About

Where does the surname LeFors come from?

Renald Rene (Raney) La Force III had 11 children & of the 7 boys Samuel, who was born at NC in 1785 & died at TX in 1849, was the only one in the family to change his last name.

“When he was still an infant his father took his family to Fayette Co., KY.

In about 1806 in Scott Co he married Margery Montgomery (1792 – 1876), daughter of Henry Montgomery. Henry was an Irish refugee who had come to America, served in the War of 1812 & died on his way home from service.

Samuel’s older children were born in Scott Co: James Jefferson 1808-1881, John S. 1813-1874, Anna (m. Henson) 1812, Mary (m. Henson) 1814, Sarah (m. Weatherman) 1816-1843, Eleanor (m. Casebier) 1818-1904, Henry 1818-1902, Thomas M. c. 1823-1862, Samuel 1824-1877 & Whitfield Collins in 1830-1900. In 1831 he moved to Morgan Co ILL & 2 years later to Green Co MO to an are which later included Dade Co where he was a pioneer settler. William Green was born there in 1835-1902.

In 1848 he & some of his sons went to TX – perhaps to Hopkins Co, where he died the next year. 4 or 5 years later his wife & sons moved back eastward to Benton Co Ark where 2 older sons, John & Samuel, had already established themselves. His oldest son James had moved to Jenny Lind in Sebastian Co southeast of Ft. Smith.”

So if you’re a LeFors…then you come from Samuel La Force.