HON. A. S. J. LEHR. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is the present representative of Carter County, Missouri, and he is unquestionably one of the ablest and best posted young men in the same. He resides three and a half miles east of Hunter, this county, is a farmer and teacher, and has for a number of years taken a prominent part in political matters. Born in Jacksonport, Arkansas, January 30, 1867, he is the son of Richard H. and Sarah J. (Hardin) Lehr, and the grandson of John F. Lehr, who came from Germany to the United States in an early day. Richard H. Lehr was born in Alabama, but about 1855 came to Carter County, Missouri, and when the war broke out he enlisted in the Confederate Army. He was made captain of a company and served throughout the war. He held a number of offices in Carter County, was an excellent public speaker, and was universally respected. His death occurred in Doniphan, Ripley County, about 1871. Mrs. Lehr was born in Tennessee, and was the daughter of Burgess Hardin, who died in Marshall County, Tennessee They were the parents of four children, as follows: Emma, wife of James A. Croak, a farmer of this county; Clara K., wife of William E. Croak, of Ripley County; John H., a farmer and a teacher and a leading man in the county; and A. S. J., our subject.
On a farm in this county our subject grew to manhood, and what time he could get from the duties necessary on the same he attended the common schools. Most of his education has been received by his own exertions. He started out in public life in 1889, and was elected to the office of county school commissioner, and served two terms. In 1892 he was elected to represent Carter County in the Legislature, and he is the present Democratic nominee for reelection. Mr. Lehr is one of the best known young men in the county. Pleasant, genial, talented and attractive, with always a pleasant word for all, high or low, rich or poor, it is not strange that he should be so general a favorite. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and socially a Mason, a member of the Van Buren Lodge.