The Iron Works


(Photo courtesy of Charles Hammett)
Public speakers and newspapers began, during the 1930's, to call Spartanburg "The Old Iron District"- for the first iron works in the State were erected in it, on Lawson's Fork, in 1773; and forges and small furnaces were operated at several places in it, during the years immediately following the Revolution.  On branches of Tyger River, Michael Miller, Samuel Nesbitt, William and Solliman Hill, and the Galbraiths had forges.  William and Sanford Smith had a forge on Dutchman 5 Creek, and were famed gunsmiths.  William Clark and William Poole operated on branches of the Pacolet River. But the organization of two strong companies, in the early 1830's, established the preeminence of Spartanburg in iron production. In 1856 Spartanburg had four of the eight important furnaces in the State.

Iron ores, limestone, forests, and water power were the essentials of iron production; and all of these occurred close together in that section of the county which justified calling it "The Old Iron District."  As a matter of fact, York was, almost equally with Spartanburg, entitled. to the appellation.  The heart of the iron beds lay within the area on each side of Broad River between the North Carolina line and Smith's Ford.  Within the iron district lay a part of Union County, practically all of Cherokee, a small strip of the present-day Spartanburg, and a wide strip of York. The ores were of several varieties. In the same area were quantities of limestone for fluxing, quartz rocks and beds of fire clay for furnace-building, as well as extensive forests to furnish charcoal; and all these in combination furnished a basis for a great industry. Added to these advantages was the situation on the Broad River and its tributaries, which supplied unlimited water power for operating machinery, and supplied a means for transporting the product to market.

Magnetic and specular ores in inexhaustible quantities were found on the west slope of Kings Mountain, extending into York, Union, and Spartanburg.  The magnetic ore was commonly called "gray" ore, and made the best iron for bar iron or castings; the hematite ore was commonly called "brown" ore, and, although somewhat inferior in quality, was more abundant and cheaper.  It was made usually into pig iron. The ore was not mined, but was dug from the surface.



In 1773 Joseph Buffington, iron master, erected a bloomery here on on Lawson's Fork because he found  water power, iron ore, and abundant forest lands -all necessary to iron production. He also met with encouragement from the inhabitants, who were glad to be able to buy pots and pans and farm implements at home, and equally glad to find a cash market for their wood. Almost every farmer had a pit for burning charcoal to sell at the iron works.

The lands Buffington bought and leased for his plant lay in the region claimed by North and South Carolina before the running of the boundary line in 1772, and he had much trouble about his titles, for William Wofford had established his claim to the iron works tract on the basis of North Carolina grants. Buffington apparently operated with borrowed capital, and soon lost control of the iron works, which became known as Wofford's Iron Works, and kept that name in popular speech until burned by Bloody Bill Cunningham during the Revolutionary War in November 1781. After that it was for a time called the "old iron works."
In 1776 Buffington borrowed more than 6,000 pounds from the State to complete his plant. William Henry Drayton and many local patriots of influence endorsed his request for this loan, because they knew that iron goods were necessary to the conduct of war.  It is noteworthy that, at this and other iron works built later in Spartan District, weapons and ammunition were manufactured for use in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the War Between the States.

In 1778 William Wofford sold a three-fourths interest in the iron works built by Buffington to Simon and John Berwick and Charles Elliott of Charles Town, and for a brief time the name "Berwick's Iron Works" was used. The record of when the works were rebuilt and how Buffington regained control of the plant has not been found, but in 1785 an act of the legislature ordered the sale of Buffington's Iron Works, to satisfy the unpaid debt on them. Possibly at this sale William Poole acquired the works, for there can be little doubt that this same site (which is today Glendale) was that of Poole's Iron Works.

The iron industry continued on at Glendale even after the coming of the textile mill. It did not end until after the Civil War. A large cupola furnace at Glendale was used during the War to make bowie knives, swords, shot, shells tools and all sorts of special equipment. Other iron industry plants in the Upcountry were also involved in making supplies for the Confederate war effort. At the end of the War, iron making was discontinued at Glendale. This important industry had served the Upcountry for over 90 years and through two major wars.

Today, the iron industry and its contribution to the state of South Carolina is almost forgotten.

(Above from WPA “A  History of  Spartanburg County” )
 

 

 

(Click on cover for larger view.)

Junior History Press has a new book that gives a fresh insight about the importance of the Iron Works and the atmosphere around it during the Revolutionary War. The book is "Spirit Up the People - Four Days to the Cowpens". This book details the events of the battle and the days leading up to it. The Iron Works plays a prominent part in the book. Col. William Washington and 80 of his American cavalrymen were at the Iron Works the day before the battle having their horses reshod. With the approach of Tarleton and the British army, Washington and his men had to flee to rejoin Morgan and his army.

One of the main characters of the book lives closeby the Iron Works. Her name is Mary Corn and her grandfather Johnathan Corn is a blacksmith and works at the Iron Works. When Washington and his men had to leave suddenly to join Morgan, he asked Johnathan to go with him to finish shoeing the horses. Johnathan took Mary with him to operate the bellows for his forge. Mary and Johnathan wind up being eye witnesses to the Battle of Cowpens.

More information about the book, including sample pages and ordering details can be found on the Junior History Press web site at http://juniorhistory.com

This web site has been started as a public service to share the story of Glendale. The web master and person to contact about putting information on the web site is Mary McKinney Teaster.  Contact her at:
marylee@glendalesc.com or by telephone at (843) 873-8117. See more information about Mary and her Glendale connection at Mary McKinney Teaster.