The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1916-07-27
Mountain Boy Makes Good

i'oSI mountain boys, experience has
taught, is making men of them. IA
striking instance of the mountain bow
who has made good in the face of WE'LL
nigh insurmountable difficulties is Mr..
). D. Lanford of the Greenville bar,
who is now candidate for Solicitor Of
the Thirteenth Circuit.
Mr.. Lanford was born thirty-five years
ago near Gowensville, in Greenville
county, of poor parents His father in
rearing large family in rough noun
tam country was not able to make ends
meet and became somewhat involved
and was forced to mortgage his farm.
But as his family grew into manhood It.
was demonstrated that the father had
not reared in vain, for the bows set
about to raise that mortgage from their
fathers farm.
When the subject of this sketch was
just hfteen years of age his father
moved away from his home and took up
ms residence at Piedmont, in the lower
part of Greenvile county; and there and
elsewhere, from his fifteenth year, John
u. Lantord worked in cotton mills. cot
Ton mil stores, on the farm and at
teaching school to raise the mortgage
from his fathers home. When this was
done, and not till then, did he begin his
education, paying his own way through
South Carolina College. After five
years, working during the time at any
thing which he could lay his hands to in
the summer and during the college year
at odd jobs in and around Columbia, he
came out Of college in the summer of
1909 full-hedged lawyer.
Immediately after being admitted to
the bar j. D. Lanford took up his resi-
dence at Greer and began the practice
OF law in the courts of Greenville AVID
Spartanburg counties. He was soon
married to Miss Ethel Ballenger of
Spartanburg county, and they now have
three small children.
AT Greer Mr.. Lanford soon became
leading spirit in the progressive citizen
ship of the community, standing, as he
does, for the strict enforcement of law
and the development of the best in his
feilow-citizens. He was appointed a.
member of the board of trustees of the.
Greer schools and during his admins
tratlon they fiourished He then was
appointed recorder of the Greer Citv
Court on ticket of strict law enforce
ment, and the blind tiger and gambling
element of that community will never
forget how John Lanford put them on
the right road by making their illicit
trade too unpopular for pursuit.
TWO years ago his legal practice be-
came so large that he was forced TO
move his Office to Greenville in order to
be nearer the center of his activity. He
opened an office on East Court street.
ana Immediately made himself felt
among the Greenville bar. His old
clients had followed him and dailv he
acquired new ones, till the first of the
present year he branched out still fur
ther and formed partnership with Mr..
James M. Richardson under the firm
name of Lanford & Richardson, which
firm became known at once as one of
the leading law firms of Greenvlle. The
first of July this year when, under the
Torrens Sytem Of Land Registration the
Clerk Of Court Of Greenville county un-
dertook to appoint five of the leading
Greenville lawyers as examiners of
titles, he selected both Mr.. Lanford and
Mr.. Richardson, thus showing what
home people think of the ability of the
firm.
All through the years Of Lanford's
practice at the bar he has made rule
to take such cases rs he thought to be
just, but once in case he never knows
when to quit. lie is fighter from the
word go" but fights in the open.
Never has he been known to use an un-
derhand method to win a case. He
WINS, but by fair means. He has an
peared on one side or the other in a
large number Of both criminal and civil
cases in all the courts Of the state, and
has been singularly successful.
In May, when Hon. Proctor A. Bon
ham announced that he would not offer
for reelection, Mr.. Lanford decided to
enter the race. He is making mans
fight for the nomination, and those close
to the political pulse Of the circuit pre-
dict his certain nomination. He began
lie IN the mountains, he has had long.
uphill climb but through it all he has
been fighter and he is fighter still
and when he is elected Solicitor the
Thirteenth Circuit will have an officer