Page 725-26
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 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 settled in Maury County, Tenn., and was among the
earliest settlers of that State. There he and his 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 re 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 Marshell, 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.