John Harris Lesley, a well-known citizen of Talladega county, was born in that county, on Christmas day, in the year 1850. His paternal grandparents, John Harris and Mary Lesley, went from Indiana to South Carolina soon after their marriage, and later came to Alabama, where they passed the remainder of their lives. While living in South Carolina their son. Theodore Lesley, the father of John Harris, was born. There he married Rebecca Brock, and after the death of her father, Charles Brock, came with her mother and his parents to Alabama in 1836.
He rented a farm near Munford, where he died in 1892. He and his wife had twelve children, five of whom, with their mother, were still living in 1904. He was a Democrat and both himself and wife were members of the Baptist church.
John Harris Lesley acquired such an education as the common schools of Talladega county afforded and began life as a farmer. He continued in that occupation until 1893, when he engaged in railroading and in operating a sawmill. He was later employed by John H. Wilson in a meat market at Munford, though he still owned a part of the old homestead, where he resided. He affiliated with the Democratic party, then later became a Populist and an active member of the Farmers’ Alliance.
In 1873 he was married to Sarah Clark, a daughter of Matthew and Minerva (Bean) Clark, of Talladega county. Matthew Clark was a son of Benjamin Clark, one of the pioneers of Calhoun county, Alabama. Minerva Bean came to Alabama in her childhood, with her father, James Bean, who was one of the early settlers of Talladega county.
Mr. and Mrs. Lesley were blessed with the following children: Ada May Lesley, Mastin Leonidas Lesley, Mary Daisy Lesley, Minnie Lula Lesley, Charles Emmett Lesley, deceased; James Theodore Lesley, John Oscar Lesley, William Clark Lesley, Anna Eola Lesley, Clifford Coleman Lesley, Ruby Lesley, and Samuel Troy Lesley
SOURCES
1.Notable Men of Alabama: Personal and Genealogical, Volume 1 edited by Joel Campbell DuBose
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