L. G. EBLEN. Coming to Howell County, Missouri, when ten years of age, L. G. Eblen has since made for himself an honored position among the repre-sentative men of the county, and has been closely identified with many of its best interests. He is at present the county collector and his reputation is not merely local, but extends over a wide stretch of country. Mr. Eblen is a native of Tennessee, born in Weakley County, July 17, 1859, and the fourth in order of birth of seven children born to Isaac and Sarah (Harvey) Eblen. The elder Eblen was born in Henry County, Tennessee, in 1824, and is descended from an old and honored family in this country. He grew up in Tennessee, attended the early schools of that State, and there remained until 1870, when he came to Missouri and located northeast of West Plains. He homesteaded a farm and is still living in the same part of the county. He has always followed agricultural pursuits and is a well to-do, useful citizen. Before leaving Tennessee he was married to Miss Harvey, whose father was an early settler of that State, and she died in January, 1892. Their children were named as follows: Mexico, now the wife of J. W. Weatherly, a farmer of this county; Rufus died in infancy; Oscar died when twenty years of age; L. G., subject; Francis C., a farmer near the old homestead; L., a farmer in the same neigh-borhood, and Joseph is living at Alton, Oregon County, and is editor of the south Missouri paper. The elder members of this family were Hardshell Baptists, but the younger were with the Missionary Baptist Church.
L. G. Eblen passed his boyhood and youth on the old home farm and gained a good practical education in the schools of his district. When twenty years of age he began teaching in Howell County, followed this for three years, and was then elected sheriff of the county. This was in 1882, and as he was but twenty-three years of age, he was the youngest sheriff in the State. This did not prevent him from making a very efficient and capable official and during the two years he was in office he had some important criminals in his charge. In 1887 he was appointed postmaster at West Plains under President Cleveland and held the office three years and three months. In 1890 he was elected to the office of county collector and reelected in 1892, filling the office with credit to himself and his constituents. He has always been a strong Democrat in politics and is active in public matters. Mr. Eblen is a member of the First Baptist Church of West Plains. He has stock in the Farmers’ and Merchants’ Bank of West Plains, owns real estate in the city and has a farm one mile west of this place. He is living in the southeast part of West Plains, where he has a neat residence, and this is presided over by his wife, formerly Miss Elizabeth Williams, of Oregon County, daughter of W. D. and Alphie (Simms) Williams, now of this city, but formerly of Oregon County. Mr. and Mrs. Eblen have two living children: Carrie and Ona. They lost a son, Clarence G. Mr. Eblen is a deacon in the church and his wife holds membership in the same. He contributes liberally to all church and school organizations and is a public-spirited citizen.