers. ^[5]

http://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/marlboro_county_sc.html

During this time, McColl, Clio, Tatum, Blenheim, and Bennettsville grew with mercantile stores, doctors' offices, and grocery stores. Postal service improved drastically and schools were built all across the county.^[2]

Bennetsville is a flourishing little city having 3,197 inhabitants in 1920. Other towns are McColl, 2,129; Clio, 1,009; Blenheim, 234; and, Tatum, 176.^[2]

Marlboro Cotton Mills owns 7 cotton mills in Bennetsville has 7 cotton mills and 6 cotton mills in McCoy. They have 46,000 spindles, and a mercerizing plant is included in the group. Bennetsville operates 2 lumber plants. Both Bennettsville and McColl paved their streets in the 1900's. Both towns have seen an unusual amount of residence construction in recent years.^[2]

Bennettsville Historical District

Government Offices

The first courthouse was built in Carlisle (named for Richard Carlisle), located north of Crooked Creek on the Great Pee Dee River.

Bennettsville Courthouse and City Hall grounds, Bennettsville In 1819 the court house of Marlborough District was transferred from Carlisle, a village on the Pee Dee River, to this more central location. Bennettsville developed around the new court house in the heart of a rich farm land area. On March 6, 1863, it was occupied by the 17th Army Corps, U.S.A., commanded by Gen. W. T. Sherman. Erected by Bennett ^[7] Early Courthouse

Early Courthouse.

1852 Courthouse

1852 Courthouse.

Marlboro County currently operates under a Council/Administrator form of government divided into eight separate districts. Each district is represented by a council member elected by the citizens of that district. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman are elected each January by the council members from the eight districts. The Chairman has full voting rights. Regular council meetings are held the second Thursday of each month.^[2]

Marlboro Co. Courthouse, Bennettsville

Geography

Borders - Pee Dee River on West, counties of North Carolina, Dillon, Darlington, and Chesterfields counties in South Carolina, lying between North Carolina and the sea.

Soils 26% - the Norfolk type, 16% is Marlboro, 7% is Congaree first bottom, and 4% is Coxville. :Growing days are 220.

Size - 519 square miles

Population, 1920, was 33,180, estimated, 1925, at 35,309.

Railroads - The county has one hundred miles of railroad and five accredited high schools. :Firstrate topsoil roads of the state and county systems connect all parts, and along the western border paralleling the Pee Dee River runs the Jefferson Davis highway, principal route from Washington to Florida, crossing the river by a steel bridge into the town of Cheraw in Chesterfield County.

Adjacent counties

• Richmond County, North Carolina - north
• Scotland County, North Carolina - northeast
• Robeson County, North Carolina - east
• Dillon County - east
• Florence County - south
• Darlington County - southwest
• Chesterfield County - west
• Anson County, North Carolina - northwest

Protected areas

• 1950s, Crooked Creek was dammed on north side of Bennettsville to form Lake Paul A. Wallace. This lake has a part for swimming, boating with a one-mile skiing channel. Also grassy terraces with white sandy beaches for swimming. The far side of the lake has a diversion dam to provide larger fishing and sailing. This is stocked and fertilized by the S.C. Wildlife Department. It is a man-made fishing lake. Portion #3 insight of Beauty Spot Road for the reservoir for water system of Bennettsville. It is also a waterfowl refuge for Canada Geese, ducks, coots, herons, mergansers.

Demographics

In 2000, 28,818 people lived in the county with population density of 60 people/sq. mi.The racial makeup of the county was 50.73% Black or African American, 44.49% White, 3.36% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 2010 United States Census showed 28,933 people with a population density of 60.3 people/sq. mi. The median income for a household in the county was $27,688 and the median income for a family was $32,485. Males had a median income of $31,170 versus $24,885 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,817. About 23.3% of families and 27.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.4% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over. ^[1]

• Railroads - The county has one hundred miles of railroad

• five accredited high schools.
• First-rate topsoil roads of the state and county systems connect all parts, and along the western border paralleling the Pee Dee River runs the Jefferson Davis highway, main route from Washington to Florida, crossing the river by a steel bridge into the town of Cheraw in Chesterfield County.

