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D. M. Lankford, was born October 1825, in Tennessee, and is a son of Henry and Sarah (Hamilton) Lankford, natives of Tennessee. The father was born October 27, 1800, and died May, 1874. The mother was born February, 1806, and died January 31, 1883. Our subject’s maternal grandfather, James Hamilton, was born May 1, 1757, in North Carolina, and died about 1831 or 1832, in this State. His maternal grandmother was also a native of North Carolina and was within sound of the battle of Bunker’s Hill when it was fought. D. M. worked on the farm till he was twenty years of age, at which time he engaged in tilling the soil on his own responsibility, and has continued that occupation up to the present time. In 1861 he entered the Confederate Army in Company H, Forty-sixth Tennessee Infantry, and at the re-organization our subject was elected orderly sergeant, which position he held till the surrender of his regiment on April 8, 1862. He was lodged in prison at Camp Butler, Ill., where he remained about six months, and was then exchanged at Vicksburg, September 1862. On account of ill health he was discharged, but was conscripted December 1863, and joined the Fifteenth Tennessee Mounted Infantry. He remained with his command till Jun 10, 1864, at which time he was wounded in the right breast, and now carries the ball. At the close of the war he again engaged in farming and has been quite successful in this occupation. He has been married twice, the first time February 14, 1847, to Ann Eliza Reed, who died July 29, 1865, leaving eight children: John H., Sidney C., Thomas J., James M., Theresa A., (Mrs. John B. Brummitt), Perina Jane (Mrs. William W. Routon), Sarah M. and Anna S. April 10, 1867, Mr. Lankford married his second wife, Maria C. Cable, and this union resulted in the birth of three children; Robert H., William E. and Adolphus. He is a Democrat in politics and an elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

William H. Lasater, lumberman and prominent citizen of Paris, was born in Wilson County, Tenn., in 1838, and is one of nine children, five of whom are living, born to Calvin and Martha (Goldston) Lasater. The father was born in Wilson County in 1817, educated at Lebanon University, and was a farmer by occupation. He was married in 1837, and in 1852 came to Henry County, settling in the Fourteenth District, where he remained till 1860. He then removed to Obion County, and continued farming till 1865, when he returned to Henry County, locating in the Seventh District. He died here in January, 1876, a devout member of the Christian Church. The mother of our subject was born in Wilson County in 1820, and is now living on the old farm in the Seventh District. Our subject remained at home till he reached his majority, and received a good common-school education. He farmed for about eight years, and the following eight years was engaged in manufacturing tobacco five and a half miles east of Paris. He then went to Texas, and at the end of a year returned to his native county. He bought a saw-mill, which he ran about three years, when W. H. Hudson entered as a partner, and they introduced the manufacturing of staves for two years. In 1885 Mr. Lasater sold his interest to Mr. Hudson, and he, in company with M. H. Freeman, purchased a planing-mill in the south part of the city, where their present business is located. This is the only establishment of the kind in the city, and is doing a flourishing business. The firm is familiarly known at Freeman, Lasater & Co. May 8, 1857, Mr. Lasater married Nannie Hart, a native of Henry County, born in 1838, and the daughter of George and Catharine Hart. By this union our subject became the father of ten children, eight living: Laura (Mrs. George P. Lee), Rufus William, Nannie, Novella, Jesse, Herbert, John and Haford. Our subject was formerly a Whig, and cast his first presidential vote for John Bell; he is now a Democrat, a member of the Masonic fraternity, K. of H., K. of P., and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, he being a deacon of the same.

John L. Lemonds, the genial clerk of the Henry County Court, was born October 6, 1837, near the Kentucky line, in Henry County. He is a son of Robert and Eleanor H. (Martin) Lemonds, who were natives of North Carolina, but were reared in Henry County. The father was a blacksmith in early life, and was surveyor of his county for many years. For three and a half years previous to his death, which occurred September 25, 1855, he was clerk of the county court. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church, and was much esteemed by his many friends. He was in fair financial circumstances. His wife died December 9, 1869. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject was reared on his father’s farm, and at the age of twenty years was appointed deputy county clerk for two years. He then enlisted in Company C, Fifth Tennessee Infantry, and served four years and ten days. He was shot in the arm at Murfreesboro, and at Peach Tree Creek, Ga., was wounded in the right shoulder. October 4, 1865, he married Margaret E. McCorkle, and to them was born one son, Robert J., who is now eleven years of age. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lemonds are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he is a Democrat, politically. In August, 1878, he was elected county court clerk, and in August, 1886, was elected to his third term. He was deputy clerk of the circuit court from 1865 to 1867, and was trustee from 1872 to 1876. He has been a farmer since 1869, and now owns about eighty-five acres of land near town.

H. H. Lovelace, farmer and extensive breeder of thoroughbred trotting horses and short-horn cattle, was born in Halifax County, Va., in 1833, and is one of a family of four children, all living: James R., of Martin, Weakley County; Ann E. (Mrs. C. N. Lovelace), H. H. and Susan J. (Mrs. T. M. Farmer), deceased. The father, Nat M. Lovelace, was a native of Halifax County, Va., born in 1804, and was of English descent. About 1825 he married Ann E. Carleton, and removing to Weakley County in 1838, resumed his farming. He led an active and industrious life, and died about 1876, a much esteemed citizen. Mrs. Lovelace was born in Virginia, in King and Queen County, and died about 1873. Our subject was reared under the parental roof, and educated at the common schools of Weakley County. In 1858 he entered the mercantile business at Como, where he continued till about 1874, except during the war. Since that time he has devoted his attention exclusively to farming. He is the owner of 285 acres of land in this county, and of a third interest in 600 acres in Weakley County. The home farm of 110 acres is very fine and valuable land, under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Lovelace is a man of fine financial and good business capacity, and is a good citizen. He is one of the stockholders and electors of the Bank of Paris, and also of Martin. He is one of the stockholders in the co-operative store at Como. Soon after the war he was appointed by the State Legislature as commissioner of war claims for Henry County. May 1, 1861, he married Emma E., daughter of T. H. and Matilda Foster, of Weakley County. Emma E. was born in Weakley County, Tenn., in 1844. Our subject is a Republican in politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Millard Fillmore in 1856. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

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