LEA, Allen O., McNairy County, TN, then Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: 1999-2000



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Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and
Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 248-249.  Edited by Alcée
Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Lea, Allen O., postmaster of Shreveport, La., is one of the best-known men in
business, political and social life in the northern section of the state. 
Born Aug. 8, 1876, in McNairy county, Tenn., and reared in his native
locality, he received a primary and grammar school education at home; then
entered the southern Tennessee normal school, from which he graduated in 1895. 
Continuing his studies, Mr. Lea matriculated in the law department of
Cumberland univesity, at Lebanon, Tenn., and in 1897 was awarded his diploma. 
The same year of his graduation as a lawyer was marked by his election, at the
age of 21, as the mayor of Selmer, Tenn., a public trust which he ably filled
during 2 years.  In 1899 Mr. Lea was appointed postmaster of Selmer, serving
in that official capacity to the year 1902, when he was appointed office
deputy United States marshal, and to fill this position, he removed to
Memphis, Tenn.  The following year he came to Shreveport, La., as chief deputy
United States marshal, which position he held about 6 years, and in 1910 he
was appointed United States marshal for the western district of Louisiana,
which position he resigned in Dec., 1910, to accept the place of postmaster of
Shreveport.  Mr. Lea is a member of the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, of the
Genevieve Orphanage board, and member of the Shreveport golf and country club.