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Town of Calhoun, South Carolina Oral History Collection

BishopM Cassette 1, Side 1

Media

Part of Interview: Bishop, Mamie Morgan

Title

BishopM Cassette 1, Side 1

Source

Mamie Morgan Bishop Interview

Date

1989-08-07

Description

Cassette 1

Side 1

00:07: Mrs. Bishop was born in Calhoun in 1896, but spent most of her life in Seneca, SC. Her father was originally from the area around Six Mile, but also spent most of his life around the Seneca area.

1:21: Mrs. Bishop's grandfather was known to be one of the early settlers of the Calhoun area. His name was Robert F. Morgan. His wife was Melissa Cannon Morgan. They lived on the Shiloh Road; the house they lived in still stood as of 1989. Robert was a farmer and a surveyor. He also was a veteran of the Civil War. It was believed that he came to Calhoun by way of the Blue Ridge Railroad. In fact the original home-place in Calhoun was very near where the railroad ran. He owned a significant amount of land. He had a great number of children though his wife died at a young age. His daughters helped raise the remaining children. He owned a number of slaves before the war; Mrs. Bishop is unaware of where they went when the conflict ended.

12:01: Her father J.D. Morgan ran a general store in Calhoun with several business partners over the years. Mr. Morgan would visit Calhoun from Seneca every week; he left day to day operations to his partners. Her father also ran share cropping operations with black renters in the area. Mrs. Bishop can recall several black families: Jamison's, Ellis's, Preston's, and Earl's.

20:00: Her parents were Jefferson Davis and Netty Morgan. He was born around 1862.

21:25: Megginson is interested in who owned the Calhoun store building before her father established his business. Mrs. Bishop is unaware. Megginson states that his research shows that Dr. O.M. Doyle built the building in 1893.

25:50: Megginson asks about her impressions of Calhoun. She states that it was a grand place. She dated Clemson cadets and went to ballgames and enjoyed the famous ice cream. There was a popular meeting spot at a well between the station and her father's store. In the mornings people would met at the post office.

28:00: Mrs. Bishop cannot recall if the railroad depot was ever in a different location than it is now (1989).

29:09: The interview moves back towards the local cadets, and entertainment. A popular place for dancing was actually located above her father's store. She was never allowed to dance by her father; he never thought it proper.

30:30: Audio ends.

Rights

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives.