John Lafon was born on January 8, 1775, probably in North Carolina. He likely came to Montgomery County, Virginia in the 1790's. He married Mary(Polly) Bowen on July 18, 1797 in Montgomery County. Polly was born about 1776 in Botetourt County and was the daughter of John Bowen and Elizabeth (Betsy) Lafon. John Bowen and Betsy lived on Craigs Creek in what is now Craig County, Virginia.
After marriage, John and Polly Lafon settled at the head of Clover Hollow in Giles County, Virginia. The Giles County deed book shows that John Lafon bought 334 acres of land
on August 13, 1811 in the Clover Hollow area.

John Lafon was killed April 29, 1840 when a tree fell on him while clearing land on what is now known as the Ed Sibold place in the head of Clover Hollow. He was buried in the family cemetery.

The children of John and Polly Lafon were:
1. Naomi, born 1798 in Giles County, married Elias Harless (1794, Giles County) in August 1818 and moved to Miami County, Ohio. They later moved to Washington Township in
Drake County, Ohio. Naomi died there in 1886.
2. Elizabeth (Betsy), born 1799 in Giles County, married Joel Sartain, Jr. (1795, Giles County) in September 1820. They lived in Giles County and she died August 24, 1858. She is buried in the John Lafon Cemetery.
3. Zacheus Lafon, born 1801 in Giles County, married Peggy Lucas (1803, Giles County). He later married a Susan Saunders in February 1852.
4. Nancy, born 1803 in Giles County was never married. She died January 1, 1875 and is buried in the John Lafon Cemetery.
5. John Lafon, Jr., born in 1805 in Giles County, married Delilah (1809, Giles County).
6. Bethia, born 1807 in Giles County, married Henry Hunter (1803, Giles County).
7. Mary (Polly), born 1808 in Giles County, married Jacob Epling (1804, Giles County) in July 1826. She died December 1876.
8. Magdalena, born 1809 in Giles County, married David Dolman (1805, Giles County) on March 14, 1834. They lived in Botetourt County in 1880.
9. Enoch, born 1810 in Giles County, married Frances (Frankie) Harless (1814). Enoch and Frankie lived on Johns Creek in Craig County. They died there and are buried near the forks of Johns Creek in the Taylor Cemetery.
10. James, born 1812 in Giles County, married Catherine Duncan (1816, Giles County). She was the daughter of James R. Duncan and Rachel Rebecca Anderson.
11. Eliza, born 1816 in Giles County, married Isaac Lucas (1810, Newport, Giles County) on February 26, 1840. She died May 6, 1876.∼John was the husband of Mary "Polly" Lafon whom he married in 1797. Their children were Naomi LaFon (1796–1886); Elizabeth Lafon (1799–1876); Elizabeth Lafon (1799–1858); Zachrus K Lafon (1801–1850); Nancy Lafon (1803–1875); John Lafon (1805–1880); Enoch Lafon (1805–1863); Bertha Lafon (1807–1876); Magdalena born in 1809; Magdalena Lafon (1809–1876); James Lafon (1812–1863); Eliza Lafon (1815–1876).