William Thomas “W.T.” Jeffers

1863

William Thomas “W.T.” Jeffers was born December 30, 1863, the son of Thomas H. Griffin Jeffers and Tarsey Chestina “Tiney” Ross Jeffers Dawkins.

1870

William T Joffers was counted in the census on 10 Aug 1870 in Wateree, Kershaw, South Carolina, USA, as a 4-year-old, male, white. Also in the home was Lucy C Joffers, John B Joffers, Joseph Joffers, and Alethia Joffers.

1906

On March 11, 1906, William Thomas Jeffers was listed as the living father in the obituary of Parshell Oscar Jeffers.

1910 Census Information:

According to the US Census reported on April 15, 1910, William T Jeffers (45) owned a farm on Blackjack Street in Blaney, Kershaw County, South Carolina with his wife, Mary E Jeffers (38). It was reported that they had been married for 16 years and that Mary was the mother of 8 children, 7 of whom were living. Also in the home were their children; Burnis Jeffers (16), William D Jeffers (14), Thomas C Jeffers (13), Attie Jeffers (11), Furman K Jeffers (9), Dothan E Jeffers (6) and Mamie G Jeffers (3). It was reported that all the family members were born in South Carolina. William was a farmer and Thomas was a laborer on the farm, all the children attended school except for Mamie, who was too young.

1915

W. T. JEFFRIES DIED AT BLANEY TUES. MORNING

News was received in Columbia Tuesday of the death of W. T. Jeffries of Blaney, which occurred this morning at 9 o’clock. Mr. Jeffries was a highly respected citizen of Richland County and the community at Blaney. His loss will be keenly felt by his numerous friends. He is survived by a wife and 11 children.

The funeral services will be held at Blaney Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock.

He was the first postmaster and a farmer in the Blaney community which was first called Jeffers. The Jeffers Post Office was established in 1898 in his home on Blackjack street, and he delivered the mail on horseback north to Killian and south to English. In 1899 he served Union Baptist Church near Blaney-Elgin as Church Clerk. He loved to sing in church and also served as a deacon at Union Baptist Church. His story as a farmer, postmaster, and family man was recalled by his daughter Bernice, so we would know today that Mr. Jeffers was instrumental in paving the way for Blaney’s birth as a prosperous town at the turn of the century. He is buried at Union Baptist Church near Elgin, South Carolina.