Benton Co., AR - Biographies - Capt. Whitfield C. Lefors

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        Date: 20 Jun 1998
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SOURCE:  Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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Capt. Whitfield C. Lefors was born in Scott County, Ky., June 25, 1830, and is a son of Samuel
and Margery (Montgomery) Lefors, who were born in North Carolina and Kentucky in 1785 and 1792,
and died in Texas and Arkansas in 1849 and 1876, respectively. The father removed with his
parents to Kentucky when a child, and there became a successful farmer. His father, Raney Lefors,
was born in France, and came to America in his youth, and afterward married Miss Gillispie, of
Irish descent. Mrs. Margery (Montgomery) Lefors' father was Henry Montgomery by name, an Irish
refugee, who came to America and served in the War of 1812, and died while on his way home after
the close of that war. Whitfield C. Lefors moved with his parents to Morgan County, Ill., in
1831, but soon after went to what was then the Territory of Arkansas, and in 1833 became a
resident of Green (now Dade) County, Mo. Here he grew to manhood, and received such education as
the meager facilities of that day afforded. In his eighteenth year he and his parents immigrated
to Texas, where he was married to Miss Martha L. Hale in 1850. She was born in Christian County,
Ky., October 29, 1836, and died July 25, 1886, a daughter of Benjamin Hale, a farmer. Mr. Lefors
farmed in Texas until October, 1854, when he came to Benton County, Ark., settling on unimproved
land, and began the task of opening up a farm. In August, 1863, he enlisted in Company F, Second
Arkansas Cavalry, U. S. A., and served in Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi
until the close of the war, when he returned to his home and resumed farming. He rose rapidly to
the rank of first lieutenant, and afterward acted as captain of his company until the close of
the war. In 1868 he was elected sheriff and collector of Benton County, and held that office from
March of that year until January. 1873, being afterward appointed county treasurer, which office
he held two years. He also served one year as mayor of Bentonville. He resided in Bentonville
from 1869 until 1885, but since that time has resided on his farm. He is in comfortable
circumstances, and is one of the progressive farmers and worthy citizens of the county. He has
seven children living, all of whom have received good educations; their names are Elbridge Gerry.
John Henry, Virginia, Elijah Oscar, Capt. Drummer, Lillie and Daisy. He also has seven children
dead, whose names are Richard Whitfield, born August 10, 1852, died April 16, 1863; Samuel Green,
born January 15, 1854, died August 14, 1854; Benjamin Patten, born December 12, 1855, died March
22, 1857; Fremont, born January 9, 1857, died May 6, 1876; Charles Bingly, born June, 1869, died
September 12, 1871; Martha Ellen, born in the fall of 1872, died April 10, 1873; Lucy, born March
25, 1879, died November 15, 1880.