Glenn Springs, SC (now called Glendale ?) and the mill on Lawson,s fork of the Pacolet River

2011-09-16T08:01:00.000-07:00

Spartanburg County was formed in 1785 as a part of the Ninety-Six District, then was part of the Pinckney District from 1791-1799. The county was named for the Spartan Regiment which was a local militia in the Revolutionary War. Cotton was a major agricultural product of the county as was cattle raising.

In 1825, John B. Glenn bought the land and opened an inn.

http://library.sc.edu/blogs/newspaper/2011/08/09/glenn-springs-south-carolina/

The springs took its name from Mr. Glenn. His inn was so popular that in 1835 stock was sold to help build a large hotel on the land. The hotel was known for its elegance and comforts as well as its water. Small cabins and a bottling facility were also built around the inn. The bottles water was even kept in the cloak rooms of many congressmen until the 1940s when the hotel burned. Unfortunately, it was never rebuilt. At one point near the turn of the century, there was even a railroad that took patrons from Roebuck, then called Becka, to the inn.

Like two sisters out for a long stroll, the Pacolet River and. Lawson’s Fork set out on parallel courses in a southeasterly direction. through Spartanburg Co.

http://glendalesc.com/report108.pdf

Joseph Buffington, attracted by the water power available at the shoals of Lawson’s Fork of the Pacolet River, developed an iron works in 1773, quickly lost his claim to William Wofford who assumed the operation of the business. In 1778, Wofford sold a major share of the enterprise, and it became known as Berwick’s Iron Works. The works were a major feature of the Spartanburg district at the time of the Revolutionary War, and a battle was fought at the site. The plant was destroyed in 1781. The Old Georgia Road crossed Lawson’s Fork at the Shoals (upper) and led to increased settlement including the large plantations of William and Littleton Bagwell.

 The mill closed in 1961. It was partially used for warehouse space and small manufacturing concerns until it was destroyed by fire in 2004. The current owner (Glyn Morris) had developed plans for conversion to condominiums and retail space, but work had not begun. Remaining on the site are the Victorian mill office, the dramatic stone foundations, two brick towers, and two smoke stacks. One of the two remaining towers at the site of the Glendale Mill The dramatic shoals of Lawson’s Fork Present. The Glendale community centerson the beautiful shoals of Lawson’s Fork, the mill dam, and a historic iron bridge now closed to vehicular traffic. The old company store building houses the Masonic Lodge and U.S. Post Office. The mill houses climb along narrow streets to the old Methodist Church, Baptist Church, and fire station at the top of the hill. Across the iron bridge are a few remaining structures of a small historic commercial district. Just to the west of Glendale is the Spartanburg Country Club area, and prestigious subdivisions such as Oak Creek, Glenn Forest, and Calhoun Lakes are nearby. To the east, the Lawson’s Fork threads its way through a steep canyon to the Pacolet River. Much of the old lake has silted in and is overgrown with vegetation.

By Dudley Brown

dudley.brown@shj.com

 The Spartanburg Area Conservancy (SPACE) owns 13 acres of land near the mill site (across the river), andis establishing the site as a riverfront park. In 2005, the Palmetto Conservation Foundation (PCF) entered into discussions with the United Methodist (UM) Church, which had discontinued the church in Glendale, and with the mill owner regardingthe six-acre flood plain. PCF is developing the Glendale Outdoor Leadership School (GOLS) that uses the church property and the donated flood plain. Initial funding was provided by the Mary Black Foundation and the Spartanburg County Foundation. The mill office and three acres of surrounding property including the dam and shoals below the dam have been donated to Wofford College for the development of an Environmental Studies Center. Stake Holders • American Institute of Architects (AIA) • Glendale Residents • Mary Black Foundation • Palmetto Conservation Foundation • Spartanburg Area Conservancy • Spartanburg County • Spartanburg County Foundation • Spartanburg School Districts 3, 6, 7 • Spartanburg Water • State of South Carolina • Urban Land Institute (ULI) • Wofford College GOLS at former Glendale UM Church property Questions and Next Steps Are recreation and natural beautyenough to attract people to Glendale? Would it be too ambitious to dredge out the lake and restore the reservoir? New condominiums on the mill site? Use towers and smokestacks for climbing? How can Glendale’s heritage best be preserved and used to stimulate revitalization? Will a “destination” bed and breakfast be successful?How best to make a kayaking destination out of the reservoir, dam, shoals and “blueway” to Pacolet?Restore old iron bridge? Water tower? Iron works?What further collaborative efforts among PCF, SPACE, and Wofford?

