Union County, South Carolina

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Union County, South Carolina

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• Coordinator is Mary Richardson

History/Timeline

Union Co., SC.

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Union County Mural.

Pre-1700's Before white settlers came to this area currently known as Union County, the Cherokee Indians claimed it as their hunting grounds.. Evidence has been uncovered of the Cherokee living in parts of the County. Early grants for the county describe Indian cabins. ^[1]Arrowheads were easily found throughout the count until recently. ^[2]

1749 Settlers migrated to Union from Virginia to settle at Fairforest Creek, the Pacolet and the Tyger Rivers. They settled in the NW part of the county near a small river that would later be named Fairforest Creek. According to tradition, a member of the party looked out at the thick woodlands, saying "What a fair forest!". In these times, wild buffalo, horses, even panthers and cougars who were called tigers or "tygers" .. This is where the Tyger River received the name..^[2]Three-fourths of the settlers were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians families soon migrated down from Virginia and Pennsylvania to the upcountry tosettle near Brown's Creek and Cane Creek. ^[1][2][3]

1754 The early settlers established Fairforest Presbyterian Church, the first house of worship in Union County. Around 1754, the Brown's Creek area was first settled, 4 miles NE of Union, SC. They built a log church or meetinghouse. Many denominations shared this since they could not afford separate buildings. At that time the county and county seat were originally named Union Church. ^[2]

1755's Quakers arrived to settle the southern part of the county, with their Cane Creek Church in the tiny Santuc community and Padgett's Creek church in the Cross Keys community. By 1800 the Quakers left the area due to their opposition to slavery ^[2]

1759 Rev. Philip Mulkey brought Baptists to Broad River from North Carolina, and formed their Fairforest Baptist Church in from North Carolina in Fairfield County, SC. By 1762, the Baptists had moved into Union County. Now many Baptist churches in the upcountry can claim Fairforest Church as their origin. The original church and congregation can be found currently on Hwy 18 between Union, SC and Janesville, SC. ^[2]

1763-1776 Jeannette M Christopherm a county historian has reported the largest migration into Union County area. Upon arrival, newcomers built their log cabins, cleared the river and creek bottoms as well as area for fields. Then they planted the first tobacco, flax, corn, wheat and other grains for local food as well as something for the animals to graze. At that time there not many slave owners. ^[1]

1765 Settlers built the old Union Church in Union County area near the town of Union, SC, the county Seat. Faiths ofwhich was used for Methodist, Episcopal, Baptist and Presbyterian congregations in the area. When later Union became a county, it is thought to be named for the old Church. ^[3][1]

Gen WH Wallace house, where Pre. Davis dined

1776-79 During the first part of the American Revolution this backcountry was fairly quiet. Battles of Musgrove's Mill (August 18, 1780) and Blackstocks (November 20, 1780). Some of the Revolutionary leaders were Thomas Brandon (1741-1802) and Joseph McJunkin (1755-1846) were from Union County, ^[4]

1780- After the Fall of Charleston, the British turned their attention to the Carolinas. Five five battles were fought in the Union County area such as: Musgrove Mill, Fishdam, and Blackstock with hero such as Lt. Col. James Steen. Revolutionary war divided citizens between Loyalists and Patriots. Some churches split in loyalty, settlers moved out of the area, and personal property belonging to both sides was damaged. ^[1]

Aug 18, 1780 the Battle of Musgrove Mill occurred near the Entree River. This was at a meeting poing of 3 counties, Spartanburg, Union, and Laurens Counties. The other battle sites were Fishdam Ford and Blackstock Battlefield. ^{[4] [3]}

Waymarking, Battle of Musgrave Mill

1785 - Union County was created as a part of Ninety Six District. After the war Unionville and its courthouse was built. ^[2][4][3]

1791-1800 Union County area was part of Pinckney District. ^[3]

1791, the South Carolina Legislature established a district court that included Spartanburg, Union, Chester, and York counties. The area was called the Pinckney District and its headquarters was established at a central location in Union County. Land was cleared and streets were laid out for a new town that would be called Pinckneyville. A courthouse and jail were built for the new judicial district and a college planned for the town, plans for the United States Military Academy to be built here in Pinckneyville, which lost to West Point by one vote in the US Congress. Next legend was Pinckneyville was considered as the site for a federal arsenal. ^[2]

Pinckneyville Courthouse

1799-1800's the General Assembly restructured the state court system. Pinckney District was abolished; with the loss of the court and associated businesses, Pinckneyville became a ghost town.^{[2] [1][4]}

