Bio: Jesse Marion Ledbetter, M. D., Claiborne Parish, LA
Source:  Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890
Submitted by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez

**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************

Jesse Marion Ledbetter, M. D.  The profession of the physician is one of the
noblest to which a man can devote his life, that is if he makes a proper use
of the talents given him, and this Dr. Ledbetter has most assuredly done.  He
is a resident of Summerfield, La., but was born near Harpersville, Scott
County, Miss., February 3, 1854, being the youngest of the following ten
children: Benjamin T., Mary (wife of T. J. Denson, a druggist and pharmacist
of Harpersville, Miss.), Lou (the wife of J. K. Whitehead, deceased, of
Harpersville, Miss.), Dora (wife of J. H. Dorsett, a planter of Scott County,
Miss.), W. S. (a resident of Summerfield, La.), William S. (who was married to
Miss Mattie Morgan, a resident of Mississippi, and during the last ten years
of his life he has been with the Doctor in the mercantile business in
Summerfield, but prior to this he had been a planter.  He entered the was with
the first company that left Scott County, Miss., in 1861, and served till the
close of the war), A. A. (an eminent physician and surgeon of Hallettsville,
Lavaca County, Tex.), W. H. (a planter of Grayson County, Tex.), Toressa C.
(wife of P. T. Talbot, who is a banker, real estate broker and dealer in
general merchandise at San Marquis, Tex.), McPherson B., and Dr. Jesse M. (the
subject of this sketch).  Benjamin T. Eldest in the family, was married  to a
Miss Vanderhurst, and died at the age of fifty-two years.  He was a leading
politician of Northwestern Louisiana, and his influence was plainly felt
throughout this region.  At this death he was surveyor-general of the State of
Louisiana, having been appointed by President Cleveland.  McPherson B., ninth
in the family, was married to Miss Nannie Calloway.  He was a finely educated
young man, and at the time of his death, which occurred when he was thirty-two
years of age, he was associated in the mercantile business with the Doctor and
William S., and was joint proprietor with the former in a drug store, and was
in very independent circumstances.  He and his brother, Benjamin, now sleep
beside their mother and father in Summerfield Cemetery.  The father and mother
of there children, William and Casandra S. (Black) Ledbetter, were born in
Georgia, the former being a farmer in early life and a merchant of
Summerfield, La., during his declining years.  Both parents were liberally
educated and were supporters of all good scholastic institutions, being also
ardent and consistent members of the Primitive Baptist Church for many years. 
They are now deceased and are sleeping their last sleep in the cemetery of
Summerfield.  Dr. Jesse M. Ledbetter first attended the common schools, after
which he took a partial course in Springhill Institute (which afterward became
known as Cooper's Institute), and still later entered the State University at
Oxford, Miss., an institution he attended two years, when he commenced the
study of medicine.  He graduated at the Charity Hospital Medical College with
distinction, after which he entered upon his practice at Ludlow, in Scott
County, Miss., where he remained two years, then removed to Summerfield, La.,
in 1878, where his home has been up to the present time, winning golden
opinions for himself from all who have secured his services.  Some of his time
has also been given to cotton growing, and of this work he has made a decided
success.  For a period of ten years he has been associated in the mercantile
business with his brother, William S., at Summerfield, where they have a very
large and paying business.  The Doctor commenced life for himself at the age
of twenty-two years without a dollar of capitol, and although he had rather a
hard road to hoe for some time, he at last gained a foothold and is now in
good circumstances.  His wife, whom he married November 15, 1877, and whose
maiden name was Joannah Barrow, was born in Alabama, but was reared in
Louisiana, and to their union two children have been born: Wiltz McP. (age
twelve years), and Marion A. (age ten).  Mrs. Ledbetter's father was a
minister of the Primitive Baptist Church, but was also a cotton planter, and
for several terms represented his county in the State Legislature of Alabama. 
Dr. Ledbetter is a Democrat, and at all times supports the principles of
Jeffersonianism, being an active partisan and using his influence for the
election to office of men of principle and honor.  His first vote was cast for
Hon. S. J. Tilden for the presidency, and in 1888, he was a delegate of the
State convention held at Baton Rouge.  He is the owner of about 1,000 acres of
land, and besides his interest in the mercantile establishment above
mentioned, he is the owner of a large roomy, typical Southern residence in the
village of Summerfield.  All this property has been accumulated by business
tact and acumen, but his business is so diversified that he has no time for
leisure.  He and his wife have lived very happily together.  Mrs. Ledbetter is
a worthy member of the Primitive Baptist Church, and her husband has always
been a liberal contributor to this as well as other churches.