Hon. William Lafayette Doss, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller

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Hon. William Lafayette Doss, of Ruston, Lincoln parish, La., was born in Dallas county, Ala.,
in 1850.  His father, T. A. K. Doss, was a well-known farmer.  His mother who was Miss Martha
Traylor, was of a well-known South Carolina family.  His father was married three times, and
the subject of this sketch was born of his second marriage.  His father died in March, 1861,
when young Does was but eleven years old.  Two years later, at the age of thirteen, he was
placed by the administrators of his father's wealth, in the charge of his father's estate, in
consequence of which responsibility his educational advantages were necessarily limited.  He
attended school a short time, however, after the war, but on account of the financial troubles
brought upon the family by the war, he was compelled to devote almost his entire time to work.
In 1874 he removed to Morehouse parish, having been unfortunate in business in Alabama, and
leased a plantation which he operated for nine years, at the expiration of which time he
purchased land in what is known as Gum Swamp portion of the parish.  After the projection of
the railroad through this section, in 1889, Mr. Doss sold his plantation at a large advance on
its original cost, and engaged in the mercantile business, at Doss station, which was named in
his honor.  He carried on planting to some extent in connection with his mercantile business,
and by hard work and the best of management he has succeeded in building up an enterprise which
yields him a large income.  Since 1876 he has taken a prominent part in public affairs. In 1878
he was elected a member of the police jury of Morehouse parish and served continuously until
1888, with the exception of about one year, when he resigned his position and only consented to
accept it again upon the petition of his fellow-citizens.  It may be said that he was elected
and several times reelected absolutely without solicitation on his part and frequently against
his protest.  Upon his nomination to the office of member of the legislature, the convention
passed a resolution instructing Mr. Doss to cast his vote for a certain man for the office of
United States senator.  He declined to be so instructed, stating that if the confidence reposed
in him was not sufficient to warrant the people in allowing him to exercise his own judgment,
he would not represent them, but the nomination was confirmed and he was elected.  Mr. Doss
introduced the original bill which was subsequently revised by a special committee appointed
for that purpose, and afterward passed, providing for the redistricting of the state with
reference to the election of judges and district attorneys, so as to reduce the judicial
expenses which will be a saving to the state of about $40,000 per annum.  In the lottery
question which so much agitated the people of Louisiana, Mr. Doss took an uncompromising stand
against the rechartering of the Louisiana state lottery. His term of service will expire in
1892.  Owing to better facilities afforded by the education of his children, Mr. Does removed
to Ruston from Doss station in January, 1891.  He was married in 1880 to Miss Jennie A. Keller,
of Morehouse parish, who bore him three sons and two daughters.  The younger daughter died in
the fall of 1890.  Mr. Doss is a Free Mason and a Knight of Pythias, and a consistent and
helpful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is also a member.  He is
giving his children the best educational and social advantages, believing these to be better
than any legacy he could bequeath them.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 1), pp. 381-382.  Published by the
Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.