WILLIAM BENJAMIN LAUGHTER, JUNIOR was born February 19, 1827 in Fayette? Co., Tennessee-on Twp 3, Range 9, Dixie PO, DeSoto Co. MS 1870 hh146-131, and died December 29, 1877 in Eudora, DeSoto County, Mississippi-bible record in possession of Dan Laughter.  He married MARY ANN HOPE February 18, 1858 in DeSoto County, Missisippi, daughter of JAMES HOPE and MARGARET KENNEDY?.  She was born May 18, 1836 in Mississippi or Alabama per census, and died January 31, 1877 in Eudora, DeSoto County, Mississippi-bible record in possession of Dan Laughter.

 Notes for WILLIAM BENJAMIN LAUGHTER, JUNIOR:

FROM THE LAUGHTER FAMILY GENEALOGY BY DOUGLAS LAUGHTER OF HOUSTON, TEXAS

 Their children were raised by Harriet Laughter, the widowed wife of John Laughter.

EDWARD BENJAMIN LAUGHTER was born March 05, 1868 in Hernando, DeSoto County, Mississippi, and died September 30, 1948 in Portales, New Mexico.  He married WILLIE E. HARWELL December 21, 1887 in DeSoto County, Mississippi.  She was born November 20, 1868 in Hernando, DeSoto County, Mississippi.   On 1900 Cleveland Township, Columbia County, Arkansas census, SD 17, Ed 114?, sheet 13A, p. 135, household 204-204. On 1910 Runnels County, Texas, Pct 3, SD 16, ED 217, sheet 4A, household 62-62. In 1920 they were living in Solano Pct, Mora County, New Mexico - household 91-93, SD 1, ED 120, Sheet 4B. On 1930 Roosevelt County, New Mexico, Pct 1, Portales, SD 5, ED 21-4, sheet 7A, p. 162, household 121-128.

DANIEL TURNER LAUGHTER was born October 27, 1871 in Eudora, DeSoto County, Mississippi-B&D from copy of family bible record sent by Dan L, and died December 22, 1952 in Abilene, Jones-Taylor County, Texas.  He married LUCY SMITH HIATT November 15, 1915 in Abilene, Jones-Taylor County, Texas.  She was born about 1894 in Abilene, Jones-Taylor County, Texas.

 Notes for DANIEL TURNER LAUGHTER:

FROM THE LAUGHTER FAMILY GENEALOGY BY DOUGLAS LAUGHTER OF HOUSTON, TEXAS

 Daniel's mother died when he was only four years old and his father died the following year.  His aunt, a widow with 10 children, took him to her farm home near Hernando, Mississippi, where he lived until he was 17 years old.  He attended a country school known as the California Community School and after his aunt's children left home, he managed her 80 acre farm as a teenager.

 Daniel came to Texas in 1894, at the age of 23, working for a year as a carpenter at Honey Grove.  He later worked for a furniture store where it was customary to handle undertaking business as a sideline.  After attending courses and lectures in New Orleans, Memphis, Waco and San Antonio, he became an authority as an embalmer.  In 1900, he moved to Abilene and went into partnership with J.M. Ingle in the undertaking business.  After Texas passed a law in 1903 requiring all embalmers to be licensed, Daniel became the 80th embalmer to pass the first state examination at Fort Worth that year.  He dissolved his partnership in 1908 and started the Laughter Funeral Home in Abilene.  He married 1915 to Lucy Smith Hiatt in Abilene.  In 1945 he associated with Russell North and the business name was changed to Laughter-North Funeral Home.  He was a member of the First Methodist Church, Charter member of the Abilene Lions Club, Abilene Country Club, Knights of Pythian and Woodmen of the World.  

On 1900 Fannin County, Texas census, Pct 5, Honey Grove, SD 2, Ed 76, sheet 25B, (1st Street), in household 487-491 of William Shortal?. On 1910 Taylor County, Texas census, Pct 1, Abilene, SD 16, Ed 264, sheet 13A, p. 48, household 246-253 (South Third Street) boarder in household of James Grier. On 1920 census of Taylor County, Texas, Pct 1, Abilene, SD 17, Ed 26, sheet 1B, household 9-13 (South First Street). On 1930 Taylor County, Texas census, Pct 1, Abilene, SD 8, ED 221-14, sheet 21A, p. 202, household 451-531 (Amarillo Street) - he is listed as a funeral home undertaker.