My Genealogy Hound

Dr. Herndon H. Lea, one of the first physicians of Webster County, Mo., was born in Cocke County, Tenn., October 1, 1816, and is one of the representative citizens of the county. His parents, Eppey H. and Mary Lea, were natives of North Carolina and Jefferson County, Tenn., respectively. The father was born January 8, 1791, and died in Knoxville, while on a business visit, October 5, 1883, although at the time of his death his home was in Anderson County, Tenn. The mother was born in 1792, and died in Jefferson County, Tenn., in 1838. They were married on a farm in the last named county in 1811, and afterward moved to Cocke County, Tenn., then to Jefferson County, and still later to Anderson County of the same State. Mr. Lea was a soldier in the War of 1812, was a farmer, and both he and wife are members of the Methodist Church. To their union were born eleven children, ten of whom lived to be grown, and six of whom are now living: Dr. H. H; Martha, wife of Spencer Hand, of Roane County, Tenn.; Elizabeth, widow of Joseph Binns; Nancy, widow of Charleton Fairless; Gideon B. B., and Frances, wife of William Taylor. After the death of the mother of these children Eppey H. Lea married Miss Eaton, who bore him one son, William. Dr. Herndon H. Lea studied medicine at home and under Dr. Tate, of Clinton, Anderson Co., Tenn. In 1845 he left home for a two weeks’ business trip down Clinch River, but came to Missouri, locating at Hartville, Wright Co., Mo., where he resided until 1863, when he went to Clyde Station, in Illinois, and remained there until 1869, when he moved to the farm where he now lives, and where he owns 180 acres of some of the best land in Webster County. He continued to practice medicine until he was elected clerk of the Wright County Circuit Court which position he held until 1855. In January of the year previous he sold goods at Hartville, and was engaged in buying and selling all kinds of stock. Since coming to Missouri he has been engaged in farming and stock-raising. While in Anderson County, Tenn., he was colonel of the militia for four years. In the last election, without his knowledge, he was elected justice of the peace. On May 5, 1846, he married Miss Martha Love, daughter of Col. Thomas B. Love, and a native of Haywood County, N. C. She died in 1848, at the age of twenty-six years, and is the mother of one daughter, who is now the wife of Leonard A. Morphis, an artist, residing near Dr. H. H. Lea. January 9, 1853, Dr. Lea married Miss Nancy H. Officer, a native of McMinn County, Tenn., born November 11, 1828, and the daughter of Jefferson B. Officer. No children were born to the first union. Mrs. Lea is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; the Doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, is a Democrat in politics, and is one of the most enterprising citizens of this section of the State of Missouri. In 1850 he was assistant United States marshal, and took the census of Wright County. From 1854 to 1861 he and John M. Gorman built, by themselves, the school-house at Hartville, and he has been a liberal contributor to the building of many churches.