JOSEPH BIVINS EFIRD
Story by David Shaw
Here is the amazing life story of a native North Carolinian, athrob with action and of absorbing interest. It reads like romance. It challenges the admiration of honorable and brave men everywhere. The narrative concerns Joseph Bivins Efird, an Anson county boy. Its revelation is all the more remarkable because Efird’s wonderful success in the commercial world was achieved only by personal effort. Upon the rock-strewn road leading from the Anson farm, Joe plodded cheerfully and unwaveringly to the height of president (of) the biggest chain (32) of department stores in the United States of America! Yes, you Doubting Thomas, the largest number of “department” stores in this country!! What’s more, he smashed and conquered every obstacle that protruded itself atwart his pathway.
An Example for All Boys
Now, boys, let’s unfold this tale:
Joseph (Joe) Bivins Efird was born May 13, 1883, between Wadesboro and Albemarle, 15 miles from a railroad. There were seven boys and six girls, children of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Efird, Joe being the fifth boy. His father was a farmer, and for 10 years Joe dug ditches, stumps, cleared new grounds, plowed and hoed. Sixty days out of the year he attended public school, provided then by the county. During the sessions of a better school at Palmerville, in Stanly county, his mother would move there, so that the children could take its advantages. When Mr. Efird was 19 years old an ambition, that could not be denied, developed in him to become a merchant. Boarding a railroad train for the first time in his life in 1902, the young farmer came to Charlotte and was given a clerk’s job in the Beehive, located exactly where the Efird Department store is today, corner of East Trade and College streets. Joe’s brother, H.M. Efird, was then manager of the Beehive, and for two years his new clerk earned $15 a month! Moreover—listen, boys!—Joe sent that money back home to a colored boy to plow his father’s farm in this place, until he was 21! What a noble boy, that! The young man continued as clerk until 1907, when he and his two brothers, H.M. and E.L., bought controlling interest in the Beehive, changing its name to Efird’s Department store, number one of the great Efird chain. In the fall of 1907, E.L. and Joe opened a second store in Concord. Upon the death of H.M. Efird in 1909, J.B. returned to Charlotte and assumed charge (of the) store here, of which he is now president and general manager.
Bound to Work or Die!
J.B. Efird is a veritable human dynamo. A stranger in the store would mistake him for a clerk. There he is taking stock in the notion department; here he is selling a straw hat to a little boy; up there in the office he’s checking up a $10,000 order of merchandise; over there leaning upon a gingham counter one sees him conversing with a traveling salesman. Work is at once a joy, a pleasure—life to Efird! And now he’s added another lusty youngster to the store family. Goldsboro is its home and “32” is number upon the roll. J.B. is active president (of) all of them, employing around 2,000 men and women; E.L. Efird of Winston-Salem, secretary-treasurer of the Chain; Paul H. Efird popular manager Charlotte retail store, which employs about 100 persons. The history of the Efird organization lucidly was recorded by City Editor Dunnagan in The Charlotte Observer of June 18.
Social and Religious Activities
Mr. Efird is deacon as well as treasurer of First Baptist church here; member Charlotte Country club; Myers Park club, Kiwanian club; director Merchants and Farmers National bank.
May 8, 1917, Miss Elizabeth Withers, attractive daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Withers, and Mr. J.B. Efird were married in Charlotte. They have two lovely children, a son and daughter. Away out there in glorious Myers Park, near Queens college, 1200 Queens Road, this family occupies a palatial home of refined elegance, beautified by Nature and Art. It is characterized by Christian environment and noted for its warm, generous, southern hospitality.
Anson county was unselfish when it let Charlotte have this constructive genius. Doing so, Anson would see the whole state benefited. Efird’s successful career is possible to match by any North Carolina boy with the stamina and the will to do. Efird has no hazy business theory or complex philosophy of life. He would only advise boys to build integrity upon the everlasting rocks and establish reputation that shall endure through storms of adversity and earthquakes of distress; be guided by the compass of commonsense and propelled by the motor of elbow power.
From the front page of The Charlotte Observer, Sunday, July 9, 1922. The Efird'sadvertisement below, is from the Durham Morning Herald, July 16, 1922
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