Nathan Barnett (1852-1908), son of Sumter County merchant Benjamin Barnett (1826-1897) and Zelda Barnett (c.1830-1882), took a job in 1883 as a traveling salesman with Charleston tobacco and cigar house Myers, Edel, & Co. By 1885, Barnett was living in Manville, South Carolina, where he established himself as a general merchandise store Nathan Barnett & Bro. Nathan’s younger brother, Isaac (1858-1927), helped run the store and worked as a farmer.