The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-10-10
MARLBORO's MODEL FARMER
A Native Caro1inian Who Has
Made n Million Dollars on the

Farm.
, The Benncttsvillc correspondent O
the Atlanta Constitution gives the fol
lowing sketch of Mr.. A. j. Mathcson
OF Blcnhcim, S. c., whose success as
farmer and country merchant has beer
quite notable
Alexander James Mathcson, of Blcn
helm, Marlboro County, South Caro-
INA, Is In many respects one of the
most remarkable men in this State
lie was born in this county in 1S4S
and his father Donald Mathcson, was
a native OF Attadalc, Scotland, bu,
came to this country when a young
man, and was lawyer by profession
n. y. Dlatheson, on account of the wal
between the States, was deprived of Il
finished education, but is noted fol
his general information and has nc
superior as a financicr and business
manager.
Like many Southern boys, he re-
turned from the war pcnniess, but
brave, patriotic and determined. Tic
at once entered upon his fathers de-
yastated farm, cndcavoring to repair
the damages wrought by Shc1man's
army, at the same time exc out Il living
for himself, father and sister.
| In 1869 he accepted a position with
prominent planter in Marion County
in this State, as foreman of his farm.
In 1870 he worked for the same gen
tleman, operating thrce-horsc farm,
receiving portion of the crop as COM
pensation for his labor, doing the hard
est kind of manual work himself
During the year 1870 he married u
most estimahle lady, Miss Ellen Jarni-
gan, of Marion County, and Mr.. Mathc-
| son admits that much of his success Is
due to her cooperation and wise coun-
sci. They have had nine children, five
daughters and four sons.
In 1871 MIR. Matheson rent ed small
farm and operated limited mcrcan-
tile business, which proved unsucccss-
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 mcr-
camille business and from the beginning
was successful, making money rapidly.
In 1873 he purchased Il twenty-livc-
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 amaX-
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 BenDettsville, whore 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,
u ho arc old enough collegiate educa.
ton 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, ;"
a Attadale," London" Arcadia -
and "Egypt," besides many sma!lc!
places. lie operates about Two hun.
dred plows and last year made on his
individual farms about l 500 bales OF
cotton. All of his plantations are pro-
vided with telephones, artesian wells
retail stores, modern barns and i'm
proved ginneres. Hc has II three
story brick mill house at Egypt OF
Crooked creek, roller patent process
with a capacity of so barrels Of ilou
daily.
His wealth is estimated at 81 900,
600. He is the largest taxpayer in thu
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 no
a 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 dffcrcn
countries of Europe.
In 1876 Mr.. Matheson purchased
valuable reul estate in the town of Ben
nettsville and erected very large two
story brick store house on the tracks
of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad, il
which he has since conducted grocery
business under the name of The "Marl
boro Wholesale Grocery"
This enterprise succeeded from tht
beginning, owning its own warehouses
! cotton sheds, seed scales, etc. Befor'
Mr.. Mathcson established this whole
sale business another firm was conduct
ing, most successfully, similar busi
ness, but only two months ago the oil
d firm sold out to the Marlboro Whole
c sale Grocery" and the two businesse
Q are now combined, supply ing larg
Il territory and employing quite nun
: Der of statesmen.
!. In August of last year Mr.. Matheso
:. formed copartnership with G. /
Exum in the Wholesale business, an
= this year the business will sell thrc
- quarters Of q million dollars worth
c goods, and this rapid increase indicat
: that within the next year this entc