A. D. McFARLAIN
                          JENNINGS, LA


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Source: Southwest Louisiana Historical and Biographical by William Henry Perrin
published in 1891; page 178.
Typed by Margaret Rentrop Moore


A. D. McFARLAIN, JENNINGS.-A. D. McFarlain, merchant, farmer and stock raiser,
was born in St. Mary parish, Louisiana, 185.,3. He is the son of James and
Abigail (Hayes) McFarlain. James McFarlain was born in Ireland.
His parents removed to Virginia when he was an infant, where he was reared and
educated. When a young man he removed to St. Mary parish, Louisiana, where lie
became a successful planter. Later he removed to Calcasieu parish, where be
purchased, the farm which our subject now owns. Mrs. McFarlain died in
1855 James McFarlain afterward married Miss Mary B. Guidry, of Calcasieu parish.
The first marriage resulted in the birth of four children, three sons and a
daughter, viz: William Lee, Andrew D., the subject of this sketch,
Jerome, Mary A.., wife of E. Venable, now deceased. Four children were also born
to the second marriage, three daughters and one son, viz : Clamonse, wife of
Nerville Cart; Velerie, wife of Joseph Beard; Columbus and Victoria,
wife of C. A. Guillard.
The subject of this sketch began life at the age of thirteen as a farm hand. At
this he only worked, however, for a year, when he engaged in saw milling,
and in this continued for a period of twelve years, during which time he 
accumulated sufficient capital to begin a mercantile business. He erected the
first store in what is now the flourishing town of Jennings. He has since been
engaged in business at this place, and may be termed the founder of the
town. Mr. McFarlain has succeeded well in his business and is now one of the
largest property holders of the place.  His business amounts to over twenty
thousand dollars annually. His store building was erected at a cost of fifteen
thousand dollars, and he owns fifteen residences in the town and about four
hundred lots, besides four thousand acres of farm land. He also owns and
operates a large saw and shingle mill, with a capacity of manufacturing thirty-
five thousand shingles per day. On his plantation, Mr. McFarlain gives special
attention to the cultivation of rice, planting about one thousand and fifty
acres annually.
He was married, in 1873, to Margaret Humphries, daughter of Jefferson and Mary
(Herbert) Humphries, of Calcasieu parish. To this union have been born eight
children, six sons and two daughters, viz: Claud D., Durell, deceased; Durelia,
James, Mary A., deceased; William, Andrew D., Jerome.
Mr. McFarlain is one of the oldest and best known citizens of this section of
Louisiana. Whatever success he has attained in life is wholly due to his own
efforts. He is prominent in local affairs, both social and political. He served
four years as deputy sheriff, and for a similar length of time as constable,
though he has never been an office seeker.