Sumter-Stewart-Muscogee County GaArchives Biographies.....Williford, Preston B. unknown - living in 1913
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 22, 2004, 7:11 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 925-926

   PRESTON B. WILLIFORD. A man of excellent business tact and judgment, Preston
B. Williford, of Americus, is widely known throughout Sumter county as a dealer
in city and fawn property. A son of John Williford, he was born on a farm in
Stewart county, Georgia, where his boyhood days were passed. His grandfather,
William Williford, was, as far as known, a life-long resident of north Georgia.
To him and his wife five children were born and reared, as follows: John; Henry;
Samuel; Rachael; and another daughter.

   A native of Madison county, Georgia, John Williford was there brought up on a
farm, and while young was well drilled in the various branches of agriculture.
Removing to Stewart county in early manhood, he purchased a tract of land, the
greater part of which was covered with a heavy growth of pine, ash, and hickory
timber. Putting up a small log cabin for himself and wife, he began the pioneer
task of hewing a farm from the wilderness. Laboring with indomitable energy and
perseverance, he met with very satisfactory success in his operations, being
enabled in the course of a few years to erect a substantial set of frame
buildings in place of the log structures that for a time answered the purpose of
sheltering the family and the stock. He had cleared a goodly part of the land
when his earthly labors were brought to an end, his death occuring in 1860, when
he was but forty-four years of age.

   The maiden name of the wife of John Williford was Elizabeth Allen Burke. She
was born in Elbert county, Georgia, a daughter of William P. Burke, and died at
the age of seventy-six years, the latter part of her life having been spent with
her children. Left a widow, in 1860, with twelve small children, the youngest
but two years old, she assumed management of the home farm, carrying it on with
great success, and keeping her family together until all were self-supporting.
She reared five daughters and seven sons, as follows: Ann; Sarah; William: Mary;
Henry; Louisa; John; Luther; Joseph; James; Preston B.; and Elizabeth.

   The youngest son, and eleventh child, of the parental household, Preston B.
Williford lived with his widowed mother until he was sixteen years old, when he
went to Green Hill, in Stewart county, where he was for three years clerk in a
general store. Returning then to the homestead, he assisted in its management
for four years, after which he bought a farm five miles from his old home, and
was there engaged in farming for a year. Going from there to Columbus, Muscogee
county, Mr. Williford was clerk in a cotton warehouse for six years. On giving
up that position, he was engaged in the retail shoe business in Americus until
1896, when he began selling real estate on commission, an industry in which he
has since continued, being now an extensive dealer in city and farm property.

   March 26, 1878, Mr. Williford was united in marriage with Sarah Matthews, who
was born, in Marion county, Georgia, a daughter of John L. and Frances J.
(Herndon) Matthews. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Williford, four children have
been born, namely: Amzie; Fannie Mae; Preston B., Jr.; and Lousie Mildred. Angie
married Ralph Newton, and they have one child, Elizabeth Newton. Mr. and Mrs.
Williford are members of the First Baptist church.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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