My Genealogy Hound

La Fayette L. Lochridge, hardware merchant, Fordyce, Ark. Fordyce ranks deservedly high as a commercial center, and prominent among its resources is the trade carried on in hardware. Identified with this trade deserving of notice is La Fayette L. Lochridge, who is a member of the Fordyce Hardware Company, which was organized in September, 1888, and is one of the leading mercantile firms of that city. Mr. Lochridge was born in Maury County, Tenn., in 1827, and is a son of Thomas M. and Deborah (Wright) Lochridge, both natives of Tennessee, who were born in Maury County, in 1797 and 1800, respectively. The parents were wedded in Bedford County, and settled in Maury County, where, with the exception of two years spent in Alabama, they lived until about 1847, and then removed to Arkansas, Dallas County, where the father was engaged in farming the remainder of his life. He died in 1862, and she in 1872; both were members of the Methodist Church for many years. Mr. Lochridge was a very successful farmer, one of the best in the county, and was a member of the Masonic fraternity. His father, James Lochridge, was born in England, and soon after his marriage came to America, where he fought for independence. Soon after that war he settled in Maury County, Tenn., and was among the earliest settlers of that State. There he and wife died. Of the four children born to his parents, La Fayette L. Lochridge is the eldest, and three are now living. He was early taught the duties of farm life, and received his education in the common schools. He began for himself as a farmer, at the age of twenty years, and in 1856 was married to Miss Anna Lullenberger, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., who came with her parents to Arkansas at an early day. To this union were born eight children, four sons and one daughter now living. Mrs. Lochridge died in July, 1876, and Mr. Lochridge was married the second time in July, 1877, to Miss Fannie Jones, daughter of John Jones, who moved from Mississippi to Texas and thence to Dallas County, Ark., about 1860, where he received his final summons. He was justice of the peace for some time. Mrs. Lochridge was born in Mississippi, and by her marriage became the mother of seven children—three sons and four daughters. In 1862 Mr. Lochridge joined Company C, of Col. Grinstead’s infantry corps, and operated in Arkansas and Texas. He was captured several times, and surrendered at Marshall, Tex. He then engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he continued until 1888, but for some time previous to that had become interested in merchandising in Fordyce, where he then made his home. He is the owner of several lots besides the one on which he is living, and has a good business house in Fordyce. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for about forty years, and is the oldest Mason (who was made a Mason in this county), with the exception of one, in the county. He and Mrs. Lochridge have been members of the Methodist Church for many years.