Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-03-01

OF Olu lnSUrun1eQCS.
DEATH OF JAMES JEFFERYS, ESQ.
The death of this venerable citizen, which
occurred at his residence in this place, on
last Saturday, at P. NJ, removes from
our midst one who has been identified with
the history of Yorkville for the past 81
years, and who was the oldest male resi-
dent of the town.
Mr.. James Jefferys was born on the Is
land of Alderney, in the English Channel,
on the 9th of August, 1900, and was, at the
time of his death, aged 80 years months
and IS days. While yet an infant, his pa
rents changed their home to the Island of
Guernsey, about 81 miles east of Alderney.
Here he remained until the year 1917, hav-
ing been apprenticed to a cabinet maker in
Guernsey on the 11th of April, 1913, for
term Of six years. The man with whom
he was apprenticed was named Thomas
Dews. In the year 1917 Mr.. Dews determin-
to emigrate to the United States, and pro-
posed to take his apprentice with him, to
which arrangement the parents of young
Jetferys offered no objection. DeWs, with
his family, and accompanied by Mr.. JEFF
ferys, landed at Philadelphia on the 18th of
May, 1917, and remained in that city until
the following December, when they remov-
ed to New York. In that city they remain
ed, working at the trade of cabinet making,
until February, 1919, when Dews and his
apprentice went to Richmond, Va, where
they remained about two months. From
Richmond they went to Petersburg, and
thence to Raleigh, n. c., remaining at each
place but a short while, leaving Raleigh for
Salisbury, where they remained about
year. Mr.. Dews left his family in New
York, and the object of his frequent chan
ges was to find a location where he thought
he would be content to settle his family
permanently. While at Salisbury, MIR.
Dews sent for his family, but before they
arrived, he and Mr.. Jefferys were both at
tackled with sickness. After their recovery,
his family in the meantime having arrived,
Mr.. Dews proposed to Mr.. Jefferys to visit
LincolntOn. They were pleased with that
place, and Dews sent to Salisbury for his
family, who joined them at Lincolnton in
July, 1920, where Dews continued to live
until his death.
Mr.. Jefferys' apprenticeship expired on
the 9Th of August, 1921. Mr.. Dews surren-
dered his indentures, and there being but
little work in Lincolnton at that time, Mr..
Jefferys determined to seek employment
elsewhere. He left LincolntOn on foot, in
November, 1921, with only two dollars in
his pocket, loaned to him by a friend. He
first went to Providence settlement, in
Mecklenburg county, hoping to obtain em-
ployment in that neighborhood. He was
disappointed, however, and from PrOvi-
dence he determined to 60 either to York
Vile or Chester. Again he started on foot,
and on arriving at the crossroads near Tlr-
zah Church, one of which roads led to York
vile and another to Chester, he hesitated as
to which he should follow. At this age OF
his early manhood he was strongly imbued
with Christian faith, and while in doubt as
to the best point of his destination, he re-
solved to ask the guidance Of Divine Provi-
dence. He has always believed that his
prayer was answered for with light heart
he pursued his journey in the direction OF
Yorkville, where he arrived about night
fall one day in the middle of November,
1921.
AT the corner, where Colcock & Miller's
store now is, he met citizen, Mr.. Samuel
Chambers, who directed him to the resi-
dence of Mr.. Samuel Wright, whom he had
been advised to apply to for employment.
Mr.. Wright entertained him that night,
and the next morning they concluded arti'
cles of cOpartnership for the term of nine
months-Mr. Jefferys to do the work of a
cabinet-maker Mr.. Wright to furnish the
shop and materials and board Mr.. Jetferys,
giving him as his share Of the profits one.
half of the gross sales. Mr.. Jefferys remain
ed with Mr.. Wright for the time agreed up
on, and at the expiration of the partnership
he commenced business on his own account
on the lot now occupied by Dobson & Par
ish. Here he remained until 1885, when he
bought lot on the opposite side of the street,
where he continued the cabinet making
business until 1888.
In connection with his business of cabinet
maker, however, he commenced merchan-
dising in 1923, not relinquishing his regular
mechanical occupation until 1898, from
which year until 1862 he was in the mercan'
tile business continuously. On the lot to
which he removed in 1885, he remained un'
til his death, with the exception of few
months required to rebuild his residence
which was destroyed by fire in 1870.
Mr.. Jefferys accumulated handsome
property, which at the breaking out Of the
war was intact, and good portion of which
by prudent management he retained at the
close of hostilities.
Mr.. Jefferys never held political office
Though such was the confidence reposed in
him by his fellow-citizens that he was in
duced to accept the appointment of magls'
trate, which position he held from 1898 tc
1862, when he resigned. During this Pc
riod he disposed of about $500 civil cases,
besides large number Of State cases.
His "reminiscences of a long life of useful
ness have always been interesting to his
listeners, and especially his recollectOns OF
his first years in Yorkville. When he first
came here the population of the town was
not more than two hundred, and nearly all
the houses were built of logs.
AS we have intimated, Mr.. Jefferys was
pious from his early manhood. Soon after
he located here he took an active part in liie
cause of the church, and was one of eight
persons who organized the first Methodist
Episcopal congregation in the town. His
wife was also one of the original eight.
The church was then attached to the Lin
colnton District, and for the first few years
of its existence, dating with its organiza-
ton, had the ministrations of Rev. VIM.
Gazaway. Mr.. Jetferys also organized the