Hillsborough County FlArchives Biographies.....DeShong, L. Henry  November 7, 1881 - 
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Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 October 19, 2012, 4:47 pm

Source: The Lewis Publishing Co., Vol. III  pg. 120 1923
Author: The History of Florida:  Past & Present

DeSHONG, L.  HENRY.  The record of some men's lives read like a romance, so 
many are the obstacles which they are called upon to remove from the path of 
their upward progress.  Such obstacles form a barrier to some between their 
ambition and their abilities, and which they never pass.  Such was not the 
case with L. HENRY DeSHONG, clerk of the courts of Hillsborough County, who is 
now one of the leading citizens of Tampa, for in spite of many hardships which 
began when he was but a child he has risen to a responsible position in his 
community, and in office of importance in the government of the County.
	L. HENRY DeSHONG was born on a farm in Hillsborough County, Florida, 
November 7, 1881, a son of L.C. and MOLLIE (WALAND) DeSHONG, and grandson of 
JESSE DeSHONG and SYLVESTER WALAND.  JESSE DeSHONG was born in South Carolina, 
and SYLVESTER WALAND was a native of Georgia, and both became early settlers 
of Florida, coming here when L.C.DeSHONG and MOLLIE WALAND were about ten 
years old.  These children were both born in Georgia, but from the time they 
came to Florida never left the state but once, and never had any desire to do 
so, for to them it was the garden spot of the world.  They were reared, 
educated and married here, and here their fourteen children were born, of whom 
ten are now living, and all of these survivors are residents of Hillsborough 
County.
	Growing up in his native county, L. HENRY DeSHONG was early forced to 
make himself useful, for the family was large and money scarce.  At the age of 
nine years he began herding sheep in the adjacent woods, and was kept at that 
work until he was thirteen years old, at which time he was regarded as old 
enough to do a man's work on the farm.  His educational opportunities were 
confined to those afforded by the country schools when he had time to attend 
them, and such instruction as his mother could give him.  The farm was planted 
to fruit, and through the almost superhuman efforts of father and sons had 
been brought to such a productive state in 1895 that the father was offered 
$35,000 for it.  He refused to consider the deal, and the following day the 
labor of years was utterly wiped out in the disastrous freeze.  The trees were 
utterly blighted, and it took five years more hard work to make the farm 
productive once more, and in this labor L. HENRY DeSHONG bore his full part.
	In 1907 Mr. DeSHONG came to Tampa, and in the different life of this 
center of activity found that the stern lessons of adversity were great value 
to him, for they enabled him to get a firm footing and to advance rapidly and 
securely.  For seven years he was a member of the city fire department, and 
then for two years was engaged in the mercantile business.  In 1918 he was 
elected clerk of the courts of Hillsborough County, and is capably filling 
that office.  A democrat, he has always been very active in party matters, and 
is one of the leaders of it in the county.  For many years he has been one of 
the valued members of the Baptist Church.
	In 1909 Mr. DeSHONG married FRANCES LORENA SUMNER (sic), a daughter of 
J. R. SUMMER (sic), of Dade City, Florida, and they have two children, namely: 
ELBERT JOSEPH and VIOLET.  Truly a self-made man, there is perhaps no one who 
deserves more credit for what he has accomplished than Mr. DeSHONG.  His 
career is a notable one, and is the story of laudable ambition, unfaltering 
activity and earnest endeavor to reach a high plane, and that the qualities 
chosen as chief factors in his life, honor, integrity and determination, have 
been productive of much good in his present high standing in both official and 
private life is most clearly proven.


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