1812-1814 Cross Keys House was in the Cross Keys community. ^[2]

Cross Keys House

1823 - Stores and other businesses began in the town of Union and a new courthouse and jail were designed for the town in 1823 by famed architect Robert Mills, designer of the Washington Monument. The courthouse was demolished in 1911, but the jail is still standing and in use by the City of Union. It is located beside the present courthouse, constructed in 1913.^[2]

April 20, 1861a strange object appeared in the sky near Kelly-Kelto, SC of NE Union County. The Enterprise, (large hot air balloon) landed there. Pilot was Professor T.S.C. Lowe, who had left Cincinnati, Ohio the day before. He tried to fly from Ohio to Washington, D.C., however winds swept the balloon southward into South Carolina. Locals gathered around the balloon, wanting Lowe to be "shot on the spot", They felt the Professor was a Northern spy. Professor gave the "Masonic distress sign" , so SC Masons saved him. He made it back and actually began working for the Union Army on aerial reconnaissance projects. ^[2][4]

The northern part of Union co. area was settled by small time farmers or smaller scale planters who owned less slaves. Union County area grew steadily and stayed mostly economically devoted to cotton and agriculture. ^[2]

Thomas Cary Duncan, founder of the Union and Buffalo mills, began his own railroad company with the purpose of connecting Union and Buffalo mills with the rest of the State.. Hundreds of families moved to Union from North Carolina and Tennessee to work in these cotton mills.^[1][4]

Rose Hill Plantation and Park

1862 -Secession governor William Henry Gist (1807-1874) made his home at Rose Hill Plantation in Union County, has become a state park ^[4]

^[4]

1862-65 During the Civil War the county ceased growing or progressing. Many county local young men enlisted in the Confederate Army and numerous units of Union County soldiers served on battlefields across the South. ^[2][4]

1865 - Confederate President Jefferson Davis came through Union County after Richmond fell in 1865. He and the military unit crossed the ferry at Pinckneyville to Union, SC, where they dined with William Wallace at East Main St. in Union SC and Cross Keys house in SW Union County prior to his capture in Georgia. ^[2]

1868-1870's Reconstruction- sharecropping and tenant farming began to take the place of slavery and provide a consistent labor force. Union County's is much the same as allof the South during these years. Union County had extensive Ku Klux Klan violence during this time . ^[4]

SC Plantation

Flint Hill Plantation.

Late 1800's South Carolina General Assembly formed a district court in the upper part of the county in Pinckneyville, SC (a new town). It began near the crossing of the Boad and Pacolet rivers. All felt Pinckneyville would become the "Charleston of upstate SC. Thus the planners named the streets the same as streets of Charleston. Pinckneyville had a post office, inn, jail and settlers, but never grew into the anticipated size of "Charleston" Eventually as it shrank, the court was moved to Union, SC. It is now a ghost town with some old buildings and courthouse.^[1][4]

1890 The Industrial Revolution hit the county. Local businessmen and Northern industrialists began investing in Union County textile mills.^[2]

Lockhart, SC

1894 -The first cotton mill was built at Lockhart . A second was built in Union, SC, and in Janesville, SC. ^[4]

Thomas Cary Duncan, a pioneer capitalist and industrialist, began the Union and Buffalo mills, was known as Union County's pioneer capitalist and industrialist. He began his own small railroad company to connect Union and Buffalo, aptly named the Buffalo & Union-Carolina Railroad. Hundreds of families moved to Union County from North Carolina and Tennessee and spent their lives working in these cotton mills.^[4]

Union Co. Jail

1894-to 1900 Union County's industrial base is diverse, including the manufacturing of ball bearings, felt products, bath products, cordage, metal forgings, textile fiber, woven goods, finished textile products, and paper pulp. There also are machine shops and metal fabrication facilities.^[4]

1897 Union County lost the upper part of its land when Cherokee County was created. Draytonville and Gowdeysville townships were removed from Union County for this creation. ^[3][2][4]

Buffalo Cotton Textile Mill

1900- a mill was built west of Union where Buffalo began to grow around the mill. Workers, lived in company-owned housing and obtained their food and other household goods from the company store. Many workers came from the mountains of North Carolina, where farming was difficult, needing employment.^[2][4]

1900's improvements were made in the city of Union, SC with new businesses along the Main Street and throughout the county. Roads were being paved. The automobile was introduced..^[2]

1917-18 World War I, Union County was the only county in the United States not to have a draft. This was due to the volunteers filled the draft quotas.^[1]

1930's Great Depression the mill villages had problems when the pay decreased for the workers. Farmers still could grow what the consumed, and suffered less than city or town citizens.. The federal government bought large part of poor quality land in southern Union County to create the Sumter National. This was a Work Program. Much of the land was overworked and exhausted. Other government programs like the CCC, PWA, and WPA helped Union County residents find work. Government money improved the county's water, sewage plants and public roads. ^[2]

1941 - Union County natives enlisted in the Second World War. Cotton production and agricultural acreage decreased.

