The first group in the Salem District were cattle herdsmen. Cattle herdsmen were at the waters of Black River as early as 1750. Then came the settlers who wanted a permanent home, they planted indigo and rice on the banks of the Black River. Soon came one of the first roads in South Carolina leading to the “back country” known simply as the Black River Road.
The Salem District was settled as early as any part of Sumter County and its history developed along the same lines. Salem District citizens participated in the “Indian” wars against the Cherokee. Its members comprised are large portion of General Francis Marion’s Brigade.
Much of the story of the Salem District has been lost over time. Few of its grand houses remain and those that do are in fragile condition. The citizens of the Salem District worked hard but never were able to achieve their twin goals of having a permanent town and county named Salem. Salem District is historically significant that its history deserves to be recorded. What is written in the following pages represent some facts, traditions and stories that have survived, but so much more of Salem District history has been lost over time.
These sketches are an attempt to record as much as possible information about the houses in the Salem District, those that still exist and those that exist only in memory, and some information about the people who built them.
