Thursday, July 29, 2021

Clifford Wheat of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana


Clifford Wheat
Photo Courtesy: Joyce Lafonta

Clifford was born on October 16, 1904, in Amite, Louisiana. He was born to John and Delia Wheat. His sibling was: John, Jr, Conley, Percy, Enna, Hebert, and Emma Wheat. Clifford was a man of some means. Several years back, I met with Joyce Lafonta and cousin of Clifford Wheat. She inherited all of Clifford's papers and photographs when she purchased his home. 

When I was a small child growing up in Amite, Louisiana, we sometimes visited his home. The house and yard were so clean, and the house had such a homely feeling. He was a farmer who hired people to work on his farm. He was a barber too. 

Clifford was the grandson of Saul and Julia Lawson Wheat. The United States Federal Census didn't say when Saul was born, but it stated that Julia was born about 1834 in Louisiana. Julia died at the age of eighty-five on September 10, 1919. 

Joyce had quite a few exciting documents and records from Clifford's collection. The description told a lot about Clifford's life, accomplishments, and business dealing in Tangipahoa Parish.