The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-09-30

a write up of Anderson would be
incomplete without due mention of
her Oldest living citizen, Hon. B f.
Crayton, c"trmporary of Judge
james i. Orr, Judge j. p. Reed, and
other Influential men, most of whom
have passed away.
Mr.. Crayton has for nearly sixty
years lived in Anderson, and has been
closely identified and prominently
connected with the social agricultural
and political life of his town. his
county and his State Few men have
contributed more to the progress and
development of their section, nor has
his influence and usefulness been
merely local. 1t has beer Statewide.
In the various public positions he
has so creditahIy filled he has been
thrown in intimate association with
the leading men of the State, and has
become widely and favorably known.
Mr.. Crayton was born in Greenville,
S. c., in July 1920, and is therefore
in his seventy-seveuth year. He at
tended school in Greenville, and, at
the age of thirteen, entered Fairview
Academy, in Grcenville county, a
high school conducted by Rev. John
Boggs, who in his day was noted
teacher and prominent divine.
1t was natural that, on leaving
school, Mr. Crayton, descended as he
is from line of merchants, should
choose mercantile life.
In 1883 he came to Anderson as
clerk for his uncle, the late Rev. B.
f. Mauldin, who was then young
man himself, and to whose good ex-
ample aud influence Mr.. Crayton as
cribes in large degree his own moral
habits. He retained this clerkship
t. II 1871, and then succeeded to the
business on Mr.. Mauldin 8 removal to
Calhoun, S. C. This business was
continued till 1861, during the greater
part of which time his brother, T. 2.
Crayton. was in partnership with him.
In 1915 the town was swept by fire.
Mr.. Crayton was absent from home,
and on his return found his store
burned, but most of his goods saved
and placed in the jury room OF the
Court House for sufe-keeping. BY
permission they were afterwards re-
moved to the court room, which he
used as store room till his new store
was erected. Rather than disturb
him, Judge Johnson convened the
court on the piazza of the Orr House,
then kept by Capt. }. B. Benson. At
the time of the fire, remarkable to say,
the town had not one dollar of fire in
Surancc.
After the war. gathering the frag-
ments of once handsome estate, MIR.
Crayton again began business. assocl-
ating with him his son, 5. NJ. Cray
ton, and son-in-law, D. S. Maxwell.
This business was continued until
few years ago. when Mr.. Crayton
withdrew and has since devoted him
self to farming.
Mr. Crayton, during his business
career. had number Of Young men:
Of course. in his employ BE it said
to his credit. he took special and be-
ncvnrnt interest, not only in their
business training. but in their social
life as we'll, making home for them
in his own family. where they were
treated as members of the household.
And wherever these men are to-day
and some Of them are occupying posi-
tions of influence and wcalth-you
will find them cherishins kindly and
grateful feelings towards the friend OF
their youth.
From 1891 till 1872 Mr. Crayton did
private banking business in connec-
tion with his mercantile business. In
1872 the National Bank of Anderson
was organized. Mr.. Crayton was one
of the corporation, and a direct or, till