Caroleen Mill-The Beginning

Steve Harrill writes: “William H. Harrill (better known as ‘Talking Billy’) was my great, great grandfather and sold the land to Henrietta Mills to build the Caroleen Plant.” He sent along these artifacts.

An oval photo of William H. Harrill, and old man with a long white beard, and his wife Drucilla, and an image of the letter transcribed below.

From S.B. Tanner, Sec’y and Treas. The Henrietta Mills, Cotton Manufacturers

To W.H. Harrill – March 15, 1894

Dear Sir.

In accordance with our agreement which we made in the trade for land and shoals near Gaithers property at Burnt Factory, we hereby grant you the privilege of subscribing for twenty two hundred and fifty dollars stock, in case we build a mill on said property, provided you subscribe before the work begins. We also grant you the privilege of using the pasture, for pasturing purposes only, described in a deed dated March 14th 1894, made by W. H. Harris & wife to the Henrietta Mills. The latter privilege shall expire whenever the property may be wanted by the Henrietta Mills for any other purposes.

You are also to have the rent due on the place for the year 1894.

The Henrietta Mills
by S. B. Tanner, Treas.

Steve is descended from a long line of Harrill’s. He grew up in Rutherford Co. and graduated from Chase High in 1971. He lives in Salisbury, N.C. with his wife Robyn, and teaches music at Pfeifer University.