The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-10-09
MARLBoRo's MODEL FARMER
A Native Caro1inian Who Has
Made Million Dollars on the
q ffrr

% The Bonnettsville correspondent
y the Atlanta Constitution gives the fl
lowing sketch of Mr.. A. j. Matheso
% of Blenheim, S. c., whose success as
farmer and country merchant has bee
O quite notable
U Alexander James Matheson, of Blel
y helm, Marlboro County, South Car
lima, is ih many respects one of I'll
n most remarkable men in this Stat.
3 lie was born in this county in 1S4;
D and his father Donald Matheson, wf
} q native of Attadale, Scotland, b,
came to this country when youn
man. and was a lawyer by profession
"A. j. Matheson, on account of the wa
between the States, was deprived of
finished education, but is noted fo
his general information and has d
superior as financier and bushes
manager.
Like many Southern boys, he re
turned from the war penniless, bu
brave, patriotic and determined. III
at once entered upon his fathers de
vastated farm, endeavoring to repai
The damages wrought by Shecman'
1
for himself, father aud sister.
In 1869 he accepted position will
q prominent planter in Marion County
In this State, as foreman of his farm
In 1870 he worked for the same gen
tleman, operating q three horse farm
receiving a portion of the crop as com.
| pensation for his labor, doing the harl-
est kind of manual work himself.
During the year 1870 he married q
most estimahle lady, Miss Ellen Jarni-
gan, of Marion County, and Mr.. Mathe-
son admits that much of his success ls
due TO her cooperation and wise coun-
sci. They have had nine children, five
daughters and four sons.
In 1871 Mr.. Mntheson rente a small
farm and operated limited mercan-
tile business, which proved unsuccess-
full. He was discouraged, went West,
and visited many sections beyond the
Mississippi river, but being unwilling
to locate in that country, he returned
home, with renewed energy and deter
mination. He again entered the mer-
camille business and from the beginning
was successful, making money rapidly.
In 1873 he purchased Twenty-Five
horse cotton plantation, among the
finest lands in the Pee Dee section,
going in debt for the most of the
amount. He continued his mercantile
business, amassing wealth with amaz-
ing rapidity, and year after year pur.
chasing large plantations, his CONNER
clal rating all the time growing.
Later on, MIR. Matheson moved to
Blenheim, small town seven miles
south of Bcnpettsville, where he pur-
chased property and continued the mer-
camille business, his trade extending
many miles in every direction. He
has reared a cultured and intelligent
family, having given all of his children,
who are old enough collegiate educa-
tion to prepare them for the rugged
battles of life.
He is the largest real estate owner
in Eastern Carolina, and his lands are
fertile and valuable. Among his large
plantations are "Brown's Creek"
f" Attadale," London" Arcadia
and "Egypt," besides many smaller
places. He operates about Two hun
dred plows and last year made on his
farms about 900 bales of
cotton. Ali of his plantations are pro-
vided with telephones, artesian wells,
retail stores, modern barns and i'm
proved ginneries. He has three
story brick mill house at Egypt on
Crooked creek, roller patent process,
with a capacity of so barrels of flour
daily.
His wealth is estimated at 81 ,OOO,-
900. He is the largest taxpayer in this
section of the State, employs more
hands than any other one man III the
State, is liberal, affable and optimistic,
carries his own insurance and has not
dollar on his life or properly.
He has Travelled extensively in Ea-
rope, having made several visits to his
fathers old homestead in Scotland.
Last year he and his daughter visited
the Paris Exposition and made an ex-
tended tour throughout the different
countries of Europe.
In 1876 Mr.. Matheson purchased
valuable real estate in the town of Ben
nettsyille and erected very large two
story brick store house on tho tracks
of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad, in
which he has since conducted a grocery
business under the name of the "Marl-
boro Wholesale Grocery"
This enterprise succeeded from the
beginning, owning its own warchou ses,
cotton sheds, seed scales, etc. Before
Mr.. Matheson established this whole
sale business another firm was conduct
ing, most successfully, similar bust.
ness, but only two months ago the old
firm sold out to the Marlboro Whole
sale Grocery" and the two businesses
are now combined, supply ing large
territory and employing quite num-
| ber of salesmen.
III August of last year Mr.. Matheson
formed q copartnership with q. e.
Exum in the whole .alo business, and
this year the business will sell three.
quarters of a million dollars worth oi
goods, and this rapid increase indicates
that within the next year this enter
prise will do million dollars worth Of
business. Mr.. Exum is cotton buyer
of much experience. He ls Noitl
Carolinian and business man of OK
traordinary ability and sagacity. HI
purchases annually several thousant
bales of cotton, and it is reported tha
Matheson 81 Exum will put in q cot
ton compress plant at this place T.
prepare cotton specifically for the ex
port trade.
Mr.. Matheson is a member of th
Presbyterian church and a great Sur
day school lover. He never fails I
contribute to all charitable purposes
v