My Genealogy Hound

Louis A. Lafont, a prominent farmer near Osceola, was born in New Madrid County, Mo., in 1826, and was the third child in a family of nine children born to Anthony and Frances Lafont, of Missouri and Indiana, respectively. The father moved to New Madrid County in 1810, and was residing there at the time of the great earthquake in the latter part of that year, and during which he lost his first wife, who, like many others, died from fright on that occasion. Mr. Louis A. Lafont gives a vivid description and recalls many interesting experiences and incidents of that wonderful yet disastrous phenomenon, which he remembers having heard his father tell about. The elder Lafont died there in 1848, his second wife following him in 1857. Louis remained in that section during his youth, and attended some of the best schools in that district, and also at New Albany, Ind., his education occupying about eleven years of his life altogether. He received his first commercial experience at Point Pleasant, Mo., in 1848, where he engaged in general merchandise business, and remained at same for three years. In 1853 he moved to Metropolis, Ill., and entered into mercantile life at that point, also manufacturing brick and contracting for erecting buildings. His reputation was rapidly pushed to the front in that line, and soon afterward he built a large flour-mill for himself, which he put up at an expense of $30,000, besides many fine and expensive private residences. He continued in various business enterprises at Metropolis for eighteen years, and during that time was one of the foremost men in advancing and improving the town. In 1872 Mr. Lafont moved to Mississippi County, Ark., and settled on Frenchman’s Bayou, where he commenced farming and dealing in merchandise. He remained there fifteen years, and then moved to Sans Souci, where he has resided ever since. In 1853 Mr. Lafont was married to Miss Malinda Chote of Massac County, Ill., and nine children have been born to this union, of whom six have died. The names of all are Augustus (deceased), Eugene, Lina, Fannie, Mary (deceased), Willie (deceased), Charles (deceased), Walter (deceased), and Dickey (deceased). Mr. Lafont met with a sad misfortune in disagreeing with his wife, and was legally divorced; after a sufficient period of time he was married to Miss Iola Hanna, of Illinois, daughter of Dr. John Hanna, of Massac County, Ill., from which union they have had three children: Clarence (deceased), Edgar (deceased) and Grover Cleveland. Sans Souci has a valuable citizen in Mr. Lafont and one to whom she can point with pride. No man has displayed more enterprise and desire to see his county and his town (Osceola) take rank among the most important places of Arkansas than this gentleman, and certainly no citizen enjoys a greater popularity than he does, both in business and social circles.