Felder, Rufus Knight

Rufus Knight Felder, Livingston Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller

ufus Knight Felder, farmer, Port Vincent, La. In preparation of this brief outline of the history of one of the successful farmers of Livingston parish, appear facts which are greatly to his credit. His intelligence, enterprise, integrity and many estimable qualities have acquired for him a popularity extending over the length and breadth of the parish. He was born in Amite county, Miss., in 1820, and is a son of David and Jane (McMoris) Felder, natives of the Palmetto state. The parents were married in the above mentioned county, in 1819, and in January, 1830, came to Livingston parish, La., settling near where their son Rufus K. now resides. The father died in 1842, at the age of sixty-one years, and the mother received her final summons in 1882, at the age of eighty-seven years.

Rufus Knight Felder, the eldest of nine children born to the above mentioned union, came with his parents to Livingston parish when ten years of age, and there received his education. Miss Sarah A. Singeltary, who became his wife in 1853, was born in Louisiana in 1834, and was the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah A. (Ambros) Singeltary. This union resulted in the birth of seven children: Newton, Charley, Elizabeth O., Alfred K, Edgar, Emma (deceased) and Gertrude. Mr. Felder is a member of the Farmers' alliance, and is a man of considerable influence in his community. He affiliates with the democratic party, has been justice of the peace, and has been parish and school treasurer. He and Mrs. Felder hold membership in the Methodist church.

Mr. Felder has lived on the same place, four miles north of Port Vincent, since 1849, is one of the honored and esteemed citizens and gives liberally of his means to all worthy movements. He had three brothers in the confederate army: Otis H., Jesse T. and Baxter, only Baxter now living.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 1), p. 410. Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.