JOHN Q. A. LEDBETTER is a son of James A. Ledbetter, a native of Christian County, Ky., and now makes his home in Elizabethtown. Hardin County. James A. Ledbetter was born in 1827, and though he had but little education in school, yet be was a man of accurate observation, and by contact with the world has acquired a good practical education. He was brought up on a farm, and also learned the carpenter trade. He removed to Hardin County in 1843, where he followed farming and carpentering until 1847, when he removed to Desha County, Ark. Remaining there until the spring of 1850, he returned to Illinois and bought forty acres of land in Hardin County, to which he devoted his time, cultivating and improving it until 1856, when he removed to Elizabethtown, 111., and followed his trade as carpenter. He now lives at Cave in Rock, ten miles from Elizabethtown, with his wife, to whom he was married in 1845 and who bore the maiden name of Mary Scoggins. She was a native of Hardin County, and became the mother of eight children, five of whom still survive, and who are in comfortable circumstances.
John Q. A. Ledbetter, the subject of this sketch, was born December 23, 1849, in Desha County, Ark., where his early days were spent on the farm, but in 1856 he engaged with his father on a trading boat, plying up and down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. His early education was obtained in the country schools, but he afterward attended school two years at Evansville, Ind., and graduated from the public school of that place, after which he began the study of law in 1871. He was admitted to the bar in 1872 and ever since he has successfully followed the practice of the profession. He was elected County Judge in 1873, and served in that capacity four years, giving the best of satisfaction to his constituents. In 1880 he was elected State's Attorney and served in that office eight years, and also held the office of Master in Chancery at one time. By close attention to his duties he has accumulated quite a snug little fortune, and is one of the wealthiest citizens of the county. He was first married August 8, 1875, to Artiraissa Steele, who died on the 9th of August, 1882, leaving two children, Gracie and Oakly A. His second marriage, which occurred on the 5th of February, 1884, united him with Miss G. Ledbetter, of Kentucky, by whom he has two children. Wily A. and Dossett E. Politically Mr. Ledbetter is a Democrat, taking an active part in the conduct of the campaigns of the party. He is a Mason and belongs to Lodge No. 276, at Elizabethtown and is also a member of Empire Lodge No. 54, I. O. O. F., as well as a member of the Masonic Chapter at Metropolis. While he is not a member of any church, he is an earnest worker in the interest of the Christian denomination, to which he contributes liberally.
Extracted from Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, published in 1893, page 350
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