Lewis County, West Virginia Biography of COMMODORE PERRY LUNSFORD ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , July 1999 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 177 COMMODORE PERRY LUNSFORD. In the citizenship of Lewis County, Commodore Perry Lunsford has been a well known and esteemed figure for many years, grew up here, was for a time a traveling salesman, subsequently in business for himself at Weston, and was elected assessor of Lewis County after eight years of experience as deputy assessor. Mr. Lunsford was born in Lewis County, August 20, 1876, a son of Andrew and Almira (Hudson) Lunsford. His father was born in old Virginia May 2, 1847, while his mother was born in Lewis County in September, 1838. Both grew up on farms in Lewis County, had a common school education, and after their marriage they settled on a farm. Andrew Lunsford started life without capital, but his industry and good management as a farmer and cattleman brought him ultimate prosperity in the owner- ship of a good farm of 325 acres. He was a democrat, a Knight of Pythias and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His four children were: Dora B., deceased wife of H. B. Wagoner; W. O., a Lewis County farmer; A. J., a railway engineer with the Balti- more & Ohio Railroad. Commodore Perry Lunsford, the youngest of the children, grew up on his father's farm and acquired a common school education. He had the routine duties of the homestead until he was twenty-one, and then sought employment in different lines and for nine years was a traveling salesman with the Standard Oil Company. On leaving the road he located at Weston and conducted a feed store and dairy business until he was appointed deputy county assessor in 1912. Mr. Luns- ford was deputy for eight years, and in November, 1920, was elected county assessor, beginning his first official term in January, 1921. Mr. Lunsford is a democrat, is affiliated with Weston Lodge No. 43, Knights of Pythias, and he and his family are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. On Sep- tember 7, 1898, he married Hadee L. Brown, who was born in Lewis County in August, 1881. They have three chil- dren: Bertie E., wife of Clay Smith; Harry E. and and Margaret A.