The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-11-28
Biographical Sketch of George w
Williams.

The memoirs of an eminent bus
mess man, one who from the smallest
of beginnings, and by virtue alone of
indomitable strength IF will has
fought his way, against powerful con-
tending influences, to the front ranks
of his calling cannot fail to be inter-
esting and instructive. Such q gentle
man is the subject of the present bio
graphical sketch.
George Walton Williams was born
in Burke County, North Carolina,
December 10th, 1920. The Williams
family are of Welsh descent, having
emigrated to America on account of re-
ligious persecution. In 1893, Edward
Williams, an enterprising member of
the family from Easton, Mass, came
South and located in Charleston, S. G. /;
a few years later he removed to the
mountains of North Carolina, and
formed O partnership with Daniel
Brown, a successful farmer and mer-
chant. He soon afterwards married
Mary Brown, daughter of his partner,
and, of their numerous children born,
George w. Williams is the fourth and
youngest son. When three years old,
his father, Major Edward Williams,
removed from North Carolina to the
more genial and fertile regions of Ma
coochee Valley, Ga, where he pur-
chased a large and valuable tract OF
land, and here, on the very border of
&ivilization, inhabited principally by
Cherokee Indians, Mr.. Williams's
childhood and early youth were
passed. His father was man of
great energy, and through his untir-
ing exertions the fertile valley was
brought into high state of caltiva-
ton. Major Williams first introduced
herds grass, timothy and clover, and
established cheese dairies, shoe factor
les and like improvements, and in this
way did much to advance the agricul-
tural and industrial interests of North
east Georgia.
Major Williams appreciated the
value of character, and trained his
sons to habits of temperance, industry
and self reliance, setting before them
in his own life worthy example as
did his most excellent wife, woman
of great energy, piety and benevolence.
The subject of this sketch, in his
fourteenth year, lost his good mother
"a severe loss to one who was so much
indebted to her for his early training,
and consequently home lost much of
its attractions to him.
Having penchant for trading, his
atural instincts led him to regard the
commercial world as his proper sphere
of action; he determined to try q
wider field to develop his pent-up en-
ergies.
Major Williams possessed horses, bug
gies and money, but Us his son insisted
on leaving home in his teens the fa-
ther declined to offer him any facil-
tiles, imagining that the inexperienced
youth would return the sooner to the
parental roof. Nothing daunted, the
boy set forth on his journey of one
hundred and fifty miles to Augusta,
Ga, in October, 1888.
The young adventurer believed that
"Where there is will thereis way"
He started on his two strong feet,
propelled by resOlute will and untir-
ing perseverance. At that time there
were but ten miles of railroads in the
great State of Georgia, and but a few
hundred in the whole South. Had
there been thousands they would not
have availed a boy with only ten dol
lars in his pocket. TO lessen his ex-
penses, he made q bargain with kind
neighbor. who was going with his
wagon loaded with the mountain
products to Augusta, Ga. He assisted
in cooking and scotching forhis board.
The board, Of course, was rough, and
the lodging at night Oh the ground,
but this outdoor life developed the
muscles, and was all important train
ing for boy starting out in life with
a determination to succeed. The jour-
ney of one hundred and fifty miles
was made in seven days, at all expense
of twenty-five cents! He was now
among strangers, in a strange land.
Fortunately, he procured 4 situation
with Mr.. Daniel Hand, in q whole
sale grocery establishment, at the
nominal salary for the first year of $50
and board. He was prompt, active
and industrious, did whatever he un-
dertook to do, we'll, and was ever
watchful to promote the interest of his
emnlovers