HOUSE, 41st General Assembly, 1879-81; representing Stewart and Montgomery counties; Democrat; HOUSE, 48th General Assembly, 1893-95; representing Montgomery County; Independent. Born at Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Jan 25, 1835; son of William and Elizabeth A. (Welborn) Ledbetter. Attended “common schools”; graduated from Union University, Murfreesboro. Married in 1868 to Maggie Chilton of Clarksville, Montgomery County, daughter of Robert S. Chilton, no children indicated.  Engaged in farming and in grocery business at Murfreesboro; at death of his father, 1862, moved to Dover, Stewart County, to look after interest in Iron Mountain Furnace and to continue farming; removed to Clarksville, 1883, to engage in manufacture of building and construction materials; operating planning mill, destroyed by fire Dec 14, 1888; also devoted much time to bee culture, operating an apiary. Chairman Montgomery County committee of Populist Party, 1894. Elder in Christian Church; member Free and Accepted Masons; American Legion of Honor. Died at Clarksville, June 13, 1907; buried in Old City Cemetery. Son of William Ledbetter, sometime member TN General Assembly.

Sources: Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle, June 25, 1900; June 14, 1907; Jan 27, 1919; Clarksville Daily Tobacco Leaf-Chronicle, Aug 18, 1894; Titus, Picturesque Clarksville, 411; Goodspeed, History of Montgomery County, 1065; Beach, Along the Warioto, 261.

Biographies submitted by Jill Hastings-Johnson, Montgomery County Archivist

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