The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-23
PEANUT INTEREST;
BANKING FACILITIES
The Bank OF Sussex and Surry
Shows Wonderful Growth in Z
Five Years-Ilic Birthplace
OF Peanut Culture.
Largest Handlers
on Earth.
ny Frank $. woodson.
lStaff Corrcspondent.)

The seat OF the largest peanut enter
prise in the lana, the homo OF large
furniture making factory, the seat OF
one OF the strongest country banks IN
the State, the home OF dozen up-to-
date merchants and the abiding place
of splendid Virginia citizenship,
Wakefield Is one of the smaller Vir-
ginia towns that is doing a consider
able Share of the good work that Is
making the old state as famous In en-
terprise AMI in commercial greatness
as she is or ever was in patriotism and
craftsmanship.
Surrounding Wakefield Us a wealth
PRODUCING, agricultural region and vast
forests OF timber TO be converted into
money. tho workers in which make tho
town their shipping point and business
centre and are thus doing large part
In giving it u reputation for business
activity.
Location Like a Hub.
Wakefield lis ono of the live towns
OF the ricn and prosperous county of
Sussex. 1t IL situated just half way be-
tween Richmond aud Norfolk on the
Norfolk and Western Railway. and
cqui-distance from suffolk and Peters
burg. being in easy reach of these
markets for the rich products of the
surrounding farining and trucking sec
ton. IT Is near to tho point where the
three counties. Sussex. Surry and South
hampton come to corner Its situa-
tons makes it. said one Of It's business
men. the very hub OF the rich peanut
producing part of old Virginia.
II is an interesting bit of history.
not generally known. that the first pen
nuts grown in the State OF Virginia or
in the United States were planted and
the crop gathered within hundred
or two hundred yards from where / am
now writing. Away back in the early
forties. the late Mr.. Matthew Harris
secured from his commission merchants
in Norfolk about a quart of peanuts
which had been given to the merchant
by ship captain Just from Spain or
France. or perhaps the West Indies.
Mr. Harris brought thanI home
and planted them. The result proved
that the soil hereabouts was we'll adapt
cd TO nut culture. and that was the
beginning OF the cultivation of the now
Immensely popular "soober' in the
cultivating that farm and making
money raising and selling peanuts.
What the Farm Has.
Wakefield is an Incorporated town.
having received a charter from the
Legislature in 1901. Tho population
is between loo and 1900. 1t has Eur
churches: Methodist. Baptist. Episcopal
and Christian. and one of the best
graded high schools in the State. OF
this latter 1 will write at greater
length for the educational page.
An electric light and power plant
owned by a company, furnishes mean
descent lights for the streets and the
houses. Nearly every home and every
business mouse in the place is wired
and from the beautiful bulbs come the
soft streams of brilliant electricity to
make the dark places as bright as day.
The Wakefield Manufacturing Com
pany, makers of furniture sfrom the
magnificent timber to be found in
greatest abundance at their very doors
SO to speak. employ large number Of
hands and with a factory equipped
with the latest improved machinery
they do an immense business. While
the factory is fitted up with ample
machinery for all manner Of work in
the furniture line. the management has
found 1t more profitable to confine its
output to special lines and for two
wears or more the factory has produc-
ed only wardrobes and hall racks
which they ship in large quantities to
points from New York to Florida. Their
best trade, however is In the States OF
Virginia. North and South Carolina anl
Georgia.
Lumber Is Plentiful.
1t may be remarked in this connec.
ton that owing to tho almost mex.
haustible supply of timber that is ir
easy reach. there is no better point ir
the South for furniture manufacturing
than right here. Tho success of the
factory already here is ample evidence
OF that.
The lumber interest of the adjacent
section which makes Wakefield Its
banking and shipping point is some.
thing immense, and the narrow gauge
railroad with n three S name, the Sus.
sex. Surry and Southampton Road
owned aud operated by the Surry Lane
Company, penetrates vast forests q
,poplar, oak, pine. gum, cypress. etc, aut
lands here millions Of feet of the fin.
est lumber in the world.
Mercantile Enterprises.
a dozen stores In tho town do +
mercantile business of about 100000,
per year, and the wholesale grain anc
feed fertilizer business adds at leas
100000 to he grand total.
Included in tie totals above farming
implements cut a very large figure
which is evidence of the progressive
ness and the 'up-to-datcness" of til,
farmers of Sussex, Surry and Southnmp
ton counties, They use tho latest I'M,
proved agricultural Implements am
machinery, and their farms being levc
in the main. they can use them to TIN
hest advantage,
The mercantile business is divide,
Continued on Fifth Page.)