The eastern Spartanburg County Glendale Greenway will include 10.5 miles of paddling trails on Lawson's Fork Creek and the Pacolet River and make both more accessible to kayakers and canoeists while flowing through historic textile communities. "It's exciting because it's so worthy of the momentum going on because of the history and scenic beauty," said Mary Walter, executive director of SPACE.  Both bodies of water are popular destinations for kayakers and canoeists, but neither has been easy to access. The paddling trail will add six put-in and take-out areas to make the waterways more accessible. Three will be in Glendale and three will be downstream, including spots in Pacolet and Clifton.  "I think it's going to be a historic moment," Pacolet Mayor Elaine Harris said. "A lot of changes are happening, and folks across the state will be coming to our area for recreation and learning."  George Fields, interim director of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation's Upstate office, said the work is part of the foundation's $550,000 project in Glendale, which included the foundation moving its office to Glendale.  Fields said the greenway project should be complete within 18 months, adding that the budget includes money for cleaning the river, clearing put-in and take-out locations and having work done on the dam near the former mill.  Fields said a study already has been conducted to determine the best kayaking and canoeing routes down falls near the dam in Glendale. The steep falls would be thrilling for kayakers, but few people have ridden down it because there is no easy access to the river above the falls. The trail has one Class 3 rapid, and Fields said the falls could be considered Class 3 or higher.  Glyn Morris, who owns the land the former mill stood on, has donated some of his land to Wofford and the Palmetto Conservation Foundation for the project. Wofford owns the office the mill used, and the college will use it for an environmental studies center starting next year.

1792-1795: Book D, page 33: To William Ussery from West Harris, land near waters of Buck Creek. Wit: Philip Ussery, Samuel Ussery, and James Morris.

1795: Deed to William Jordan from William Ussery, 200 acres near waters of Little Buck Creek. Wit: Joseph Morris, Larkin Bethel.

From Paul Sarrett-
In 1683 the province of present day South Carolina, consisted of four counties:

Berkeley, (From Indian Lands, discont'd 1797
Carteret, (From Indian Lands, renamed Granville 1700
Colletion, (From Indian Lands, discont'd 1897
Craven, (From Indian Lands, discont'd 1785
By virtue of the treaty of Royal Gov. GLENN and the Cherokee Indians in 1755, the greater portion of what was called "Up-country" [West half of the State] South Carolina was ceded to the "whites." In 1769, the four counties in this area were divided into seven "Judicial Districts" and the original territory of present-day Spartanburg County became a part of the old District of Ninety-six. In 1785 the county of Spartanburg was officially organized. In 1788 South Carolina entered the Union as the eight state. Later in 1897 the Northeast part of Spartanburg County was used in part to form Cherokee County.

Summery of dates and research area.
1683 to 1754 look in Craven District Carolina Colony
1755 to 1767 look in Cherokee Indian Lands, Colony
1768 to 1779 look in old Tryon Co., NC.
1769 to 1784 look in old Ninety-six Dist. SC.
1785 to 1896 look in Spartanburg Co., SC.
1790 Census look in Ninety-six Dist. SC. Reel 11, Pg. 18-44
1897 today look in Cherokee Co., SC.

TRYON County, NC. 1768 to 1779
To compound the problem of researching early Spartanburg Co. A lot of records were "Recorded" in North Carolina. After the "French & Indian War" ended in 1763, the second attempt was made to draw the (North & South) boundary, of the Carolinas. This time the surveyors began at 34 degrees 49 minutes North and were to draw the lines so that the Catawba Indian Reservation would be entirely in "South Carolina." The surveyors were too far south and stopped at a spot which is now at the right angle separating Lancaster Co., SC. and Union Co., NC.
In 1772 they tried again. Using the old "Sailsbury to Camden road the survey party headed North and crossed "Sugar Creek" at the Northern corner of the "Catawba Indian Reservation." General William MOULTRIE, who headed the South Carolina surveyors. At latitude 35 degree 8 minutes, Gen. Wm. MOULTRIE reported that the survey teams representing the two colonies set their compasses together and began their "westward" course. When the survey was completed and accepted in London, South Carolina had "gained" the 11 miles West of the Catawba River that it lost in 1763 on the East side of the Catawba River. Henceforth, the Northern part of Spartanburg and York Co., would be called the "New Acquisition."

In 1768 Tryon Co., NC was created from the western part of the larger Mecklenburg Co., NC. and extended westward as far as the state existed in 1768. (to the Mississippi River, including present day Tennessee.) not only did TRYON consisted of part of Burk, Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln, part of McDowell Polk, Rutherford, all of North Carolina. but all so part of Spartanburg, and small parts of Chester, Greenville, Laurens, and York Counties all of South Carolina.

The boundary line between North and South Carolina had not been established at that time, so quite a number of land titles were registered in Tryon Co., NC. which proved to be, when the boundary line was surveyed westward to the Indian line in 1772 to be in South Carolina.

When Tryon Co., NC. was dissolved, in 1779, it was divided into Lincoln and Rutherford Counties in North Carolina -- Lincoln being in the eastern portion, from the Catawba River to a line with-in the present day Cleveland Co., NC.

Rutherford Co., NC. was created from the western portion of Tryon Co., NC., from a line of Lincoln Co. westward to the limits of the state, which extended westward even to the Mississippi River in the years of the Revolutionary War and after.

Burke Co., was created in 1777 from the western part of Rowan Co., and the southern boarder was the old Granville Tract line, which was a straight westerly line parallel to the Virginia state line.

Parts of Burke and Rutherford west of the mountains, were taken to create Buncombe County in 1791. This being the first time a western line had been set to the counties, as they were created in the westward movements. When the state of Tennessee was established in 1796, this western line of Buncombe County became the eastern boundary of that state.

