ESTABLISHED- 1 66 1 

 'the OLDEST BEE-PAPER -AMERTS?g:)!^c 



Pablislieci Weekly, at Sl-OO per anniun. 



Sample Copy sent on AppUcatioa, 



36th Year. 



CHICAGO, ILL., SEPTEMBER 17, 1896. 



No. 38. 



MR. W. H. PRIDGEN. 



While a majority of the prominent bee-keepers of the 

 United States reside north of " Mason and Dixon's Line," yet 

 there are quite a good many to be found south of it. It is to be 

 hoped that their number may increase in that region, which is 

 so admirably adapted to profitable bee-culture, both on ac- 

 count of its abundant and varied flora, and the fact that the 

 wintering problem in bee-keeping seems to be no problem at 

 all in the Southland. 



This week we are permitted to present to our readers the 

 face, and some biographical information, of one of the young 

 bee-keepers of old North Carolina — Mr. W. H. Pridgen. The 

 following sketch is kindly furnished by Mr. W. R. Harvey, 

 who is Mr. Pridgen's partner in a general merchandise store 

 at Ita, N. C: 



Mr. W. H. Pridgen, of Creek, N. C, was born in Nash 

 county (this State), Jan. 13, 1862. Oct. 1, 1871, his mother 

 died, and he with his brother and sister were left in their 

 grandmother's care for three years. His father moved to 

 Warren county, N. C, married again, and took his children to 

 live with him. Owing to the loss by the Civil War, and bad 

 management, his father's circumstances were materially 

 changed, and Mr. Pridgen has never had the advantages of 

 five months' schooling, but was put on the farm to work when 

 so young that he claims that it gave him very much of a dis- 

 taste for farm work. As his father's family increased he 

 realized that he would have to paddle his own canoe, and 

 resolved, though only a lad, to take advantage of the first 

 opportunity presenting itself, to improve his circumstances, 

 although he had been in the county but two years, and had 

 not had the advantages of many others of his age in the com- 

 munity. 



Mr. B. P. Davis, of Creek, singled out Mr. P. as a suitable 

 boy to assist him in his store and sleep in it nights as a pro- 

 tection, and offered him the position, which was acicepted. 

 His spare time was spent in preparing himself for his new 

 calling and the bright future he then pictured out. From 

 year to year, his wages were advanced without his ever de- 

 manding it, and, from time to time, more and more of his 

 employer's business was entrusted to his care, until he was 

 made book-keeper, and did most of the buying. 



An interesting love story could come in connection with 

 his career, which, no doubt, played an important part 

 (though he might not admit it). He realized at once, that to 

 accomplish the ends he had in view, he must save his earnings, 

 and after filling his position for 11 years, beginning at the 



age of 15, sometimes sleeping in the same room every night 

 for three years in succession, and being secretly engaged to 

 Miss S. W. Davis nine years' of the time, he left Creek and 

 tacked up his shingle at Ita, N. C, without giving his real 

 reasons for so doing. Two years later Miss Davis' parents 

 gave their consent, and the young couple were married, and I 

 have been reliably informed that they are spending a life of 

 happiness that is never marred by harsh words, the greatest 

 delight of each being to play the part that will add to the 

 comfort and enjoyment ot the other. Six years ago — one year 

 after their marriage— they moved back to Creek, and I took 

 stock in the mercantile business here, and I have remarked, 

 when I knew not that it would ever fall to my lot to write 

 this, that as a partner I would not swap Mr. Pridgen off for 

 any man of my acquaintance, as he is a good and agreeable 



ir. II. Priihjcn. 



business man, as well as a christian gentleman. His father 

 kept bees during W. H.'s childhood, and he enjoyed the honey 

 taken from his long row of 5U or more log-gums, but his bee- 

 keeping experience only dates back to the time he first went 

 to Creek, 20 years ago, as Mr. Davis kept a few colonies 

 which he at once took the management of, having a natural 

 fondness for the work and study of their habits. On his re- 

 turn to Creek, six years ago, he felt at liberty to give the bees 

 more attention, and is now looked upon as an authority in 

 this section on everything pertaiuing to apiculture. He now 

 owns 80 colonies in lO-frame hives, 50 of which are uniformly 

 marked 5-banders. He has recently agreed to conduct the 

 apiarian department in a farm journal, and is endeavoring to 

 arouse an interest in bee-keeping. W. R. Harvpiy. 



Ita, N. C. 



