J.B. Stephenson of Severn Is Right Man for Peanut Exchange Board, July 7, 1921

The selection of Mr. J.B. Stephenson of Severn as Northampton’s member of the board of directors of the Peanut Exchange is one of the very best that could have been made. Mr. Stephenson is known all over Northampton County and the people have great confidence in his integrity and business ability. He is a successful farmer and business man. He is president of the Bank of Severn and his experience in this position enables him to better serve in this new position, which calls for business men of high order. If the other counties have done as well as Northampton in electing directors, the Exchange will be a success from the start.

The organization is designed to play an important part in the development of Eastern Carolina and Virginia. If it proves successful, and we believe it will, it will be followed by similar organizations for handling other important crops of this section; in fact, the cotton and tobacco farmers are already organizing in the same way. Cooperative marking has been made a great success in other parts of the country, and why not in the South?

Transportation and marketing are the two big problems that confront the Southern farmer. With us there is always a large production; how to get our produce to market and handle it after reaching the population centers are the big problems. The Peanut Exchange will be ready for business this fall. Business men as well as farmers can help in this movement.

From the editorial page of Roanoke-Chowan Times, Rich Square, Northampton County, N.C., Thursday, July 7, 1921; published by Andrew J. Conner.