My Genealogy Hound

L. D. STROUD born in Wilson County, Tenn., Oct. 7, 1842, is one of eight children of O. B. and Lucie (Lester) Stroud who were born in Halifax County, Va., and Wilson County, Tenn., May 2, 1803 and June 29, 1824, and died April 14, 1863, and March 11, 1875, respectively. They were married November 11, 1841. The mother was a daughter of Joshua Lester, founder of the Baptist Church at Smithfork, Tenn., and its pastor for thirty-seven years. Our subject received his education at what was known as the “Three Forks Institute” and afterward attended the Mount Vernon Institute. When sixteen he entered the teachers’ profession continuing until the breaking out of the war when he enlisted in Holton’s Seventh Tennessee Infantry and participated in the battles of Seven Pines and Cedar Run; was wounded in the arm at the former battle and yet carries the ball in his shoulder. He was severely wounded at the latter battle and has never entirely recovered from its effects. After his return home he resumed teaching and paid off a debt of $300 which his father had contracted for his schooling. In 1877 he accepted the presidency of the Woodbury College for a period of two years, but ill health obliged him to abandon the profession entirely. March 13, 1865, he wedded Leathy A., daughter of John and Anna Sneed, born December 22, 1841, and has borne six children: Cornelia (Mrs. A. G. Penuel), Minnie (Mrs. R. B. Penuel), Angie, Nettie, Bernice and Garland. In February, 1884, Mr. Stroud took a trip to Mexico for a business house at Nashville, and while there acquired a thorough knowledge of the Spanish language. Mr. Stroud is the owner of 250 acres of fine land and his home is pleasantly and picturesquely situated. He is a Democrat in his political views and took an active part in State politics in 1879. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and his wife belongs to the Baptist Church.