Isle of Wight County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Gwaltney, P. Decatur Sr., 1915 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ PEMBROKE DECATUR GWALTNEY SUCCUMBS TO ILLNESS Prominent Smithfield Business Man, Pioneer of Peanut Industry, Passes Away Pembroke Decatur Gwaltney, son of the late Col. Benjamin Gwaltney, of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, and one of the best known business men in this part of Virginia, died at his home in Smithfield, Va., yesterday morning at 10:15 o'clock. Mr. Gwaltney, who was 78 years old, was known as the peanut "king" of Virginia. It was his shrewd foresight and business acumen that blazed the way for the present great peanut industry. He started in this business forty years ago, and was the pioneer in the industry of cleaning and marketing the nuts, which has grown into one of Virginia's largest enterprises. Much of the machinery used when this industry was in its infancy was invented by Mr. Gwaltney, himself. He was the president of the American Peanut Corporation up to a year ago, when failing health forced him to relinquish the active duties of the head of this large concern, which has branches and factories throughout this section and in Shreveport, La. He has always been in direct touch with the Smithfield branch, which is known as the Gwaltney-Bunkley Peanut Company. Mr. Gwaltney was a Confederate veteran. He and two brothers enlisted with the Surry Light Infantry [Artillery*] and served with the Army of Northern Virginia. The brothers were both killed in battle. When General Lee surrendered, Mr. Gwaltney was imprisoned at Newport News. After his release he returned to Surry County, and some time afterward opened a general store in Smithfield. Mr. Gwaltney was one of the pioneers of Smithfield's banking interests, having been a stockholder in the first bank established there, the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank. He was one of the organizers of the present flourishing Bank of Smithfield. He was also a pioneer in the Smithfield telephone system, having built the first line to that town twenty-eight years ago, and was actively interested in the development of the system of his town and county up to his last illness. Mr. Gwaltney was a member of the Smithfield Town Coucil, was deeply interested in civic and school improvement. In the Baptist Church of Smithfield he was a leading member, and a liberal contributor. It was currently reported that he gave half the amount required for the building of the church recently erected in Smithfield at a cost of $40,000. Mr. Gwaltney is survived by his widow, formerly Miss Mattie Womble of Isle of Wight County; a son, P.D. Gwaltney, Jr.; two daughters, Mrs. Frank R. Berryman of Smithfield, and Mrs. John E. Maxwell of Norfolk; nine grand children and two great-grand children. The funeral services will be held this afternoon at 2 o'clock, and the interment will be in the family lot in Ivy Hill Cemetery. ****************************************************************************** Pembroke Decatur Gwaltney. [Special to The Times-Dispatch.] SUFFOLK, VA., February 10. - Pembroke Decatur Gwaltney, the "peanut king," pioneer in the peanut industry in this territory, died at his home in Smithfield to-day, aged seventy-eight years. Up to one year ago, when failing health forced him to resign, Mr. Gwaltney was president of the American Peanut Corporation. Beginning forty years ago, after four years' service in the War Between the States as a Confederate soldier, Mr. Gwaltney was the first man to use what now has become modern peanut-cleaning machinery, the crude apparatus then used being his own device. He was a member of the Smithfield Council, a stockholder of the Smithfield Bank, and the man who twenty-eight years ago built the first telephone line to Smithfield. One son, P.D. Gwaltney, Jr.; two daughters, Mrs. F.R. Berryman and Mrs. John Maxwell, survive him. The funeral services will be held on Thursday at 2 o'clock in Smithfield. The Old Dominion boat will be held until after the services to accomodate the great number of out-of-town people who will attend the funeral. Pembroke Decatur GWALTNEY, Sr., the "Peanut King," businessman & councilman, Isle of Wight Co. native, d. 10 Feb 1915, at home, Smithfield, age 78, interred in Ivy Hill Cemetery*, Smithfield, 11 Feb 1915, "The Virginian-Pilot & Norfolk Landmark," Thurs, Feb. 11, 1915; "The Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch," Thurs, Feb. 11, 1915, p. 5, col. 2-3 *Buried with his first wife; his parents & sister are buried there also. Isle of Wight County Historical Society {IWCHS} Grave Site Survey Task Force {GSSTF} #48: http://www.iwchs.com/Cemetery-Reports.html His widow [not mentioned in the RTD obit] is buried with her parents in Central Hill Baptist Church Cemetery (IWCHS GSSTF #56). Her obit ("Smithfield Times," Aug. 28, 1930) is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/obits/g435m2ob.txt His 1st wife's obit ("Alexandria (VA) Gazette," Nov. 16, 1909) is posted at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/obits/g435m1ob.txt His photographic portrait is included with a chapter (#17) mostly devoted to him - "The First Peanut King of the World" - in the following source: (Helen Haverty King, et al. "Historical Notes on Isle of Wight County, Virginia." Isle of Wight: Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors, 1993. pp. 380-93; 420) That portrait, and photos of the massive family obelisk, are posted with his Find a Grave Memorial, #17259242. He founded with his son P.D. Gwaltney Jr. & Co., which later combined with Luter to form Smithfield Foods. Continuing their status as agricultural royalty, "Southern Living" dubbed Jr.'s son Howard "The Prince of the Smithfield Ham." (King. "Historical Notes..." pp. 382-407; 419-20) Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Matt Harris (zoobug64@aol.com). file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/isleofwight/obits/g435p1ob.txt