April 1, 1955, is the last time anyone saw 27-year-old James Rufus Williams. He’d reported to work at the Old Fort Finishing Plant as usual, but left early due to either not feeling well, or having forgotten something. He was last seen walking along the railroad tracks in Old Fort, NC.
James was reported missing and law enforcement began searching for him, going as far as to drag areas of the Catawba River in hopes of making a recovery. Nothing was ever located to suggest what happened to Mr. Williams.
His stepdaughter recalled that days prior to his disappearance, he had been having problems with his blood pressure, but it’s unclear how severe this was.
Local Police have no records from the time that James went missing.
The textile plant that James had been working at, at the time of his disappearance has since closed and unfortunately, many of the people that were important to him have since passed.
He was declared deceased by the social security administration in 1962.
If you have any information please contact the McDowell County Sheriff’s Office at 828-652-2235.
03/06/2022 – no new information
