Clifton Manufacturing Company (Spartanburg County, S.C.)

Cotton textile factory, founded 1880 by Dexter Edgar Converse and his South Carolina business associates with some northern financial support; located at Clifton (Spartanburg County, S.C.), the business began production in 1881; by 1890, a second mill, Clifton #2, had opened; Clifton #3 (or Converse) began operations in 1896 and at its closing in 1971 was the last of the three mills still in operation. There were only four presidents in the company's history: Dexter Converse (1880-1899); A.H. Twichell (1899-1916); J. Choice Evins (1916-1945); and Stanley Converse (1945-1971). The company's selling agents were Wheelwright, Eldredge and Co. (Boston and New York), and O.H. Sampson (Boston).

Located on the Pacolet River at the former site of the South Carolina Manufacturing Company iron works, the Converse Mill was destroyed in a 1903 flood that also damaged No. 1 Mill and No. 2 Mill. The company repaired the other two mills and completely rebuilt the Converse mill on higher ground. A fourth mill was added in 1949, a fifth mill for weaving was added in 1952, and a sixth mill was built in 1957. In 1965, Clifton became a division of the Dan River Mills. The Mill No. 1's plans were drawn by A.D. Lockwood, of Providence, Rhode Island, and the machinery was purchased from the Kitson Machine Company of Lowell, Massachusetts and the Saco Water Power Machine Company of Biddeford, Maine. The first mill superintendent was J. Longee, of Providence, Rhode Island, formerly at the Fitchville Manufacturing Company of Connecticut.