Martin Luther Marchant, Sr.
- Title
- Martin Luther Marchant, Sr.
- birthday
- 14 August 1832
- Birthplace
- Eutawville, S.C.
- Death Date
- 22 January 1897
- Occupation
- Textile mill operator and farmer
- Biographical Text
-
M.L. Marchant was born August 14, 1832 in Eutawville, S.C. — a small town roughly halfway between Columbia and Charleston.
Richardson's History of Greenville County, South Carolina states: "For more than half a century the name of Marchant has stood out in the Greer community of Greenville County as a beacon light pointing to business success and professional integrity. Back in the days of the War Between the States Martin Luther Marchant was engaged in the manufacture of cotton for the Confederate army at the Batesville mill, located only a few miles from the present town of Greer. He and his wife, Mary (Smith) Marchant, were the parents of a family of boys who were to play a conspicuous part in the building of Greer."
He had come from Graniteville, the state's premier cotton factory, to work at Batesville, one of the oldest. By the beginning of the Civil War, M.L. was running the mill. During the war, he pushed the mill's operation to its top capacity producing fabric for confederate uniforms.
In January 1864, he bought 576 acres of land 22-18 for $7,000. That land is due east of Saluda, SC, about a quarter of the way from Saluda to Columbia. In March of that same year, he bought another 300 acres of land in Greenville County for $10,000 (deed Z-940). That land is southeast of Greenville, a bit west and slightly south of Gray Court, S.C.
In January of 1874, he purchased two lots in the new town of Greer's Depot from William Shumate for $185 (FF-352); these were lots 4 and 12 on Dickson's plat map. . These might have been the first lots sold in Greer that didn't get repossessed. Lot 12 is the triangle of land that now holds Wild Ace Pizza & Pub; lot 4 is now the parking lot behind CBT and some of the lot across from Wild Ace. In November of 1884, he purchased another small piece of land across Randall from the triangle; that plot is now CSX (P&N) railroad tracks and right-of-way.
In May of 1889, he bought lot 35 from William Shumate (VV-121); this was on the other side of the tracks, which is now part of the Victor baseball field at the corner of Park and Moore. At some point previously he had bought the rest of the field, because he sold that half to T.W. Wood in February of 1889 (YY-189).
Martin was one of the twelve founding principals of the Victor Manufacturing Company in 1895. Of those, he was the most knowledgeable and experienced in mill operations. Though he passed away before the mill opened for business, Victor Mill thrived to become a model of mill operation and, eventually, grew so large that Greer's Trade Street could have fit inside its enormous facility.
Somehow, he also kept farming and set records for cotton production. In 1890, he was the top cotton producer in the county; he picked and ginned 24 bales from 25 acres with about a bale left to be done, raised with one mule; he also raised corn, wheat, oats, and meat. "He is a great believer in homemade manure and uses it almost exclusively." In 1889, he raised 48 bales on 52 acres. (Anderson Intelligencer, Jan. 9, 1890, p.4) After he died, his wife Mary continued operation of his farm.
Martin and Mary Marchant had eight children:
• Dr. Robert Lee Marchant, 1866-1933 [married Emma Wham]
• Martin Luther, Jr. Marchant, 1868-1936 [married Sallie Leona Few, then Kathleen Morrah]
• William Wesley Marchant, 1873-1928 [married Julie Agnes Wood]
• Nancy “Nannie” Marchant, 1875-1919 [married Benjamin Few Zimmerman]
• Clara Marchant, 1878-1927 [married Malcolm Clifton “Cliff” Davenport, Sr.]
• Thomas Mood Marchant 1880-1939 [married Jessie P. Speed]
• Mary Bessie Marchant 1882-1898
• (Mary) Louise Marchant, Oct 1, 1885-Sept 25, 1959 [married Arthur Hallam Cottingham, Sr.]. She went by the nickname "Kate" as a child and through her college years.
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