Small parts of Rutherford and Burke were taken to form McDowell in 1842, also part of Lincoln and Rutherford to form Cleveland Co., in 1848.

Polk County was formed in 1855 from the "Polk District" of Rutherford Co., and a very small strip of mountain side which had been added to Henderson Co. only a few years earlier, making the western line of Polk Co., be along the old Buncombe Co., line set in 1792.

One of my "Branch" member of Spartanburg Co.
In of my forefathers lived on the same property, but it was found in four different jurisdiction. In March 1771, land was Surveyed for 250 acres for father Samuel, SARRATT/SURRATT, age 63 and 200 acres for his son Samuel, SARRATT, Jr., age 29 and on 14 Nov. 1771, they, both received Land Patent No. 3195, Grant No. 410 and Patent No. 3187, Grant No. 63 from the Colonial North Carolina Government, when JOSIAH MARTIN was Governor. This was land identified as on the "West side of the Broad River", of Tryon Co., North Carolina. Both Samuel'S probably had entered prior to the 1771 Survey, because it was customary for persons to improve land by erecting some kind of a dwelling to live on prior to filing their Grant. When this survey and Grant was issued 1771, this land was then in the jurisdiction of the Colony North Carolina. In the boundary dispute between the two Carolina Colonies in 1772, which was called the "New Acquisition" and residents of this area were forced to re-register their property with the Colony South Carolina. This property was then located in the Nintey-Six District of South Carolina (formed 1769) Then in 1785, it became part of the Spartanburg Co, South Carolina. Later when Cherokee Co. was formed in 1897 from Spartanburg, Co.
Paul R. Sarrett

also here is a letter written in 1937 concerning the Prince family of SC. Remember that part of SC used to be in NC, so that you may have a birth in NC which would actually be in the SC territory today.

http://showcase.netins.net/web/sellerfamily/idalia.htm

Lynn Sellars has also found the following letter from Isaac Sellers of Cornelia, GA to his brother, John P. Sellers of Spartanburg, SC. It is presented here exactly as written.

Cornelia, GA Apr. 9th 1937
Mr. Jno. P. Sellers
Spartanburg
S C
Dear Bro.
I am writing to let you know we are all well, & hope you all the same. May was down here about 3 week ago and carrid us down to see Mary She had been very bad off with Rheumatism but was some better then.
You remember we was talking about tracing our kin back to Revoultionary War when you was over here the last time So Ola & any of the rest of our girls could join the D. A. R. Society, and since then Ola wrote to the Media Research Bureau. at Washington City & got the history of the Prince and Sellers which Says Capt. Asa Prince of Mass. & Capt Sylvanus of Va. and Frank Prince and Liutenent Thomas Prince of S. C. fought in the war. And it says the given names of their Sons was John Richard Thomas Isaac Joseph, Job, Nathen, Benjamin, Samual, James and Robert, & evidently Frank or Thomas was our great Grand Father and which ever it he was, James (Grand Pa) and Uncle Joseph Prince
It does not Name the Girls names. Now do you supose their is any record at Pendleton of the wills of these Men naming their Children or where their wills was probated. Grand Pas toomb Stone at Hazel Church Says Grand Pa was born 1781 and died Nov 1863 and was 82 years old and Grand Ma born 1789 and died Nov 12, 187(illigible). The war ended in 1781 So I figure Frank or Thomas was our Great Grand Father. Let me know what you think about it.
The Sellers history Says Names of the officers who was in the war was Lutenant John Sellers of Pa. The given names of the Sellers families was Samuel Thomas Adam John Paul Philip Hans Henry Peter and Jacob So I figure that Lt. John Sellers was our Great Grand Father and that his son John was our Grand Father and that Uncle John Sellers Uncle Coona & Pa and Uncle Uncle Jake & Ephriam was Grand Pas Sons and Aunts ------------ Christopher and ------------ Dave Sharp and Aunt Sarah Sellers was the Girls There was Several amigrants came from England but they was (illegible) English but 2 Germans & thir Familys came and landed at Philadelphia and one went to Mayorland and one went up the State the State of Pa and Settled in 1737 at a place called Francona Pa his name Phillip Henry Sellers. and he was the Father of 11 children Linwood, Phillip Henry, John, Paul, Peter, Jacob Elisabeth Margarett & Mary So John must have been the one who Served as Lutenant in the War and the Father of Grand Pa Sellers and Says one Sellers Marred a Christopher and a Schnider (Snider) There seems to be Several ways of spelling the names but have been boild down to Sellars and Sellers.
Now all the rest of the Familys but this one Settled in other States, the one that come with our Great Grand Father left Pa & went to Mayorland when you answer this give me our Aunts given names Aunt Christopher & Sharp you need not write so much as I have but say what you think
Your Bro
I. T. Sellers

Sellers and Morris family descendants at Homewood,Elyton,and Shades Valley near Birmingham AL

Glenn Springs, SC (now called Glendale ?) and the mill on Lawson,s fork of the Pacolet River