Gilmore, Samuel Louis

Submitted by Mike Miller

Samuel Louis Gilmore, assistant city attorney of New Orleans, was born in that city in 1858, being the son of Thomas Gilmore a former distinguished member of the New Orleans bar, who died in December, 1890. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth A. Clobecy, who is yet living. Our subject graduated from Seton Hall college, of South Orange, N. J., in 1877, as an A. B. and M. A., which institution was then presided over by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Corrigan. He was awarded two medals in elocution and completed the full four years' collegiate course in three years, showing marked mental endowments and a scholarship of the highest grade. He took an active part in the athletic sports during his college life and was a vice-president of the college ball club. On leaving college he returned home and studied law with his father and in the law department of the University of Louisiana, graduating in 1879.

It should be observed that he had graduated from the New Orleans high school in 1874 before going to college. He has acted as alumni orator of the law school and he was chosen as alumni orator of the high school for 1891. He graduated from the law school in May, 1879, but was not admitted to the bar until the following fall for the reason that he was not yet of age. He at once began the practice of this learned profession in New Orleans, where he has continued uninterruptedly ever since, being now one of the ablest and most successful of the younger members of the local bar. He is a general practitioner and has a wide and lucrative practice. He is a member of the New Orleans law association, in which he takes rank as one of the ablest and most active members. In 1890 he was admitted to practice before the supreme court of the United States. He has been very successful at the bar and has won several very important cases ranking as one of the most brilliant advocates and profound judges of the law now practicing in the state and federal courts. As assistant city attorney he has won eight suits for the city which together involved over $600,000, a great saving to the city, accomplished largely by his able and determined efforts. He and his brother Joseph C. Gilmore, his legal partner, are counsel for the Hibernian National bank and the West India & Pacific Steamship company, and for the Crescent City Furniture Manufacturing company.

He is a prominent democrat in politics and was a delegate to the congressional convention that nominated Louis St. Martin. He is opposed to the rechartering of the Louisiana lottery and takes an active part in the opposition to it. He is a member of the Catholic church, the Pickwick club and the Southern Athletic club, where his fine presence, wonderful conversational powers and manly, courteous bearing are fully appreciated and enjoyed. He was married in November, 1887, to Miss Mattie Nolan, daughter of Capt. John P. Nolan, of St. Elizabeth plantation, Ascension parish, one of its most prominent citizens.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 1), p. 446. Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.