Town History

In 1867 seven black men, headed by Bishop Richard Harvey Cain, became dissatisfied with the treatment they were receiving in Charles Town, South Carolina, which is now Charlestown, South Carolina. They took a ride on the South Carolina Special, which was a local train, looking for sites that the South Carolina Railroad Company had for sale. They settled on a location that was called "Pump Pond" because the train stopped there to take on water and wood, and later coal and water. They signed a contract with the South Carolina Railroad to buy 620 acres of land. After they paid the debt, they applied to the Secretary of State for a charter. The Charter was granted on December 14, 1889. They named the town Lincolnville, South Carolina in honor of President Abraham Lincoln who freed the slaves.

The founders and early settlers were strong believers in God. Many of the founders and early settlers were members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. They were members of Emanuel A.M.E. Church. On November 6, 1869, Richard Harvey Cain and others signed the deed for the purchase of land for the first church in the village. In 1880 Rev. Cain joined Ebenezer A.M.E. Church to the African Methodist Episcopal denomination.