Biographies   Chesterfield County - South Carolina Genealogy Trails  BLAKENEY, WHITEFORD SMITH, president of the Bank of Union, Monroe, North Carolina, was born at Cross Roads, Chesterfield county, South Carolina, on May 4, 1865.   His father was John Blakeney; his mother's maiden name was Rosanna Vick.   His father was a farmer and was noted for industry and fair dealing.   His grandfather, John Blakeney, emigrated from Ireland about 1750 and settled in Pennsylvania, removing subsequently to Chesterfield, South Carolina, where he acquired much land.  He numbers among his ancestors an admiral in the English navy; others have been planters and soldiers. His early life was passed in the country. He was a healthy boy and loved active sports, but was always fond of reading. When not at school he worked regularly on the farm, acquiring experiences which went far towards shaping his character. His favorite line of reading through life has been history and biography. After careful preparation at "old field" schools and the North Carolina college at Mount Pleasant, North Carolina, he was graduated from Davidson college, North Carolina, with the A. B. degree, at nineteen years of age, in the year 1884. Subsequently he took a course at the South Carolina college in Columbia, South Carolina, and was graduated therefrom with the degree of LL. B. in 1887. He also took a post-graduate course at the South Carolina college and received from that institution the A. M. degree. From 1888 to 1902 he farmed and practiced law at his country home. In the year last named he became president of the Bank of Union, Monroe, North Carolina, and in the same year was made president of the Mutual Benevolent association, of Chesterfield, South Carolina. In 1903 he was elected president of the Bank of Chesterfield, South Carolina, and in 1904, president of the Jefferson Bank, Jefferson, South Carolina. In the same year he became president of the Florence Skirt Manufacturing company, of Monroe, North Carolina. He served in the South Carolina legislature as state senator from Chesterfield county, South Carolina, from 1888 to 1902. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religion a Methodist He has never given special attention to athletics, but was an enthusiastic baseball player in early life, and still retains his interest in the game. He believes that success in life can only be attained by close attention to business, coupled with the strictest integrity and promptitude in meeting engagements. On December 28, 1905, Mr. Blakeney was married to Miss Virginia May Cole. They have two children, a son and a daughter, living in 1908. The address of Mr. Blakeney is Monroe, Union county, North Carolina. Men of Mark in South Carolina By James Calvin Hemphill Published 1907 - transcribed and contributed by Barb Ziegenmeyer BACK to Chesterfield County SC Genealogy Trails © all rights - reserved to the original submitter