The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-10-16
NiRLBORo's MODEL FARMER.
A Native Carolinian who has Made
Million Dollars on the Farm.

following sketch Of Mr.. &. j. Mathe-
;on, of Blenheim, S. O., whose success
IS q farmer and country merchant has
been quite notable:
Alexander James Matheson, OF Blen-
helm, Marlboro County, South caro-
Ina, is in many respects one OF the |
most remarkable men IN this state. |
BE, was born in this county in lS4S,
and his father Donald Matheson, was
q native of Attadale, Scotland, but
came TO this country when young |
man, and was lawyer by profession.
a. J. Matheson, on account OF tEe war
between the States, was deprived OF a
finished education, but is noted for MS
general information and has no supe-
rior as fnancier and business man
ager.
Like many Southern boys, he return
ed from the war penniless, but brave,
patriotic and determined. He at once
entered upon his fathers devastated
farm, endeavoring to repair the dam
ages wrought by Sherman's army, at
the same time exc ont a living for
himself, father and sister.
In 1859 he accepted a position wlth
q prominent planter in Marion Coun-
ty. in this State, as foreman Of his
farm. In 1870 he worked for the same
gentleman, operating three e-horse
farm, receiving a portion OF the crop
as conversation for his labor, doing
the hardest kind of manual work hlm-
self. During the year 1870 ne marrleo
q most estimable lady, Miss Ellen.
Jarnigan, of Marion County, and Mr.
Matheson admits that much OF his sue,
cess is due to her cooperation ana
wise counsel. They have had nine
children, i've daughters and four sons
In 1871 Mr.. Matheson rented a
small farm and operated limited
mercantile business, which proved
unsuccessful. He was discouraged,
went West, and visited many sections
beyond the Mississippi river, but be-
ING unwilling to locate in that coun-
trT. he returned home, with renewed
energy and determination. He again
entered the mercantile business ana
from the beginning was succsssr1l, s
making money rapidly. In 1873 ne
purchased twenty-five horse cotton
plantation, among the finest lands IN
the Pee Dee section, going IN oeos
for the most Of the amount. He con-
tinued his mercantile business, amass-
inc wealth with amazing rapidity, and
wear after year purchasing large plan
tations, his commercial rating all the
time growing.
Later on, Mr.. Matheson moved TO
Blenheim, small town seven miles
south of Bennettsville, where he pur-
chased property and continued the
merchantile business, his trade ex-
tending many miles in every dlrec-
lion. He has reared cultured and
snteMigent family, having given all OF
his children who are old enough a
collegiate education 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 Browns Greek, :,
q Attadale,' - London, Arcadia, "
and Egypt besides many smaller
places. He operates about two hun
dred plows and last year made on his
individual farms about 1,600 bales OF
cotton. All of his plantations are pro
vided with telephones, artesian wells,
retail stores, modern barns and I'M
proved ginneries. He has a three
story brick mill house at Egypt on
Crooked creek, roller patent process,
With a capacity OF 80 barrels OF Hour
daily.
His wealth is estiamted at 81, coo.
600. He is the largest taxpayer IN this
section of the State, employs more
hands than any other one man in the
State, is liberal, affable and optimisr-
ic, carries his own insurance and has
not dollar on his life or property.
He has travelled extensively in Eu-
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
Bennettsville and erected very large
two-stoFy brick store house on the
tracks of the Atlantic Coast Line rail-
road, in which he has since conduct
ed grocery business under the name
of the Marlboro Wholesale Grocery. -
This enterprise succeeded from the
beginning, owning 1GS own warehouses,
cotton sheds, seed scales, etc. Before
Mr.. Matheson established this whole
sale business another firm was conduct
ing, most successfully, similar busi-
ness, but only two months ago the old
firm sold out to the Marlboro Whole
sale Grocery and the two businesses
are now combined, supplying a large
territory and employing quite num-
Der of statesmen.
In August of last year Mr.. Matheson
formed copartnership with G. E;
Exum in the wholesale business, and
this year the business will sell three,
quarters of million dollars worth OF
goods, and this rapid increase indi-
Gates that within the the next yeal
this enterprise will do a million dol
lars worth of business. MI Exun
is cotton buyer of much @-perience.
He is a North Carolinian and bust
ness man of extraordinary ability
and sagacity. He purchases annually
several thousand bales of cotton, and
it is reported that Matheson & Exun
"a