From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, not currently in print.
Arthur Leonard Ledbetter, son of Thomas Logan Ledbetter and Lois Almedia Randal, was born on November 9, 1859 in Dallas County, Texas. His birthplace was located on the south side of the 4500 block of West Keist Blvd., which was then just a country lane, just west of the Five Mile Community. He was reared to farm life and after reaching manhood was employed as foreman of the Cockrell Ranch. He went on several cattle drives on the Chisholm Trail to Kansas. He was named after his grandfathers, Arthur Ledbetter and Dr. Leonard Randal, who were early day settlers in Texas.
Arthur Ledbetter came to Texas in 1848 and took a headright in Dallas County as a member of Peters Colony. Dr. Leonard Randal came to Texas in 1838 and took a headright in San Augustine County and in 1842-43 was a senator in the Sixth and Seventh Congresses of the Republic of Texas.
To his family and friends Arthur Leonard was called “Lon” or “Lonnie.”
On March 11, 1894, Arthur Leonard married Perdita Myers in Dallas County, Texas. She was born March 1, 1873 in Dallas County, Texas, the daughter of Meredith Myers and Sarah Elizabeth Rogers. Her birthplace was located near the northeast corner of Wright Street and Franklin Street in Dallas, and all that remains to mark the spot is a small grove of trees. To her family and friends Perdita was called “Perd” or “Aunt Perd.”
Lonnie and Perd set up housekeeping in the Cockrell Ranch House located on the north side of the 6600 block of West Kiest Blvd. about one half mile east of the Dallas Baptist College.
About 1901-02, Lonnie bought out his half-uncle, William “Uncle Bill” Ledbetter, purchasing 40 acres of land which included a recently constructed 2 story, 8 room farm house, which was located on the southwest corner of Cockrell Hill Road and Illinois Avenue. He later purchased an additional 87 acres on the southeast corner of Cockrell Hill Road and Illinois Avenue and here Lonnie and Perd farmed and raised their family of 2 sons and 3 daughters.
1) Hubert Stanley born December 9, 1894 in the Cockrell Ranch House, died July 8, 1946 in Dallas County, Texas, buried in Cox Cemetery, Dallas, Texas; married July 19, 1917 in Dallas County, Texas to Lottie Spillman, born November 30, 1900 in Dallas County, Texas, and is now living in Sherman, Texas. They are the parents of 1 son and 2 daughters: Lonnie Kassuth (“L.K.”), died November 5, 1964; Beulah Annette, and Doris Faye.
2) Gordon born August 8, 1897 in the Cockrell Ranch House, died October 31, 1965 in Dallas County, Texas, buried in Laurel Land Cemetery, Dallas, Texas; married March 2, 1920 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas to Myrtle May Briley, born May 2, 1904 in Dallas County, Texas, died June 27, 1985 in Dallas County, Texas, buried in Laurel Land Cemetery, Dallas, Texas. They were the parents of 4 daughters: Louise, Alice Joyce, Jo Ann, and Nancy Gordon.
3) Lois Elizabeth born October 5, 1899 in the Cockrell Ranch House and is now living in Dallas, Texas; married December 27, 1928 in Dallas County, Texas, to Murray Keffer Talley, born August 19, 1899 in Dallas County, Texas, died March 9, 1968 in Dallas, Texas, buried in Five Mile Cemetery, Dallas, Texas. They had no children.
4) Ethel born July 1, 1902 in the farm house on Cockrell Hill Road, died August 8, 1984 in Dallas, Texas of injuries from an automobile accident which happened on July 17, 1984 on Highway 22 near Whitney, Texas, buried beside her son Walter in Laurel Land Cemetery, Dallas, Texas. She was first married on September 22, 1921 in Dallas County, Texas to James Thomas Jones, born July 14, 1900 in Kaufman County, Texas, died April 8, 1975 in Mineral Wells, Texas, buried in McAdams Cemetery at Possum Kingdom Lake in Palo Pinto County, Texas.
They were the parents of 2 sons: James Thomas Jr. and Walter Arthur (died May 2, 1948). Ethel and Tom Jones were divorced July 24, 1941 in Dallas County, Texas. Ethel married second on June 27, 1944 in Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin to John Fred Gunnell, born September 13, 1894 in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, died March 28, 1953 in Winnebago County, Wisconsin. They had no children. She remained a widow for the rest of her life spending her last 20 years at her home on the shore of Lake Whitney near Whitney, Texas.
5) Elfleda Josephine born May 1, 1905 in the farm house on Cockrell Hill Road, died January 29, 1957 in Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas, buried in Five Mile Cemetery, Dallas, Texas; married September 1, 1927 in Dallas County, Texas to Sammie Augusta Taylor, born December 5, 1904 in Camp County, Texas, died June 14, 1969 in Irving, Dallas County, Texas, buried in Five Mile Cemetery, Dallas County, Texas. They were the parents of one son: Ernest Edward.
Lonnie and Perd and their family lived a profitable and comfortable life. Their home was a showplace in southwest Dallas County with its long driveway lined with cedar and pecan trees leading up to the front yard. Clustered around the house was a large washhouse with a leanto on the back for the carbide plant which furnished the gas for the gas lights in the house. The piping for the gas system had been salvaged from the Oriental Hotel. There was a smokehouse, two large chicken houses, a garage for Lonnie’s big touring car and out back was the necessary outhouse – a two-holer. There was a large solid concrete storm cellar, which saw frequent use; and at the edge of the back porch was a deep, hand-dug, brick and plaster-lined cistern, which collected rainwater from the roof and provided an ample supply for the laundry and hair washing. There was a sink in the kitchen and a bathtub in the pantry supplied with running water from an elevated water tank, which was kept filled by a windmill that drew water from an inexhaustible spring. A short distance from the house were located the usual farm buildings; barns, sheds, stock pens, granary, corn crib, blacksmith shop and a large shed for the huge thresher and steam engine.
Lonnie and his half-uncle George Washington “Uncle Peahull” Ledbetter were the co-owners of the thresher and engine, and they contracted to do virtually all of the threshing in southwestern Dallas County. Uncle Peahull was a Commissioner of Dallas County for 8 terms, 1916-1933, and Ledbetter Drive is named for him.
The beautiful farm house burned in November 1938 and in the years following World War II Lonnie and Perdita’s children, who had inherited the 127-acre farm, gradually sold off each of their portions which are now occupied by a shopping center, single-family homes, and apartments. Arthur Leonard died at home on his farm in Dallas County, Texas, on January 14, 1922. Perdita died February 14, 1939 at the home of her daughter Lois Talley in Dallas, Texas. Lonnie and Perdita are buried in Five Mile Cemetery in the 3800 block of West Kiest Blvd., Dallas, Texas.
By Tom Jones, Dallas
