The Fairfield News and Herald reported on Feb. 6, 1884 – “A. Williford and Co., are having an extensive sale at their establishment in the Gerig Building. They have bought a large stock of goods and are offering them at good prices.”
On Sept. 7, 1887 the Yk Enquirer reported – “There was a fire in the cotton wagon by Mr. A. Williford of Winnsboro, a spark at his gin caused a fire that was extinguished later five bales of cotton were placed on a wagon going to town and the fire reignited burning the bales.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on March 27, 1889 – “A. Williford Prop. of the Winnsboro Exchange and Feed Stable, will be in Yorkville on Monday and Tuesday with fine Kentucky mules and horses for sale.”
City Directories and History: 1961 – Gene’s Men’s Wear
This area of South Congress was a heavily used commercial area. Due to the close proximity of the Fairfield County Court
House visitors to Winnsboro needed a livery for their livestock while conducting business. The livery was a large frame building which shows clearly on the 1912 Sanborn Map of South Congress street. The exact date of demolition of the Alexander Williford & Sons livery is unknown but appears to have taken place in circa 1918.
The 1886 Sanborn map shows this location as the Williford & Sons Sales & Livery Stables. The Williford family had only recently moved to Winnsboro having come from Rock Hill only a few years earlier. It was in Rock Hill they operated a livery on White Street. Rock Hill historian Wm. B. White, Jr. writes the following about the family, “Hoke and Wagner built a large residence on the lot, and on September 10, 1872, they sold the house and lot to John S. Cureton of Lancaster County, S.C., for $2,500. This was a 1-acre lot. Then, on September 2, 1873, Cureton sold to Alexander Williford, for $2,500. Williford was a dealer in horses, a mill owner, and a planter. He was married to John Ratterree’s sister, Mary Maybin Ratterree. It appears that the Willifords occupied this house until 1881, when they removed to Winnsboro, S. C., following the tragic death of their son Churchill Williford.”
Click on the More Information > link found below the picture column for additional data or pictures. (Construction of the new stables in 1885.)
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