George David Shadburne, Louisiana and California Attorney and Civil War hero. Submitted Richard P. Sevier.

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MADISON COORDINATOR'S NOTE: Although George Shadburne was born in Texas; his parents were living in Madison Parish before the Civil War.

After the War he returned to Madison Parish to practice law and married Ada Grivot Maher of Milliken’s Bend, adopted daughter of Philip and Caroline Maher.

The Mahers were among Madison Parish’s most prominent landowners before the War, but, like many others, were ruined by the time the War ended

See The Maher Family of Madison Parish Richard P. Sevier November 2010

George David Shadburne was born in Brenham, Texas. June 13. 1842.

He comes of old English and French ancestry. The town of "Shadburne," in Essex, England, was named after some of his paternal ancestors. His great grandfather, Amos Shadburne, settled in Louisville, Kentucky, early in the eighteenth century. His grandfather, William Shadburne, settled in Bardstown. Kentucky, about the beginning of the nineteenth century, and there married Miss Prudence Merrinee, whose family had just arrived from France.

His father, William Henry Harrison Shadburne, at the age of eighteen, went to Texas and joined in the Texas Revolution in which he had numerous hairbreadth escapes, and was engaged in many battles, being in at the close, at the battle of San Jacinto. He married Miss Eliza Wheeler, from Mississippi, of which marriage our present Mr. Shadburne was the issue.

Born, as it were, on the battlefield in the stirring times of the Texan Republic, Mr. Shadburne at an early age imbibed a love of independence, which has followed through life. He was educated at St. Mary's College, Kentucky. At the age of nineteen he entered the Confederate Army to fight for the integrity of his native state. By his skill, bravery and dash he was soon the leader of scouts of the army of Lee in northern Virginia, and as chief of General Wade Hampton's Scouts, he made much of the history of the ill-starred Confederacy.

For over two years, in the position of leader of scouts of the Army of Northern Virginia, he rendered valuable service to his beloved Southland, and was loved and esteemed by all his comrades and commanders. When the sun of the Confederacy had gone down in blood and disaster and nothing but charred ruins and desolation were to be seen in the South, Mr. Shadburne attempted to leave this country for Brazil, failing in which, he sought retirement, seclusion and reflection near Bardstown, Kentucky where he pursued the study of law. In the spring of 1867 he was admitted to the bar at New Orleans, Louisiana, and practiced his profession for a short time thereafter at Milliken's Bend in that state. There on June 13, 1867, he married Miss Ada M. Grivot, a young lady of great beauty, education and refinement and a member of one of the oldest and best French families of Louisiana.

On June 13, 1868, Mr. Shadburne and his young wife arrived in San Francisco where he has since resided.

In California he has been constantly, arduously, and assiduously engaged in the practice of his profession, which he esteems in its integrity. There is no fee great enough, and no influence persuasive enough, to induce him to take a dishonest case.

He is unflinchable and desperately in earliest in pushing his cases, and never knows defeat as long as there is a court to which he may appeal. He has had much conspicuous litigation, and his success has been proverbial. He has acquired a fine home on California Street Hill, San Francisco, and also owns the substantial brick building on Sacramento street in which his law offices are located. He is a man of most positive character, but he has most engaging manners and manifests a personal interest in everybody, and everybody seems to be his friend. Mr. Shadburne has been an ardent advocate of all the great improvements in San Francisco since his settlement there, and has done much for the growth and development of the State. He will be greatly regretted when he goes to his fathers.

and

From History of the Bar and Bench of California 1901

SHADBURNE, George David, Lawyer. born, Brenham. Texas, June 13, 1842 son, Wm. Henry Harrison and Eliza Myranda (Wheeler) S.

Edu.: St. Mary's College. Ky.: admitted to bar, Supreme Court. La., 1868; Supreme Court, Cal., 1873.

Married, Ada Grivot of New Orleans, June 13, 1867 (deceased): second, Florence McKay of Bardstown. Ky., July 1. 1905.

Entered Confederate Army in Civil War when 19 years old: served until final surrender. Was promoted to Chief of Scouts: twice wounded,

twice captured and twice escaped: was confined in irons to be tried as spy in March 1865.

Through his plans and orders Gen. Grant lost his beef supply, 2486 head, in 1864, which has been recorded in history as "most successful

achievement of the Cavalry of the Army of N. Virginia during the entire war."

Moved to Cal. in 1868, Granted Cross of Honor by Daughters of Confederacy. Charter Member, Southern Club and owner and builder of the

Club's home on California st. Conceived Idea of St. Mary's Square, S. F., and after 10 years' labor brought about its erection. Res.: 904

Devisadero st.: Office: Humboldt bldg., San Francisco, Cal.

From Who’s Who on the Pacific Coast, 1913