FOLLOWING BIOGRAPHY ON BACK OF PLATE:

REV. WILLIAM R. PETTIFORD, D. D. It Is difficult to present a, life's record so as to furnish a correct estimate of the man in question. Particularly is this true if we attempt to give upon a page the account of a long life of active and useful service. Among the leaders in Christian work In the state of Alabama, Dr. W. R. Pettiford ranks very high, having but few, if any, superiors. As a business man he is unexcelled. Twelve years of unremitting toil and unbroken success in the banking business demonstrate the truth of this assertion. In presenting this sketch we could not do better than quote fro m the Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptist of Alabama, by, Rev. C. 0. Boothe D. D.: Rev. W. R. Pettiford, D. D., son of William and Matilda Pettiford, was born in Granville county, North Carolina, January 20th, 1849. He was, when a boy, of an industrious turn of mind, working faithfully ,it whatever his hands found to do. At one time he was with the tanner, and at another time he was running his father's farm. At the age of 21 years he un with the Baptist Church of Recksboro, Person county, North Carolina, and was immersed by the Rev. Ezekiel Horton of Salisbury. While he was serving this church as clerk he told his mother the secret, which he greatly desired that she would not reveal, that he felt called to the gospel ministry. Brother Horton often put up, at their home, hence soon got possession of the secret. Dr. Pettiford now says: "When 1 was, called Into an examining council and learned that my secret was out, I was very much frightened, but the advice given upon this day has ever been helpful to me." At the commencement of Solma Univerglty, 1877-78, he joined Brother Woodsmaall becoming a member of the pioneer faculty of the school. It was here that he was seen as the patient, studious, industrious man-loved by tender youth and trusted by those of riper years. He was called to ordination by the Berean Baptist Church, Marion, Ala., and ded- icating hands were laid upon his head in Marion, Ala., in the midst of the Conventional Session held there in November, 1880. After this he severed his connection with Selma University to enter the pastorate in Union Springs. As teacher and financial agent he made such a record that unprecedented prestige was given to his work at Union Springs, where for two years, by his labor of love and sacrifice, he laid the foundation for permanent Christian work that shall stand through- out all time. For a brief period Dr. Pettiford worked under joint appointment of the American Baptist Home Mission Society and the Home Mission Board of the Alabama Baptist State Convention as lecturer for ministers. In this capacity he accomplished a great work. Many ministers to-day look back to those days when they sat in institutes conducted by him as the times of their greatest inspiration for mental and spiritual development. As president of the Alabama Penny Savings Bank he has a reputation as ex- tensive as the country of which he is a citizen. There is no city of importance where this bank has not done business. It has gained the reputation of being a safe business, having survived several panics to which many other similar Institutions have succumbed. Dr. Pettiford has managed to find some time to write. He is the author of the following treatises.. , "Divinity in Wedlock," "God's Revenue System" and "The Centenary, all of which do him honor and his fellow man service. But this sketch would be incomplete if It were closed without stating this truth: That much of the Doctor's success is rightly attributed to the sympathy and help of his life companion, formerly Miss Della Boyd, to whom he was joined in bonds of wedlock November 22, 1880. 'Three children have graced their home, being systematically trained for usefulness in life.