1925 Biography - John T. Laycock

John T. Laycock, one of the representative members of the bar of Louisiana's capital city, claims this city as the place of his nativity, his birth having occurred at Baton Rouge on the 3d of March, 1890. His father, Judge Samuel G. Laycock, was born in East Baton Rouge Parish, this state, November 9, 1851, and after his graduation from the Christion Brothers College at Pass Christian, Louisiana from which institution he received in 1870 the degree of Bachelor of Arts, he began the study of law at the offices of Major A. S. Herron of Baton Rouge. He was admitted to the bar in the year 1881, and has continued in the general practice of his profession in Baton Rouge during the long interval period of more than forty years. He is an honor member of the East Baton Rouge Bar Association and in addition to his successful achievement in the practice of law he served as judge of the court of the Twenty-second Judicial District of Louisiana. In 1896 he was elected a representative of his native parish in the State Legislature, in which he served one term. It was within his term that occurred vigorous legislative battle against the famed old established Louisiana Lottery, and he gave yeoman service in obliterating this blot on the escutcheon of Louisiana. He is an advocate of the principles of the democratic party, he is attorney for and director of the Bank of Baton Rouge, of which he was one of the organizers, and he is president, of the Baton Rouge Ice Company, which corporation represents one of the most important industrial enterprises in the capital city. He is a member of the Baton Rouge Golf and Country Club. His wife whose maiden name was Lelia D. Taylor, was born in Baton Rouge. March 9, 1861, and their children are five in number: Adelia B. remains at the Parental home. Samuel G., Jr., who resides at Baton Rouge, is a sugar engineer, and as such spends much of his time in the tropics. John T., of this review, was the next in order of birth. William K. is engaged in business in Baton Rouge as a dealer in automobile accessories and supplies. In the World war period he served two years in the United States navy. Lee L., who remains at the parental home, likewise gave two years of service in the United States Navy at the time of the World war.

Dr. Samuel G. Laycock, grandfather of him whose name introduces this review, was born in Ohio, in 1811, and died in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, in 1884, he having here established his residence in the early '30s and having long been one of the leading physicians and surgeons of this part of the state. The Doctor was the owner of a valuable plantation of 2,000 acres near Baton Rouge, and he gave to the same his personal supervision, besides attending to his large and representative professional business. He served as president of the police jury of his parish, and was one of the honored and influential citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish. His brother, Dr. Lee L. Laycock, was the founder of one of the leading medical colleges at Cincinnati. Dr. Samuel G. Laycock wedded Miss Adelia Bird, and she passed her entire life in East Baton Rouge Parish, where the Bird family early made settlement, its original American representatives having come from England and settled in Virginia iii the Colonial period of our national history. The genealogy of the Laycock family likewise traces back to sterling English origin, and the family name has been identified with American annals since the early Colonial era.

The major part of the early education of John T. Laycock was acquired in a private school at Baton Rouge, and in 1909 he was graduated from the Louisiana State University, from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Thereafter he held the position of associate professor of history in this university until 1911, and in the meanwhile he carried forward his studies in the law department of the university, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1912, his reception of the degree of Bachelor of Laws being virtually coincident with his admission to the bar of his native State, in June, 1912. He has since been engaged in the general practice of his profession at Baton Rouge, his law business being largely in the civil department. Since January, 1923, he has been a member of the law firm of Laycock, Borron & Laycock, of which his father is the senior member. In the capital city this firm maintains its offices in the Triad Building, and it has offices also at Plaquemine, Louisiana.

He and his wife are zealous communicants of St. lames Church, Protestant Episcopal, he being treasurer of this parish and having been a member of the vestry of the church since 1917. He is a member of the Baton Rouge Golf & Country Club, the East Baton Rouge Bar Association and the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana. He is a member of the building committee of the "Greater Agricultural College" of this university. In Baton Rouge and vicinity Mr. Laycock is the owner of a large amount of valuable real estate, including his attractive home place at 814 Florida.

On the 15th of February 1919, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Laycock and Miss Susie H. Bienvenu, daughter of Robert S. and Susie (Hamilton) Bienvenu, who maintain their home at Baton Rouge, Mr. Bienvenu being a traveling commercial salesman. Mrs. Laycock gained her more advanced education by attending the University of Louisiana. On the maternal side she is a descendant of the distinguished American patriot and statesman, Alexander Hamilton.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, pages 68-69.