Abbeville South Carolina

Abbeville, South Carolina, is a historic city that serves as the seat of Abbeville County in the state’s upstate region. Established in 1785, the city’s origins are deeply intertwined with the broader formation of its namesake county, which was carved out from the expansive Ninety-Six District, a colonial division known for its pivotal role in early American history. The naming of Abbeville is a nod to the French town of Abbeville, a tribute to the French Huguenot influence in the area, as these settlers were among the early European inhabitants seeking refuge from religious persecution. Abbeville, SC, is renowned for its well-preserved architecture, historic downtown area, and as a key site in the prelude to the Civil War, encapsulating a blend of natural beauty, historical depth, and cultural richness within its geographical and historical landscape. In January and November of 1872, and again in January 1873, fires devastated the county courthouse, leaving behind only the records of the probate and equity courts intact.

Biography of John E. Ball

JOHN E. BALL. One of the progressive farmers of Howell County, Missouri, is John E. Ball, who was born in Abbeville District, S. C., in 1850, a son of James Wilburn and Mary (Mosley) Ball, who were born in the Palmetto State November9, 1817 and 1807, respectively. About 1859 they came to what is now Clay County, Arkansas, by wagon, and there the remainder of their lives were spent, she dying in 1865 and he in 1872. They were farmers by occupation and for some time during the Civil War the father of the subject of this sketch served in … Read more

Slave Narrative of Rosa Starke

Interviewer: W. W. Dixon Person Interviewed: Rosa Starke Location: Winnsboro, South Carolina Date of Birth: 1854 Age: 83 Occupation: Farm work, hoeing and picking cotton. Rosa’s grandfather was a slave of Solicitor Starke. Although she has had two husbands since slavery, she has thrown their names into the discard and goes by the name of Rosa Starke. She lives in a three-room frame house with her son, John Harrison, two miles south of Winnsboro, S.C., on the plantation of Mrs. Rebecca V. Woodward. She still does farm work, hoeing and picking cotton. “They say I was six years old when … Read more