The Parksville Story – As Told by a Descendant
By Met Rogers
A Southern Legacy Rooted in Family and Land
I was raised with stories of Parksville—not just as a town, but as a birthright. On my mother’s side, my family helped build this place from the ground up. Long before I was born, my ancestors laid the foundation of Parksville, South Carolina, with their hands, their faith, and their grit.
Parksville isn’t just a spot on the map—it’s the oldest town in McCormick County, established around 1826. Nestled along the edge of Clarks Hill Lake, it may be small in size—just 467 acres—but it’s mighty in pride. The people here are close-knit and fiercely loyal. We might argue among ourselves now and then, but let an outsider come in with opinions? You’ll see just how united we really are. That pride runs deep. It’s not spoken—it’s felt.
My family’s connection to this place began with my great-great-great-grandfather, William Lewis Parks, who, on March 1, 1820, purchased two tracts of land totaling 325 acres—one from Sanford Robertson and another from Nathan Fortner. He settled on the west side of what is now Route 28. There, he built a home, started farming, opened a store, and essentially became the heartbeat of a budding community.
His store wasn’t just a place of commerce—it became Parksville’s first post office in 1826, and William served as the first postmaster. Later, he became the town’s first railroad agent. His vision and leadership turned that single structure into the nucleus of a town. He wasn’t alone—men like General Patrick H. Bradley and R.H. Middleton joined him in the push to bring the Augusta and Knoxville Railroad through Parksville, a massive achievement considering the hardship and scarcity following the Civil War.
In 1882, thanks to the vision of men like Col. W. Jasper Talbert and the hard work of surveyor W.H. Yeldell, Parksville was officially incorporated. Streets were laid out, homes were built, businesses opened. A town was born from hope, recovery, and the determination of families like mine.
The Baptist Church—then Calliham’s Mill Baptist Church—played a pivotal role in shaping Parksville’s moral foundation. Under the leadership of Rev. G.W. Bussey, it moved closer to town and changed its name to Parksville Baptist Church. That same moral compass influenced the town charter, which banned the sale of alcohol for 99 years—a condition led by the Baptists and included in the incorporation bill.
When I walk the land here now, I feel my family beneath my feet. Their sweat, their values, their legacy—it’s all still here. Parksville isn’t just where I’m from. It’s who I am.
When my wife and I decided to put down roots, it didn’t take long to know where we wanted to be. While my heritage is deeply planted in Parksville, we chose to make our home just five minutes down the road in Plum Branch.
Plum Branch gave us room to grow—space for our family, our animals, and our dreams. There’s something special about raising our child surrounded by the same red clay and pine trees my ancestors walked. We’re building something new here, but it’s rooted in something old, familiar, and deeply loved.
Being close to Parksville lets us honor the past while shaping the future—right here in the land that’s always been home.
-Met Rogers