Preston B. Williford

• General Notes
  • 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.
    
    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.
    
    From: "A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA", By William Harden, VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED. THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY CHICAGO AND NEW YORK 1913.  p. 925-926.