Along the Enoree River there were a number of ferries and bridges. Soon after his arrival from Virginia, the enterprising John Henderson secured a franchise in 1805 to erect a toll bridge and establish a ferry near his home. Henderson and his family maintained the franchise throughout the antebellum period, and his descendants still own the plantation on he Enoree. Up the river from Henderson's, Aaron Cate secured the right to operate a ferry in 1809. Later Jesse Wadlington took over this ferry. It was located near the present bridge known as Brazzleman's. In 1837 Jesse Maybin was authorized to erect a toll bridge on the river near Littleton's old ferry landing and presumably near the present Keitt's bridge. Marcus Littleton had been allowed to establish a ferry or bridge near his plantation in 1805. Near present day Whitmire at Hendrick's ford, General Starling Tucker built a bridge over the Enoree in 1824. On the Tyger River which separated Union and Newberry districts, there were two bridges, one established by David Sims and the other by Eli Gordon. These ferries and toll bridges were integral parts of the early road system. Those in existence in 1820 may be seen on Marmaduke Coate's Map of Newberry District of that year which was revised for Robert Mills' Atlas. On the smaller rivers such as the Enoree, Tyger, Bush and Little, and on the larger creeks such as Indian, Beaverdam, Duncan's, Cannon's and Heller's there were numberous mills located near the fords. Speaking of the Bush and Little rivers in 1826, Robert Mills called them "two beautiful streams, both extending up into Laurens (the latter even to the courthouse) and both navigable for some distance; 90 feet wide, and capable of improvements considerably higher up. They furnish at present admirable mill-seats; Bush River particularly which now has 9 or 10 mills on its banks, all in this District." He termed the roads "tolerably good; bridges and ferries but indifferent." ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com