1944 Fifty-three% of this Union County became "forest land." The automobile changed the lifestyle of mill workers. They could live other areas and drive to work, rather than living near the mill villages. ^[4]

1946-50's new industries to the county, such as Torrington and Sonoco began.

1950's Union County’s has a diverse industry, such as the manufacturing of roller bearings, felt products, bath products, cordage, metal forgings, textile fiber, woven goods, finished textile products and paper pulp, as well as machine shops, and metal fabrication companies. ^[1][4]

Carnegie Free Library.

1955 the U.S. 176 bypass (Duncan Bypass) was built. Other road improvements were done later. Union, SC's businesses, such as shopping centers and restaurants were built on the Bypass became the center for much of Union's new business, including shopping centers and restaurants.^[4]

1970- county's economy remained 94% textile-related.

1980s many of Union County's textile industries began closing and moving to other countries. The final departure of the textile industry was complete by the 1990s and this left a hole in the county's economy and cultural identity. In recent years, new specialty industries have taken the place of agriculture and textiles; two things that characterized the early history of Union County Union Co.

1984 work on a four-lane connector to Spartanburg began which would become the Furman Fendley Highway (U.S. 176).^[4]

map of Union County.

1991Although Union County has no interstate highway, it does have a four-lane road to Spartanburg County..^[1]

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

1998 & 1999 Walt Disney Company opened an outlet store for Disney products. 1999 it opened a 500,000 square-foot worldwide distribution center on the Furman Fendley Highway north of Jonesville. ^[4]

Union, SC, the county seat, is the largest municipality, with a population (1920) of 6,141, increased by suburbs to 11,000. Its industries are cotton and hosiery mills, cannery, creamery, cotton oil mill. Several smaller towns and villages are in the county, among them Jonesville, 1,209; Carlisle, 376; Lockhart, Buffalo, and Santuc. :Carolana History

Union county' has 6 large cotton and 2 hosiery mills, all using more cotton that the county produces. There are manufacturings, and several large water power grids to provide electric power for industries, cities, towns, and homes. Two railroads cross Union county, the southern Railway and the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (milage there in Union County. Additionally 2 intra-county short railways connect them.. This results in being 24 hrs from New York, 14 hours from Cincinnati, and 6 hours from Charleston!^[4]

Government Offices

1823 -1911 a new courthouse and jail were designed for Union, SCin 1823 by architect Robert Mills, designer of the Washington Monument. The courthouse was demolished in 1911.

Pinckneyville Courthouse

1911-1913 Union County Courthouse –. The Courthouse, a neoclassical two-story brick and concrete building. The center of government in Union County.

Union County Courthouse

1970's - the building was restored. The building features beautiful curving staircases, a courtroom with balcony and a unique indoor fountain, is located on West Main St..^[5]

Geography

Soil is rich for cultivation. It is of fifteen distinct varieties from

Residual upland

Union Co. in SC.

Alluvial river and creek bottoms soil

Cecil sandy loam predominates

Cecil clay loam predominating.

Crops -cotton, corn and other grains, various forage crops, and truck.

Growing Season - 210 days or longer

Cattle, hogs, poultry are increasing, Livestock can be raised, but need shelter and short winter feeding.

With the varied industries of the county and adjacent territory, a ready market is provided for truck and farm products. Cattle, hog and poultry raising are on the increase. On account of the long growing season, a minimum of 210 days but often much longer, livestock can be raised at a good profit, requiring little shelter and short winter feeding.

Location - on thePiedmont Plateau of South Carolina-

Mountains -40 miles away are the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Rivers/Creeks Union County is surrounded by rivers,

Pacolet River on the north

Broad River on the east

Enoree River on the south

Union County is crossed by Tyger river and many smaller streams

Elevation - 500 to 700 feet

Climate is ideal for a year-around home, the winters being short and mild and the summers pleasant and never oppressive.

