1914 Biography - Harney F. Brunot

Brunot, Harney Felix, well-known attorney and jurist, Baton Rouge, La., was born at the plantation home of his maternal grandfather in Catahoula parish, La., Oct. 8, 1860. He is a son of Felix R. and Jennie (Neely) Brunot. The father was born at Baton Rouge, La., in 1832, and died at the age of 30 years, his death resulting from pneumonia while in army service as a lieutenant in the Pelican rifles, 3d Louisiana regiment. He followed the profession of a practicing attorney. The Brunot family is one of the oldest in Louisiana. In tracing the history of this family it is learned that 2 brothers, Hillary and Sanson Brunot, as French soldiers, joined Lafayette and participated in the American Revolution, subsequently settling in the state of Pennsylvania. Sanson Brunot's sons were devout Christians, and 3 of them became ministers of the Episcopal church. His son, Hillary Brunot, was the father of James M. Brunot, who was born in Pennsylvania and came to Louisiana about 1826, locating at Baton Rouge, where he practiced law throughout the remainder of his life. His death occurred in 1856. His wife was a Miss Jones, and 4 daughters and 2 sons were born to their union, 1 of these sons being Felix R. Brunot, the father of Judge Harney Felix Brunot, who was reared in Baton Rouge and educated at Louisiana state university. In 1882 he graduated in law from Tulane university of Louisiana. He has resided in Baton Rouge from childhood. Following his graduation he began the practice of his profession at Baton Rouge, and in the same year of his graduation was elected to the office of city attorney of Baton Rouge, remaining incumbent of that position 4 years. In 1896 he was elected judge of the 22d judicial district, and served in that capacity until the year 1904, when he was defeated for reelection. During the succeeding 2 years he occupied the office of state printer, and in 1906 was again elected to the office of district judge, of which station he has remained incumbent to this time. Judge Brunot married Miss Alice L. Laycock, a daughter of Dr. Samuel G. Laycock, of Baton Rouge. Two children have been born to their union, these being Joseph Laycock Brunot, a law graduate of the class of 1912, Louisiana state university, and now a practicing attorney at Baton Rouge, and Mary Elizabeth Brunot. Judge Brunot is president of the Elks Theatre Co., a realty corporation of Baton Rouge. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, is a Knight of Pythias, a Knight Templar Mason, and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from Louisiana: Comprising Sketches, edited by Alcee Fortier, published in 1914, volume 3, pages 75-76.