Witherspoon, Thomas S.

Submitted by Mike Miller

Witherspoon, Thomas S., broker and dealer in refined sugars, 219 North Peters street, New Orleans, was born in Marengo county, Ala., April 7, 1869; son of Rev. Dr. A. J. Witherspoon, who was born in South Carolina. The father was a Presbyterian minister, who located at New Orleans about the year 1873, engaged in mission work among sailors, especially, and became a very prominent and noted character in connection with this work. He founded and for many years conducted the Seamen's Bethel at New Orleans. Rev. Witherspoon is elsewhere mentioned in this work. He died in 1891, while engaged in his work. His father, James Henry Witherspoon, was born in South Carolina, of Scotch-Irish parentage, his father having come to America about 1734 and located in South Carolina. Mary Way became the wife of Rev. A. J. Witherspoon, and mother of Thomas S. She was born in Tuscaloosa county, Ala., and died in 1908. To them the following children were born: Amarintha Mary, Oct. 30, 1851; Jane Donnom, born in Mississippi, Sept., 1853; James Minte, born in Marengo county, Ala., 1858; Isaac Hervey, Jackson Thornwell and Frances Dick were all born in Marengo county, Ala., their respective birth dates being 1860, 1862 and 1865. Thomas S. is the youngest of the family, and was 5 years old when the family removed to New Orleans. He was educated in the public schools of New Orleans and in the Leche school for boys, of the same city. Sept. 19, 1893, Thomas S. Witherspoon was married to Miss Grace Jones, daughter of P. A. and Janie (Reese) Jones, of New Orleans. Mrs. Witherspoon was born, reared and educated in the city of New Orleans. Two children have been born to them, namely: Andrew James, born July 15, 1894; Felix Augustus, Nov. 17, 1895, died Aug. 22, 1896. Thomas S. Witherspoon began his business career as an office boy in the service of the Gay Sugar Refining Co. He afterward spent about 6 months as clerk in a country store, and following this, was connected with John Barkley & Co. in the sugar business for a time. Later he entered the service of A. Baldwin & Co., hardware, and became a traveling salesman for a period covering about 3 years. In 1892 he engaged in business as a broker in refined sugars. This business has prospered greatly and has occupied his attention to the present time. Mr. Witherspoon is a man of large affairs and extensive interests in New Orleans and adjacent territory.

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 472-473. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.