THOMAS LAFON

He studied medicine at Transylvania University in Kentucky, graduating in February 1827. His ordination for the ministry took place at Marion College in Missouri September 1835, making him the second doctor-preacher to be sent to Hawaii.

On November 14, 1836, Dr. Lafon married Sophia Louisa Parker at New Bedford, Massachusetts. A month after their marriage, Dr. and Mrs, Lafon were member of the Eighth Missionary Company which sailed from Boston on the barque, "Mary Frazier" , and arrived in Honolulu on April 9, 1837, after a voyage of 116 days.

After due deliberation at the annual General Meeting of the missionaries, Dr. Lafon was assigned to Kauai. Arriving October 10, he was stationed at Koloa and became the first resident physician for that island. Dr. Lafon was also the first of the sugar plantation doctors, arrangements having been made with Ladd and Hooper to pay for his services to plantation workers.

The doctor was a strong abolitionist and was not hesitant in expressing his censure of the Mission for accepting support from slave owners. A reprimand for an anti-slavery letter written by the doctor to the missionary publication brought Dr. Lafon's resignation on May 24, 1838. Urged by his many friends to reconsider, the doctor recalled his letter and his resignation.

In 1840 Dr. Lafon organized a new school at Nawiliwili, Kauai, and established the village of Lihue. He also had twenty acres of sugar cane under cultivation. All this in addition to his regular professional duties.

After the General Meeting held in Honolulu in the Spring of 1841, Dr. Lafon submitted his resignation for a second time. Again the doctor's feelings about missionary funds derived from slave owners forced his resignation, and on June 22, 1841, it was accepted. From then until he left he was hired by the Mission to care for the medical needs of the members.

Boarding the "Zephyr" on October 28, 1842, the Lafons sailed for New Bedford and arrived there in May 1843.

After the death of his first wife in 1844, Dr. Lafon married Ruth Ann Atwell Tweedy on September 24, 1846, in Harlem, New York. They had three children: Thomas, Jr., Anne Katherine, and Joseph.

Dr. Lafon practiced in Newark, New Jersey, until his death, which occurred there on March 20, 1876, at the age of 75.

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