Greenville, South Carolina, began as Cherokee hunting grounds. In the early 1770s, Richard Pearis, a trader from Virginia, acquired about 100,000 acres from the Cherokees. He did this partly through his relationship with a chief’s daughter. Pearis built the Great Plains Plantation along the Reedy River. The property included mills, stables, and a trading post. During the Revolutionary War, Pearis supported the Tories and their Cherokee allies. Patriot forces responded by burning his property and imprisoning him in Charleston. Pearis did not return to the area. Paris Mountain is named after him.
After the American Revolution, South Carolina took control of the former Cherokee lands. The state gave this land to Patriot soldiers. In 1786, the legislature created Greenville County, named for General Nathanael Greene. Thomas Brandon became the first official owner of what is now Greenville, buying 400 acres in 1784. Lemuel Alston later bought Brandon’s land and expanded it to over 11,000 acres. Alston tried to name the area Pleasantburg, but the name did not last. The area continued to be called Greenville Courthouse.
In 1815, Vardry McBee, a tanner and merchant from North Carolina, bought Alston’s land for $27,557. McBee was often away but helped Greenville grow by donating land for schools, churches, and businesses. He supported the building of mills and factories. These efforts helped Greenville develop into a community. The area also became a summer resort. Visitors stayed at places like the Mansion House and visited sites such as the Reedy River, Caesar’s Head, and Table Rock…