Lieut. J. A. Mentlo is a son of Dr. W. and Mary (Alexander) Mentlo and was born in Macon County, Tenn., in 1833, being one of two children, and the only child surviving. The father was born in Barren County, Ky., March 1, 1804, and died February 23, 1870. He was a son of Daniel Mentlo, who was a native of Virginia and one of the pioneers of Barren County, Ky. Our subject's father was a man of ability and energy; he was a physician by profession, and graduated at Lexington, Ky., and soon became one of the leading physicians in this county. He moved to Hartsville when about eighteen years old, and began the practice of medicine. He married March 18, 1828, and in 1838 went to Gallatin, but three years later moved to the country, not far from Gallatin, where he purchased a large tract of land and remained on it until his death. The mother was born in Smith County, May 11, 1811, and died October 10, 1865, a devout member of the Christian Church. Our subject was raised at home attending the neighboring schools, but completing his studies at Bethany, Va. October 20, 1852, he married Miss Susan, daughter of John and Mary Branham, and three of the five children born to them are living: Mary, wife of Wm. Hall, of Gallatin; Nannie, wife of Wm. H. Dunn, and Susie M., wife of Sam M. Anderson, of Louisville, Ky. He has since resided at the old homestead farm, owning 624 acres of valuable land, containing a handsome brick residence. It is four miles south of Gallatin, on the Hartsville Pike. In 1862 Mr. Mentlo enlisted in the Confederate Army, in Company C, Bennett's battalion, as first lieutenant and remained one year, he participated in the battle of Shiloh, and was then discharged on account of the expiration of his commission, and was soon after captured and held as a prisoner at Gallatin and Louisville for three months, and was then paroled. Mr. Mentlo is an extensive land owner and a well posted farmer. He is liberal in his support of all charitable and religious enterprises and is a true Democrat. He is a Knight of Pythias, a Knight of Honor and Knight of the Golden Cross, and with his wife belongs to the Christian Church. Mrs. Mentlo was born in Sumner County in 1833.