The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-09-20
FATHER OF STRAWBERRY IN


l16Ie was DuI leu III h0pAAi
yesterday the man who was the foun-
der of one Of the largest industries IN
er in the growing and shipping OF
| stra in North Carolina.
ground in the suburbs of the village
Of Wilson Mr.. John Samuel Westbrook
Strawberries. Up 20 that time not a
crate of strawberries had ever been
Westbrook, with the vision of a prac-
teal prophet, saw the present day
when whole train loads by the score
should carry North Carolina grown
Strawberries into all the cities IN the
North. He succeeded in a small way
in his experiment at Wilson,, but in a
few years came to the conclusion that
large success would come only
through growing berries in a latitude
far enough South to let the berries
get to market after the Florida crop
and before the crop further North.
He therefore bought land at the vii
lage of Faison and there laid the foun-
dation deep and broad of his W for
tune and the industry that has
brought big money to North Carolina,
transformed the country south Of
Goldsboro into a truck garden, and
caused the land to increase in value
many hundred fold. The success that
came to Mr.. Westbrook was due to
wise industry, for no more laborlous
and Industrious man ever lived IL
North Carolina. Up with the dawn,
in the early days he did the work of
two men and the thinking and pian-
ming Of half a dozen. AS is true of
most men who succeed. his wife was
a heIp-meet Of the Bible sort. They
reared q large family and created the
biggest industry in Eastern North Car
DINA. 1t was not many years before
the success Of Mr.. Westbrook caused
his neighbors to try their hand at
growing berries. He sold them plants.
helped them to set out acres in straw
berries. brought in the best and i'm
proved the plants, and on his own
place, by his example and by help
ing his neighbors created this big in
dustry that gave him rank as the fore
most agricultural eader Of his gener-
alton.
In the death of the pioneer straw
berry grower Of North Carolina too
much stress cannot be laid upon the
value of his life-work. He came to
. manhood in Guilford county in the
time of the South's prostration, He
had few educational advantages, no
capital but his clear head and strong
arms, and no leader to follow in The
: path which he chose to follow. He
blazed the way and made his own ex-
periments. He did Tot know the
meaning Of self-indulgence and was
a genius Of industry. He was a model
citizen. a true Christian, a good
neighbour, a true man in every relation
of life. and he was as modest and re-
tired as he was capable and indus
trious. Who can estimate the worth
Of his life and his leadership? In an
age, when young men are taught agri-
culture and we have come to a revolu-
tlon IN the methods of farming, his
: success and leadership without tools
and examples to follow is all the more
: remarkable. But it was the success
that Mr.. Westbrook and men like him
/ achieved hat aroused interest in the
! Introduction Of new crops and the de
~Velopraent that is making this decade
the best in the utilization of North
1 "a 9-ali1oa Ia M fnr tho most nroftan nj q
crops.
When a public official dies. there
!, IS some public honor given to him
: but what public man among his con
temporafies served his day and gener-
alton so We'll as Samuel Westbrook
And Which one set infll1encaS IL No,