Cowpens Museum and Historical Committee

05/11/2026

When Cowpens Was Called Hampton

Before Cowpens became the town we know today, there was a serious effort to establish a new railroad community here under another name, Hampton.

In November 1877, newspapers advertised the “Sale of Lots at the Town of Hampton” at what was identified as “Cowpens Station, S.C.” The advertisements promoted Hampton as being located halfway between Spartanburg and Gaffney City along the Air Line Railway. Promoters described the area as ideal for industry, agriculture, and tourism, pointing to nearby springs, fertile lands, railroad access, and “a water power equal to any in the world.”

The proposed town was named Hampton in honor of Wade Hampton, a former Confederate lieutenant general who had recently been elected governor during the turbulent Reconstruction era following the Civil War. Hampton was one of the most influential political figures in South Carolina at the time, and naming the town after him reflected the political atmosphere and changing leadership emerging across the state during Reconstruction’s aftermath.

Just weeks later, a travel writer visiting the area gave a firsthand description of Hampton during the land sale festivities. Despite the ambitious advertisements, he wrote that Hampton existed “on the paper map only,” and that the only things standing there were “the hewn frame of a depot and one shanty.” He described crowds arriving by train for the public auction and the “Grand Southern Barbecue,” gathering in what he called “the wilderness” to imagine what the future town might become. But while developers and railroad promoters pushed the name Hampton, many local residents never fully accepted it.

One of the clearest accounts came decades later from Mrs. J. E. “Ida” Waters, one of Cowpens’ earliest citizens. Interviewed in 1954 at the age of eighty six, Mrs. Waters recalled moving to Cowpens as a child when the town was still young and undeveloped. Speaking about the effort to call the town Hampton, she explained:

“We held our own for Cowpens, and just kept on saying Cowpens.”

Her memory offers a rare firsthand glimpse into how the town’s identity was shaped, not just by maps and advertisements, but by the people who lived here. Even when Hampton appeared in newspapers and land promotions, many locals continued using the older and more familiar name tied to the Revolutionary War battlefield nearby. In time, the name Cowpens prevailed.

Today, the only visible reminder of the old Hampton name is Hampton Street, the short street connecting W. Church Street and School Street.

These early newspaper advertisements and personal recollections preserve the story of a forgotten chapter in local history, when the future town of Cowpens was briefly known as Hampton before residents themselves helped ensure that the historic name Cowpens endured.

Special thanks to Brad Steinecke, Assistant Director of Local History at the Spartanburg County Public Libraries, for sending a copy of the December 8, 1877 edition of the Port Jervis, New York “Evening Gazette,” which included the traveler’s firsthand account of the Hampton land sale and barbecue.

04/24/2026

We’ve got something special available at Town Hall!!

These commemorative tags are now for sale for $30 each or four for $100. They were made by the South Carolina Department of Corrections and are a limited run, so once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Created for the 250th anniversary of our nation, all proceeds will go to support the Cowpens Depot Museum.

The blue tag is a remake of the original bicentennial tag created by the Cowpens Bicentennial Committee. The other design is a reproduction of the South Carolina car tag used during the bicentennial celebration.

If you’ve been wanting a piece of Cowpens history, this is a good one to grab.

04/11/2026

Only 3 tickets left!!!

Step back to the Revolution with light refreshments , stories, and fun at the Cowpens Tavern—history like you’ve never seen!

04/09/2026

Only 9 tickets left!! Don’t miss out!!!!

Step back to the Revolution with light refreshments , stories, and fun at the Cowpens Tavern—history like you’ve never seen!

04/08/2026

16 tickets left and filling up quick!! If you’ve been thinking about it, now’s the time. It will be a great evening at the depot.

Step back to the Revolution with light refreshments , stories, and fun at the Cowpens Tavern—history like you’ve never seen!

03/21/2026

Next in our series is James William Brown, the fourth and thirteenth mayor of Cowpens.

Serving from 1903 to 1904 and again from 1916 to 1917, James William Brown was part of one of the families closely tied to the town’s early growth, the son of Randolph Ridgely Brown and a key figure in the operation of the Cowpens Manufacturing Company.

As superintendent of the mill, he oversaw its day to day operations at a time when it stood at the center of life in Cowpens. The mill provided steady work for local families and helped shape the town into the community it would become.

In addition to his work in the mill, Brown was also involved in local business. Records show him serving as president of the Cowpens Mercantile Company, reflecting his role in the commercial life of the town as well.

