The Lankford Family of Lafayette County, Missouri

CHATHAM E. LANKFORD.

In looking over the list of the honored citizens of Lafayette county of a past generation who have completed their allotted tasks and joined "the innumerable caravan that moves to the pale realms of shade," but who have left behind them a glorious heritage to their descendants and friends, the biographer finds none worthier of mention than Chatham E. Lankford, who was born in this county, October 26, 1829, and after an eminently useful and praiseworthy career, passed peacefully to his rest on November 7, 1909, having spent the major part of his long life in his native community, which he saw develop from the primitive wilderness and the days of the log cabin to the present fertile fields and stately dwellings, and he played a leading part in the general progress of his community. He was the son of Daniel and Hulda C. (Young) Lankford, the father born in Virginia, coming to Missouri as early as 1818 and located in Saline county, and a little later in Lafayette county. He became the owner of about one thousand acres of good land and had a good home here. His death occurred in 1842, when his son, Chatham E., of this review, was twelve years old.

Six children were born to Daniel and Hulda C. (Young) Lankford, namely: Barnett, deceased; Permelia married Rufus Young (see his sketch in this work); Chatham E., of this review; Baxter lived with the subject the last few years of his life; he enlisted in the Confederate army and served through the entire war, surrendering at Shreveport, Lotrisiana; Martha E. and Lydia, the last named dying in childhood.

Chatham E. Lankford was reared on the home farm and educated in the primitive schools. He was one of the brave band of "Forty-miners" who crossed the trackless plains of the West to California in search of gold, and he remained there seven years, and while returning home by way of the Isthmus of Panama he was shipwrecked. Many lives were lost and the subject was picked up on the coast of California. Two years later he returned home by boat, then resumed farming, which he followed the rest of his life. When the Civil war came on he sympathized with the South and served in the Confederate army under General Price; he was captured and held prisoner for some time, and according to his comrades he performed his duties as a soldier.

Chatham E. Lankford and Cecilia Smith were married on September 18, 1873. She was the daughter of Dr. T. S. and Elizabeth (Kirby) Smith, natives of Rutherford county, Tennessee, from which state they came to Lafayette county, Missouri, in 1861. Doctor Smith practiced medicine in Lexington until his death, in July, 1878, his wife having died in February of that year.

To Dr. T. S. and Elizabeth (Kirby) Smith the following children were born: Cecilia, wife of the subject; Mary has been a teacher in the Baptist College at Lexington for the past fifteen years; Susan married David Lyons; W. H. lives in California.

Chatham E. Lankford was a member of the Baptist church, while his wife held her membership with the Christian church. Politically he was a Democrat.

To Mr. and Mrs. Chatham E. Lankford seven children were born, namely: Mary H. married J. L. Pemberton and lives in Montana; they have one child; Chatham E., Jr., lives in Henry county, Missouri, is married and has three children; Baxter Y., who is farming, is married and has two children; Susan, who lives in Ferguson, Missouri, married C. H. Morton and has one child; Elizabeth, Florence and Sydney. All the daughters of this family attended college in Lexington and are proficient in music, having made this art a special study.

Chatham E. Lankford was a successful farmer and provided well for his family. He was essentially a home man; however, he always supported such public measures as tended toward the general development of his county and state, and because of his honesty, his liberality and kindness he was held in high favor by a wide circle of friends.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

A native son of Lafayette county, Missouri, who is deserving of the success he has attained in an agricultural way is George Lankford, a man who has labored persistently to advance the interests of himself and family and at the same time do what he could in assisting his neighbors and friends on the road of life, and as a result of his painstaking efforts and his honorable career he is held in high esteem by all who know him and is worthy to bear the name of Lankford, which, from the pioneer days to the present, has been revered in this locality as one standing for good honest citizenship.

Mr. Lankford was born in the township where he now resides, on April 19, 185 1, and is the son of Barnett Young Lankford and wife, the latter being known in her maidenhood as Eauphamie Ann Catron. The father was born on December 25, 1827, the son of Daniel and Hulda (Young) Lankford, both natives of Tennessee, who came from that state to Missouri in an early day, probably 18 18. The parents of George Lankford were married on July 17, 1850. The mother died in 1859, when only twenty-five years old, having been born on February 21, 1834. The death of the father occurred on February 7, 1888.

To Mr. and Mrs. Barnett Lankford six children were born, namely: George, of this review; John; Lydia R., born June 29, 1855, died November 3, 1876; Frank, born in 1857, es in Bates county, Missouri; Mary E. married Alfonso Weedin and lives in Bates county, Missouri; Martha died when ten months old; she and Mary E. were twins.

George Lankford, of this review, married, on January 3, 1897, Sarah Frances McDowell, daughter of Frank and Harriett (Miller) McDowell. Mrs. McDowell died October 9, 1893. - Lankford's family consists of five children, namely: Thomas Catron, born January 20, 1899; Jesse George, born February 8, 1901; Mary E., born October 3, 1902; Frank B., born April 14, 1904; [name withheld], born November 30, 1906, and died February 22, 1907.

Politically Mr. Lankford has always been a Democrat, but he does not find time from his individual affairs to take much interest in politics.

Mr. Lankford purchased a place of one hundred and twenty acres in 1900 and sold it in 1907, since which time he has had charge of the Catron place. He raises fine stock and, being an excellent judge of all kinds of livestock and knowing well how best to care for them, he makes a great success of this line of endeavor. He pays especial attention to Shorthorn cattle, trotting horses and Poland-China hogs. He has charge of the famous horse, "Ashbrook," which has a record of 2:13, and is one of the finest horses of his class in the state. Mr. Lankford is widely known as a horseman.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN D. LANKFORD.

One of the farmers of Lexington township, Lafayette county, who has attained a fair competence through his individual efforts is John D. Lankford. He gives close personal attention to his farm, and, having spent his entire life in this community and having been ever heedful of his daily walk before his fellow men, he holds a high place in the estimation of his neighbors, who know him as a man of probity and integrity, as they did his honored father before him.

Mr. Lankford was born in Lafayette county, Missouri, March 15, 1853, and is the son of B. Y. and Eauphamie (Catron) Lankford. The father was a native of Virginia who came to Missouri in a very early day, about 18 18, entered land from the government and developed it, establishing a good home and became an influential citizen in his community. His death occurred in

Politically Mr. Lankford was a Democrat. They were the parents of six children, namely: George is farming in Lafayette county: John D., of this review; Lydia is deceased; Frank resides in Bates county, Missouri; Molly and Elizabeth were twins; the former married Fawn Weedin and the latter (Elizabeth) is deceased. '

John D. Lankford grew to maturity on the home farm and early in life became acquainted with hard work. He attended the common schools in his native community. When twenty-two years old he began farming for himself and has made this line of work his life vocation, and now has an excellent place of one hundred and ninety-two acres, on which he carries on a diversified line of agriculture and keeps some good stock.

Mr. Lankford was married on November 27, 1890, to Rose Lee Grizzell, daughter of Lafayette Grizzell and wife. Her father was a native of Kentucky, from which state he emigrated to this state and farmer for some time. To Mr. and Mrs. Lankford seven children were born, namely: Mary, John, Vena, Clinton, Ella, Joseph and Lee.

Mr. Lankford is a member of the Presbyterian church and in politics he supports the Democratic ticket. Mrs. Lankford holds membership with the Christian church.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.