Politics
Democrats regained power in the state in the late 1800's. SC legislature passed a constitution that raised barriers to voter registration, effectively disfranchising black voters; which were the majority of the population and supported Republicans. The state legislature also imposed legal racial segregation and laws for Jim Crow and white supremacy. Disfranchisement lasted into the 1960s, until after Congress passed the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, to give the government oversight and power to enforce constitutional rights for all citizens. As part of the Solid South, the whites of the county and state used to vote overwhelmingly Democratic, giving 100% of its vote to the party in 1924. Since late 1900's, African Americans left the Republican party and tend to vote Democratic mostly. Barack Obama received 62% of the county's vote.^[1]

Cities/Towns

• Bennettsville (county seat)

• Blenheim
• Clio
• McColl
• Tatum

• • Wallace

Notables

• U.S. Senator Josiah J. Evans of Society Hill was born in Marlboro County.
• Harris R. Adams owned mill on Burnt Creek
• Claudius Pegues, a captain in the Rev., and Ordinary for Cheraw district, a Justice for Marlboro, and a member of the legislature

County Resources

• Marlboro, South Carolina genealogy and History
• Published books on Marlboro County, SC

• 1950s, Crooked Creek was dammed on north side of Bennettsville to form Lake Paul A. Wallace. This lake has a part for swimming, boating with a one-mile skiing channel. Also grassy terraces with white sandy beaches for swimming. The far side of the lake has a diversion dam to provide larger fishing and sailing. This is stocked and fertilized by the S.C. Wildlife Department. It is a man-made fishing lake. Portion #3 insight of Beauty s[pt Road for the reservoir for Bennettsville's water system. It is also a waterfowl refuge for Canada Geese, ducks, coots, herons, mergansers.
• Marlboro County Airport
• Myrtle Beach International Airport
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Notables

• Major Drury Robertson, early representatives of the county, prominent in early affairs

Census

1790 --- 10,706 —

1800 --- 5,452 −49.1%

1810 --- 4,966 −8.9%

1820 --- 6,425 29.4%

1830 --- 8,582 33.6%

1840 --- 8,408 −2.0%

1850 --- 10,789 28.3%

1860 --- 12,434 15.2%

1870 --- 11,814 −5.0%

1880 --- 20,598 74.4%

1890 --- 23,500 14.1%

1900 --- 27,639 17.6%

1910 --- 31,189 12.8%

1920 --- 33,180 6.4%

1930 --- 31,634 −4.7%

1940 --- 33,281 5.2%

1950 --- 31,766 −4.6%

1960 --- 28,529 −10.2%

1970 --- 27,151 −4.8%

1980 --- 31,624 16.5%

1990 --- 29,361 −7.2%

2000 --- 28,818 −1.8%

2010 --- 28,933 0.4%

Est. 2016 --- 26,945

Cemeteries

• FindaGrave cemeteries
• Marlboro County Cemeteries
• Hometownlocator Cemeteries of Marlboro county, SC

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Space:Marlboro_County%2C_South_Carolina
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19} http://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/marlboro_county_sc.html
3. ↑ ^{3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12} http://sciway3.net/proctor/marlboro/marlboro_history.html
4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlboro_County,_South_Carolina
5. ↑ ^{5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14} http://www.marlborocounty.sc.gov/History/Pages/index.aspx
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8}
7. ↑ http://peedeeheritage.tripod.com/marlboro.html#16-1

• https://archive.org/stream/ahistorymarlbor00thomgoog/ahistorymarlbor00thomgoog_djvu.txt
• http://genealogytrails.com/scar/marlboro/
• http://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/marlboro_county_sc.html
• http://bennettsvillesc.com
• http://www.marlborocounty.sc.gov/History/Pages/index.aspx
• Marlboro County Airport
• Myrtle Beach International Airport
• Charlotte Douglas International Airport
• Clio Airport