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The Poston Preserve
Our Founding Story & Family Legacy
Few families can trace their surname from a 17‑century English hamlet all the way to a modern GPS pin on Google Maps—but the Postons can...
The Poston Preserve is a private, family-owned wildlife and nature sanctuary located in Manning, South Carolina.
Spanning acres of open fields, wooded trails, and the scenic Dragonfly Pond, the preserve reflects generations of stewardship by the Poston family—direct descendants of Andrew Poston, founder of Poston, SC.
Its landscapes provide a haven for native plants and animals while preserving the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the region.
More than just a piece of land, the Poston Preserve is a living connection to South Carolina’s history, maintained with care to ensure its wildlife, ecology, and legacy endure for years to come.
Old-Growth Hardwoods & Freshwater Ponds
From the shaded woodlands to the open grasslands and tranquil waters of Dragonfly Pond, the Poston Preserve is home to diverse habitats that support a variety of wildlife. Each season brings its own beauty, offering visitors a glimpse of South Carolina’s natural heritage.
Wildlife & Nature Preservation
Preservation and stewardship are at the heart of the Poston Preserve. Every path, pond, and meadow is maintained to balance the needs of wildlife with the care of the landscape, ensuring the property remains vibrant and healthy for future generations.
From ancestor John Poston’s 1722 tax line in colonial Pennsylvania to Andrew Poston’s 1914 railroad depot that put our name on the Florence‑County map, every generation of Postons has traded sweat for opportunity. Today, Dr. Harold Chalmers Poston, Jr., his wife and his two sons steward the Preserve - keeping the Poston name right where it belongs. Right here in the LowCountry. South Carolina. God's country. Home.
Shropshire, England → Chester Co., PA → Great Philadelphia Wagon Road → Marion (now Florence) County, SC → the unincorporated community of Poston.
Along the way, one Andrew Poston left such an imprint on the Pee Dee backcountry that the railroad stop—and eventually the whole town—borrowed his last name. Today that dot on the map is more than a fading whistle‑stop; it’s living testimony to grit, river mud, and one very stubborn family tree.
John ¹ Poston,
the Immigrant (c. 1700s)
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Sailed from Liverpool and shows up in Chester County, Pennsylvania tax rolls by 1722.
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Early land patent: 274 ½ acres straddling the Octoraro Creek.
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DNA isn’t in yet, but paperwork screams Shropshire.
John ² & Margaret
(Baldridge) Poston
By 1766 the second‑generation John sold the Pennsylvania farm, loaded a Conestoga wagon, and rumbled down the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road with his kids—landing in what was then Marion District, SC. Among those children were John ³ and Anthony ³ (often mis‑remembered as Andrew). Tradition said “John & Andrew”; the records shout “John & Antney.”
Anthony ≠ Andrew
Family gossip swapped Anthony’s name for Andrew sometime in the 1800s. The paper trail—even Anthony’s own son Hugh’s 1838 Bible—uses Anthony. So when you read that “two brothers, John and Andrew, came from England,” mentally correct it to John and Anthony.
Planting the Town
Hugh Poston (b. 1791) farmed the Great Pee Dee bottoms and raised 11 kids. His son Andrew Poston (1829 – 1916) became a land‑owning rail advocate. Local lore—and the Florence Morning News clipping Wikipedia cites—credits Andrew’s depot deal with sparking a boom that led CSX’s predecessor to label the siding “Poston.”
Generation | Lifespan & Role | Quick Facts |
|---|---|---|
John ¹ Poston | Early 1700s – ? | Immigrated from Shropshire → PA land patent. |
John ² Poston & wife Margaret Baldridge | 1719 (Ireland) – >1766 | Sold PA farm, led wagon train south. |
Anthony ³ Poston | c. 1760 – <1830 | “Antney,” not Andrew; Marion Dist. settler. |
Hugh ⁴ Poston | 1791 – 1846 | Pioneer farmer on Pee Dee; 11 kids. |
Andrew ⁵ Poston | 1829 – 1916 | Depot promoter; town of Poston named. (Wikipedia) |
Lawrence Chalmers ⁶ Poston | 1886 – 1930 | Columbia businessman; relocates family to state capital. |
Harold Chalmers ⁷ Poston | 1919 – 1977 | WWII era; built Poston reputation in Midlands. |
Harold Chalmers ⁸ Poston Jr. | 1954 – present | Navy Veteran. Lifelong outdoorsman; Owner of Poston Preserve. |
Eric Chalmers ⁹ Poston | 1987 – present | Fortunate son. |
