From the 1907 composite photo of the Tennessee house of representatives.
A distinguished name in Wilson County, Tennessee during the first half of the 20th century, Lonsdale Porter "Lon" MacFarland Sr was a substantial landholder and stock raiser in his region and was active in Democratic political circles. He served two terms in the state house of representatives, one term in the state senate, and in the year of his death was a candidate for his old senate seat. The son of Dr. James (1818-1903) and Eulalie Cowan McFarland, Lonsdale Porter MacFarland Sr. was born in Tennessee on February 27, 1871. A veteran of the California gold rush, James P. MacFarland practiced medicine in California for a brief period and was a close friend and partner of druggist John Gately Downey (1827-1894), who was later elected to three terms as California governor. During his California residency, MacFarland was elected to two terms in the state assembly, serving from 1852-54. This office is incorrectly listed as the state senate in volume 8 of the 1913 "History of Tennessee and Tennesseans".
"Lon" MacFarland's early education was obtained in schools local to Wilson County and also studied at the University of Tennessee and the University of Virginia. Having studied law at the latter school, MacFarland continued schooling at Cumberland University in Tennessee and in 1894 graduated with his degree. He later practiced law in Texas and in the 1890s made a sojourn to the Alaska Klondike, where he tried his hand at gold mining.
After returning to Tennessee MacFarland established himself near Martha, where he purchased and improved a large farm. He was acknowledged as "one of the largest landowners in that section of the state", and gained further repute for his live stock interests. He married in February 1901 to Alabama native Elizabeth Crowe (1881-1965). The couple would have five children, Lynn Childress (died 1914), James Crowe (1904-1966), Lonsdale Porter Jr. (1911-1994), Frank Hays (1913-1927), and Alfred Towson (1917-2006). Of these children, Lonsdale MacFarland Jr. followed his father into law and attained the rank of Colonel following his service in WWII. He later was elected as president of the Tennessee Bar Association and was a civic leader in Maury County.
With his name widely known amongst the Wilson County citizenry, MacFarland entered politics in 1900 when he announced his candidacy for the state house of representatives. Though unsuccessful in his run, MacFarland made several speaking engagements in his district, and in 1906 announced his second run for the legislature. He was elected that November and at the start of the 1907-09 session was named to the committees on Banks, Elections, Municipal Affairs, and Public Grounds and Buildings. He would also chair the committee on Penitentiaries.
In November 1912 MacFarland won a second term in the legislature and during the 1913-15 term sat on four new committees, those being Constitutional Conventions and Amendments; Insurance; Jails and Workhouses; and chaired the committee on Waterways and Drainage. This term saw MacFarland's name be mentioned as a candidate for U.S. Senator from Tennessee, as the state legislature was then responsible for electing a senator. This special election occurring due to the death of Robert L. Taylor, MacFarland was one of several men proposed for that body. He was narrowly defeated by educator William R. Webb, who served until March 1913.
A few months following his senate loss MacFarland made headlines of a different sort when he exchanged heated words with another odd-name legislator, Green Miller, who had recently resigned as a representative. Following an exchange in the lobby of the capital, MacFarland denounced Adams as "having betrayed his confidence, and betrayed the democratic party", with the Nashville Tennesseean reporting that MacFarland's voice could be heard throughout the lobby.
From the Nashville Tennesseean, May 18, 1913.
Lon MacFarland returned to government service in November 1918 with his election to the Tennessee state senate from the 13th district. He served one term (1919-21) and was a member of the committees on Claims; Manufacture and Mining; New Counties and County Lines; Pensions; Privileges and Elections; Public Roads and Internal Improvements; Railroads; Redistricting; and Sanitation.
After leaving office Lon MacFarland was a candidate for Democratic state committeeman in the 1928 primary and in 1930 entered into the race to reclaim his old senate seat. While still a candidate, MacFarland died unexpectedly at his home while reading on July 15, 1930, aged 59. He was survived by his wife and three sons and was interred at the Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.
From the Nashville Tennesseean, July 17, 1930.
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