Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-08-15

Valley railroad, which runs from Ca
tawba Junction to Great Falls. The
settlement consists Of a schoolhouse,
store, blacksmith shop and several
residences The country around has a
prosperous appearance.
A MAN WHO HAS SUCCEEDED
One of the most talked of private
citizens in York county during the past
few years, probably has been a farmer
business man Of Catawba township.
and the talk has been rather because
of what this man has been doing than
because Of what he has been saying.
AS a matter of fact the gentleman In
question has never been a seeker-after
publicity of any kind; but has been
spending an active and useful life, at
tending to his own business, providing
fer his family and contributing his
full share to whatever has seemed to
promise for the good of his neighbor-
hood, and the community generally.
Those who have heard most of him
have heard mainly by reason of what
he has accomplished through his quiet
unostentious achievements in general
well-doing. ra r-
The name Of the gentleman who is
the subject of this article is Mr.. ]. AL
exander Williford, son Of the late J..
M. Williford. He was born In the
neighborhood in which he still lives,
less than fifty years. ago. and with his
excellent wife and bright and attract
i've daughter, occupies an elegant home
within a mile Of the old house In
which he was born and raised. His
house is in grove little back from
the YorkvilIe and Landsford road, and
is about five miles due south of Rock
Hill, his market town, and in all the
interests Of which he Is an important
factor. a. .,.- w..
The writer had the pleasure Of being
entertained at the home Of Mr.. Will
ford a short time ago, and from what
he saw and heard, taken in connection
with things that had previously come
to his knowledge, feels that he has ma
terial for a story which II properly
and benefit to many York county
readers. 1t Is proper to say. however,
that for whatever may be said, the
writer is alone responsible, for al
though some Of the information came
from Mr.. Williford himself, 1t came
solely in the nature Of a free and more
or less unreserved conversation with
a friend, and with no idea than any
part of 1t might become part Of a
newspaper story.
: One Of the things that the writer
had heard Of Mr.. Williford was thathe
was not only one Of the largest land
owners in the county; but he was one
of the most successful managers Of
labor to be found anywhere. When this
subject was brought up, however, Mr.
Williford not only denied both charges,
but gave out some information that
will be as surprising to some people as
It is interesting to others. ...
mo, he said. Il have less land now
than for many years, and as can find
opportunity am going to have still
less You know my father was a big
land owners. In all he had about
fifteen hundred acres, but before his
death he lost most of 1t mainly through
the ruinous labor con 'itions Of the
day. There was not much of it left T"
me when I started out, and not under
standing what the trouble was then,
one Of my earliest resolves on my own
account was to get back all the land
my father owned. 1t was pretty hard
to get start, but after while COM
menced learning, an6 year after year
on my old home place, l never failed
to make more than a bale Of cotton to
the acre. 1t was not long until COM
menced buying another farm and pay
ing for 1t about every year-sometimes
two hundred acres and sometimes less
In the course of time I had close to
fifteen hundred acres, as much as my
father had owned and all the separate
tracts but two or three. But as my land
holdings grew larger began to see
things differently, and grew more con-
firmed in the conclusion that 1t was
mistake. In fact I began to suspect
that too much lane was one OF the
troubles Of my father. 1t was impos-
slble to manage labor without heavy
losses. Then l changed my policy, and
commenced selling off wherever l
could find a desirable purchaser.
have now sold down to about half OF
what I once had, and 1t is my purpose
to sell down to my home place Of less
than three hundred acres. / find that
the tendency Of this policy Is to put
the lands under better management and
make the neighborhood more desirable
to live in. 1t will eventually make my
home place alone more valuable than
all the land / now have"
Although not directly Interested
from the standpoint of patron. at the
instance of his neighbors, and because
he believes the undertaking is well
worth while. Mr.. Williford not long ago
joined in a movement to get first
class graded school for the neighbor-
hood. UP to a few years ago, the whole
of Catawba township was included In
single school district and the school
funds were divided equally on per
capita basis. After a while. however,
Catawba district was cut off, and then