Adjacent counties

Protected areas

Demographics

Union County residents are loyal to state and country both in American Revolution, Civil War and currently. The area is 492 square miles, or 314,880 acres; the population (1920) is 30,372, estimated 1925 at 30,632, less than one per cent being of foreign birth.^[4]

• Union County is located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 29,881. *Its county seat is Union.
• The county's Carnegie Library was named Best Small Library in America by Library Journal for 2009.

• There are four accredited high schools in the county and a public school is in easy reach of all. In education, as in road building, Union County has made marvelous progress in the past few years.

• Farm and domestic demonstration agents are employed and their services are offered to new settlers. Union County invites, and is inviting to, the home seeker. Its situation in the heart of a great textile center means continued industrial development. Its level and slightly rolling lands, well drained and productive, to be had at reasonable prices, mean profit. These advantages added to au excellent geographical location and a splendid climate appeal to those in search of a year-round home of health, happiness, and profit.

• 800 miles of public roads, 250 miles being of modern topsoil variety, some of which will soon be hard surfaced. Crossing the county are the great Appalachian and Calhoun highways.
• Union County has a 4 lane road to Spartanburg, not paved. (no interstate highway) a new four-lane was completed in 1991 to Spartanburg County.

Cities

• Union Union (county seat)

Towns/Census Des Places/Uninco Communities

• Carlisle
• Jonesville
• Lockhart

Census-designated places

• Buffalo
• Monarch Mill

Unincorporated communities

• • Cross Keys

County Resources

• Wikipedia National Register of Historic Places, Union South Carolina
• Union County, SC Museum

Carnegie Free Library.

• Walt Disney Company opened a 500,000 square-foot worldwide distribution center on the Furman Fendley Highway north of Jonesville. The company opened an outlet store for Disney products at the center in 1998.
• Secession governor William Henry Gist (1807-1874) made his home at Rose Hill Plantation in Union County, now a state park.
• Rose Hill Plantation, state park
• Rose Hill

Rose Hill Plantation and Park

Notables

• Confederate generals States Rights Gist (1831-1864)
• William Henry Wallace (1827-1905).
• Secession governor William Henry Gist (1807-1874) made his home at Rose Hill Plantation in Union County, now a state park., (States Right)
• John Duff, (c. 1759 or 1760 – June 4, 1799 or 1805),a counterfeiter, hunter, salt maker, judge, cattle thief, and Revolutionary War soldier.
• John William Pearson, born in Union County on January 19, 1808

Land Grants

• Early land grants in the county are described as containing Indian cabins.

Census

1790 --- 7,693 —

1800 --- 10,237 33.1%

1810 --- 10,995 7.4%

1820 --- 14,126 28.5%

1830 --- 17,906 26.8%

1840 --- 18,936 5.8%

1850 --- 19,852 4.8%

1860 --- 19,635 −1.1%

1870 --- 19,248 −2.0%

1880 --- 24,080 25.1%

1890 --- 25,363 5.3%

1900 --- 25,501 0.5%

1910 --- 29,911 17.3%

1920 --- 30,372 1.5%

1930 --- 30,920 1.8%

1940 --- 31,360 1.4%

1950 --- 31,334 −0.1%

1960 --- 30,015 −4.2%

1970 --- 29,230 −2.6%

1980 --- 30,751 5.2%

1990 --- 30,337 −1.3%

2000 --- 29,881 −1.5%

2010 --- 28,961 −3.1%

Est. 2016 --- 27,673

Cemeteries

• Findagrave Cemeteries, Union County, SC
• Genealogy Trails Union co. Cemeteries
• LDS Cemeteries in Union County, SC
• Rootsweb Union County Cemeteries

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10} http://www.unionsc.com/page/140004376/140012214/History-of-Union
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} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_County,_South_Carolina
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5} http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tqpeiffer/Documents/Locations%20-%20USA/County/Union,%20Co.,%20SC.htm
4. ↑ ^{4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22} http://www.carolana.com/SC/Counties/union_county_sc.html
5. ↑ http://www.unionsc.com/home/140004376/140004376/Images/Union%20County%20Historic%20Sites.pdf

• http://www.unionsc.com/page/140004376/140012214/History-of-Union
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_County,_South_Carolina
• http://genealogytrails.com/scar/union/
• http://www.worldcat.org/title/union-county-heritage/oclc/49496980

• Findagrave Cemeteries, Union County, SC
• Genealogy Trails Union co. Cemeteries
• LDS Cemeteries in Union County, SC
• Rootsweb Union County Cemeteries