The La Fon family were French Huguenots. It is family tradition that La Rochell was their home in France.

The earliest La Fon record Mrs. Pierrepont found was the inventory of the estate of Nicholas La Fon in 1750 in Essex CO. Va. (Torrence Wills and Adm 1632- 1800) He must have died in or before 1750. The land tax records of King and Queen Co., which adjoins Essex Co on the south, show that Thomas La Fon, and Francis La Fon (under age) lived in King and Queen Co in 1782 and 183. The records also show that William and Francis La Fon sold 417 acres in King and Queen Co 1787-1792.

Thomas La Fon is on the Personal Tax Records of Chesterfield Co in 1791 and each year thereafter until his estate was appraised Jan 4, 1817. It is probable that William, Thomas, Francis and Nicholas La Fon were sons or grandsons of Nicholas La Fon of Essex Co., who died in 1750.

Thomas, Nicholas and RIchard La Fon are listed as non-commissioned officers of the Va. Line, who eceived boutny land for their Rev War service. (Brumbaugh pages 251 & 252) Thomas La Fon, at the age of sexteen, enlisted in the Va. Line for eighteen months. He was in the battles of Eutaw Springs. SC and Cowpens, SC and was wounded at Eutaw Springs.

After the war he settled in Chesterfield Co., and became a successful farmer and a Baptist minister. (History of the Middle District Association by Rev L W Moore) His large three story residence, built of hand hewn timber in Centralia, Chesterfield Co., is still standing and lived in. It was used as a military hospital during the Civil War. Thomas La Fon was born in King and Queen Co., Va., Mar 18, 1764. He died in Chesterfield Co., Sept 15, 1815. He married Lucy Catherine Gayle of Chesterfield Co., Oct 26, 1787. They had the following children:

1. John La Fon
2. Thomas La Fon
3. Atwell La Fon
4. Joseph La Fon
5. Elizabeth La Fon, who married William Hatcher III
6. Delilah La Fon, who married Valentine Winfree III
7. Sarah La Fon

John La Fon, b. 1788, d. 1857, m. Martha Johnson WInfree, a sister of Valentine Winfree III, Nov 3, 1817. She was born Feb 11, 1790, d. Sept 2, 1875. John La Fon was a sergeant in Capt Ben Grave's Co., 20th Va. Militia Reg., War of 1812. He moved his family in 1830 to Lewis Co., then a part of Marion Co., Mo. He was the second permanent white settler in Lewis Co and was Judge of the First County Court of Lewis Co., when that county was organized. They had several children, Their son Lycurgus La Fon, born in Va. 1815, lived in Marion Co., Mo. He died in 1900. He married Letitia Dimmitt. Two of their daughters, Nellie and Minnie La Fon, lived in Plamyra, Mo.

John and Martha Winfre La Fon's daughter, Lucy Catherine La Fon, named for her grandmother, was born in Va. Nov 23, 1824. She married Dr. William Epes Ellery., M D of La Grange, Mo., July 13, 1847. She died Aug 8, 1883. Their daughter Martha Winfree Ellery, b. Nov 9, 1856, married 8 John G Farmer II of La Grange, Mo., Nov 28, 1878. They are the parents of the compiler of this record. After the death of her first husband Lucy C Ellery m. second E W Mitchell of La Grange, Mo., Mar 3, 1869. He died Jan 1877.

Dr William Epes Ellery and wife Lucy Catherine's son, Dr. WIlliam Ellery II, married Cora Snapp, granddaughter of 7 John G Farmer I in 1878. Dr. Ellery I had a son Fayette La Fon Ellery, who died in 1898 unmarried; another son John Ellery died in childhood. John La Fon's brother Thomas was a missionary to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) for a number of years. He finally settled in Jessamine Co., Ky.

John La Fon's other brothers Joseph and Atwell moved their families to Marion Co., Mo., about 1830, where some of their descendants live. Dr. Joseph La Fon married Paulina Hatcher, daughter of Benjamin Hatcher of Chesterfield Co., Va. One of their grandsons was Benjamin F Winchell, a former President of the Rock Island Railroad.

John La Fon's mother, Lucy Catherine Gayle La Fon, was born Jan 1, 1765, m. Thomas La Fon Oct 26, 1787. She moved to Lewis Co., Mo., with her sons in 1830 and died Sept 8, 1831, and was buried on the farm of her son John. She was the daughter of Josiah and Sarah Gayle of Chesterfield Co., Va. They moved there from Essex Co in 1779. (Chesterfield Deed Book 8, p. 324) when Josiah bought 149 acres from Francis Marshall. His will was approved by Chesterfield Co. Court in 1795. The executors were Thomas La Fon, son-in-law, and Josiah Gayle his son. Josiah Gayle's heirs were his wife Sarah and the following children: James, Josiah, John, ELizabeth, Sarah, Lucy Catherine who married Thomas La Fon.

Josiah Gayle's heirs, except Lucy La Fon, moved to Smith Co., Tn after his death. (Chesterfield Deed Book 16, p 442 and Deed Book 17, p. 715).