He passed away in March 1934 at the age of 56 after a brief illness. He was survived by his wife, the former Marguerite Cochran, his daughter, and several brothers, including Ben Hill Brown, who went on to serve as mayor of Spartanburg.

James William Brown’s life reflects the kind of leadership that helped shape early Cowpens through industry, business, and public service.

Stay tuned as we continue sharing the history of Cowpens’ mayors.

03/19/2026

Continuing our look at the mayors of Cowpens, today we move ahead to the town’s third and tenth mayor.

Elbert Oscar Webster was born December 8, 1866, in South Carolina.

In 1894, Webster was part of one of the earliest business ventures in Cowpens, joining S. B. Wilkins and W. B. Potter to form S. B. Wilkins & Co., a general merchandise business that would later become the foundation for what generations knew as Potter’s Store.

After leaving that partnership, Webster went into the mercantile business on his own, continuing his role in the commercial life of the growing town.

As Cowpens developed, he became more involved in civic life. He served on town council and held the roles of clerk and treasurer, while also working as cashier of the Bank of Cowpens. He also served on the Cowpens school board, taking part in the development of the town’s early education system.

By 1902, he had announced as a candidate for mayor and ran unopposed. He would go on to serve from 1902 to 1903.

Webster was one of the incorporators of the Cowpens Cotton Oil Mill Company, placing him directly in the center of the town’s early cotton industry. The oil mill was part of the system that supported the mills and surrounding farms, processing cottonseed and helping drive the local economy.

He also represented Cowpens and Clifton in meetings tied to a proposed rail line between Spartanburg and Gastonia, which was never completed as planned.

More than two decades later, he returned to office, serving again from 1924 to 1925.

He passed away on January 21, 1957, at the age of 90 and is buried in Cowpens Cemetery.

Stay tuned for more as we continue highlighting the mayors of Cowpens.

03/14/2026

Every now and then something happens at the Depot that reminds us why preserving these stories matters.

Today Tim Elam and his wife Kelly stopped by the museum hoping we might have some information about Tim’s father, Raymond Elam, who served during World War II aboard the USS Cowpens CVL 25.

Tim shared that his father passed away in 1972 when he was only 12 years old, so he never really had the chance to learn much about his time in the Navy.

As we looked through the material we have on the Cowpens, we were able to learn that Raymond Elam served in S-1 Division. Before long we were also able to find a photograph of him with his division aboard the ship.

Being able to show Tim the photograph and point out his father among the crew was a pretty special moment. It’s a reminder that the photos, records, and artifacts we keep here aren’t just pieces of history. They are connections to people and families whose stories are still being rediscovered today.

We were glad Tim and Kelly stopped by the Depot, and it was an honor to help share a small part of Raymond Elam’s story.

03/12/2026

Continuing our look at the mayors of Cowpens, today we take a step back to one of the men who helped shape the town during its early years of growth.

Randolph Ridgely Brown was born April 14, 1847 near the site of the Pacolet Mills in Spartanburg County. He was the son of William P. Brown and Milbry Jones Brown and the grandson of John Brown whose family came from England to Virginia before later settling in Spartanburg County.

As a young man he served about a year in the Confederate army during the War Between the States, first as a private and later as a corporal. After the war he entered the mercantile business in Union County in 1868 before turning his attention to agriculture, manufacturing, and the growing textile industry in the Upstate.

He married a daughter of James Wood of Pacolet and together they had four sons. Their sons were James, the oldest, who served as superintendent of the Cowpens mill, John Brown, Isaac Brown, and Hill Brown who later became a lawyer and served in the South Carolina General Assembly.

In 1889 he became president and treasurer of the Cowpens Manufacturing Company, the cotton mill that would become one of the driving forces behind the growth of Cowpens. Through his energy and management the mill became a success and helped bring jobs, families, and development to the town.

In addition to his work in manufacturing Brown was active in banking and public affairs across the region. He served as vice president of the Merchants and Planters Bank in Gaffney and was a director of the First National Bank and the American National Bank in Spartanburg.

He also took a strong interest in public affairs and served as the second mayor of Cowpens from July 1, 1901 to June 30, 1902.

Randolph Ridgely Brown died at his home in Cowpens on January 17, 1921 at the age of 73 after suffering a stroke several days earlier. He had been ill since the previous June but remained a well known and respected citizen of Spartanburg County.

Randolph Ridgely Brown is buried in Cowpens Cemetery.

Stay tuned for more posts about the mayors of Cowpens.