Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-07-10

<SSSE$S$$$$S
JAMES NJ. IVY.-FRoM A PHoToGI
ed successful and prosperous business for
three years.
In 1867, he conceived the idea Of seeking
another and wider field for the exercise Of his
business tact and energy, and upon investiga-
ton decided that Rock Hill afforded rare fa'
cilities for opening and developing the mer-
camille business. Accordingly, he establish
ed and organized at Rock Hill, in that year,
the firm of Ivy, Roach & Jones, and left the
Rock Hill house with his partners, giving his
own personal attention to his business at Beat
ties Ford, but making occasional visits to
Rock Hill.
In June, 1869, after the death Of Major
Conner, he closed out his business in North
Carolina, and purchased his present home in
Rock Hill, returning with his family to his
native State, to seek his fortune amid the fa'
miliar scenes of his boyhood and among the
friends of his youth. On the 1st of January,
1870, the well.known firm of j. M. Ivy &
Co. was formed, composed Of j. M. Ivy, John
j. Roach and R. T. May. Allen Jones retired
from the firm of Ivy, Roach & Jones, but was
re-admitted in 1872, to the firm of j. M. Ivy
& Co., upon the retiring Of Messrs. Roach and
May. The firm of J. NJ Ivy & Co. has been
continued, with Allen Jones as partner, un'
til the present time.
In 1877, the firm Of Ivy & Fewell was es-
tablished, the business of the two houses be.
ing so distributed-as at present conducted
that the latter has charge of the department
of general merchandise, and the old firm of
j. M. Ivy & Co., transacting cotton, fertil-
izer and banking business. And it may be
here remarked that in all the firms above
mentioned, Mr.. Ivy has devoted to cotton
its purchase and sale-his personal attention,
while exercising general control over other
branches of the business.
At an early date, he introduced into his
section the feature of dealing in futures. He
began his purchases by this method as early
as 1872, and has continued to study, improve
and develop the system, until it is now
reduced to, comparatively, a state of COM
pleteness. By his plan Of operations, he has
handled, with wonderful tact, sagacity and Sc,
curity, something near twenty thousand bales
each season his purchases not being confined
to Rock Hill, but extending to all the sur
rounding markets, including Charlotte, York.
Vile, Chester, Lancaster, and recently enteT
ing the Columbia market During the buyy
season he employs four or five regular buyers
in other markets besides Rock Hill. |
1t is the system of selling in advance, and
purchasing to cover, and purchasing and SELL
ing to cover, that has enabled him to deal so
largely in spot cotton, and with, comparative
ly, perfect security. As result, he is ena-
bled to continue always in the market, and
never compelled to say-"We are not buying
to-day"
He was the first buyer in his section to
afford to planters the facility they now possess,
of selling their crops at remunerative prices
in advance-to be delivered in the Fall-thus
ensuring the planters against the fluctuations
of the price of the staple and rendering their
transactions in cotton also safe.
Some have supposed that his large pur'
chases and heavy transactions imply very
reckless speculation. This is mistake. He
never holds or carries cotton, nor does he
"store" it, but always sells Immediately upon
arrival. AS result of his dealings, the ship
ments of cotton from Rock Hill, before he
engaged in business there. amounted to not
more than two thousand bales. Now the
shipments amount to twelve thousand bales
annually.
Another feature of the system in the con-
duct of business which he introduced at Rock
Hill, is known by the common term of"quick
sales and short profits" while to him is also
due the idea of Offering inducements to conn-
try merchants. BY all these means combined,
added to spirit of accommodation, liberali-
ty, and confidence in those of his customers
worthy of it, he has contributed, more than
any other man, to the growth and develop
ment of the thriving town Of Rock Hill.
Besides his enterprise as merchant, ne
has never failed to be among the first in all
that concerns the public welfare. He has
shown iberality, charity and public
spirit excelled by no man in the community
in which he resides He contributed literally
to aid in the building Of the Episcopal church
of Rock Hill, and has given generously to all
other churches and charitable associations.
He has ever shown disposition to aid all
who have sought to advance themselves.
With this feeling and for the convenience OF
the public generally, he established, or rather
resstablished, the drug store under the name of
wv & Robertson. He assisted mainly in es'
tablishing the Lantern, under the editorship
of Gen. Johnstone Jones, in 1872, and when
that paper, through its successive changes OF
names and editors, was about to collapse, in
1877, he assumed editorial control himself,
and under his management the Rock Hill
Herald is we'll known, not only by the entire
State press, but is a welcome visitor to large
nrn,bor of raodnre in our county