The earliest ferry established on the Saluda in present Newberry County was that of Samuel Kelly and John Milhous in 1768. Successively it was operated by Russell Wilson and Andrew Lee, by Nancy Lee, by John W. and William Lee, and then by John W. Lee until 1813. In that year, the heirs of David Bates were given the franchise, and in 1827 it was awarded to Carey C. Mitchell. In 1837 John McNary took it over and continued to operate it during the rest of the antebellum period. At the mouth of Rocky Creek, Philemon Waters, son of Thomas, was allowed to establish a ferry in 1788. This was at the point where the line separating Ninety Six and Orangeburg districts crossed the river. This ferry was vested in John Holly in 1829 and continued to be his until the Civil War. On the Broad River, Ruff's ferry was the first above the district line. Established in 1770 by Martin Shirer, it was operated successively by Minor Winn, Richard Strother, Joseph McMorries, and George Ruff. Daniel Hughey later operated it until the War. About four miles upstream from Ruff's ferry, a ferry was established by William Netterville in 1800. It was subsequently owned by Philip Pearson and John Morris. The most important ferry on the Broad was established by William Lyles in 1796; it connected the road from Newberry to Winnsboro and became known as Ashford's ferry in 1807. The Ashford family thereafter operated it for many years, and the road leading to it from Newberry Courthouse is still referred to as the Ashford Ferry Road. Another ferry was established within the county on Broad River at Lyles' ford. Ephraim Lyles was granted this franchise in 1813. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com