O'Donnell, Lawrence

Submitted by Mike Miller

O'Donnell Lawrence, well known attorney, jurist, yachtsman, and public-spirited citizen of New Orleans, was born in Ireland, and came to the United States with his mother when a lad of 6 years. The father had preceded the mother and son by some years, in coming to the "land of liberty," and served the cause of the stars and stripes throughout the Mexican war. After having lived some time in the city of Boston, the father located at New Orleans, and it was here that the wife and son joined him in establishing the home at the South's metropolis, with the growth and development of which the small boy from the Emerald Isle was destined to bear the part of a man among men. It was in this old city that the days of his youth were passed. The father soon became familiarly known among his associates as "John O'Donnell.'' Mrs. O'Donnell's maiden name was Mary Rochfort. Lawrence O'Donnell received his early education in the public schools of the city of New Orleans, and when this had been completed the youngster became a cabin boy on a towboat. In this position his mechanical endowments came into play and the youth was soon occupying the place of assistant engineer on the boat. After a time the associations of river life appeared incompatible with his ideals as to his future, and the young man set to work qualifying himself for clerical work, thereafter holding several successively advancing positions with mercantile establishments in the city. In this environment his predominating attributes soon became more or less manifest, and he was drawn into the arena of politics, where his associations and activities soon landed him in the berth of assistant clerk of the old probate court, where he remained 4 or 5 years. Meantime the assistant clerk had taken up the study of law, and a little after his departure from the clerk's desk Lawrence O'Donnell was admitted to the bar and began practice as an attorney in the city of New Orleans. Removing to Plaquemines parish, Lawyer O'Donnell shortly became a prominent factor in the public life of that section of the State, a little later entering upon a 4-year term as district judge at the parish site. When his encumbency of this office had expired Judge O'Donnell again became a citizen of New Orleans. serving 4 years as attorney for the board of health. Following this he served with marked ability as a member of the Louisiana state senate for one term, and later became assistant city attorney at New Orleans, remaining encumbent of this post through several years. During all of this time Judge O'Donnell had continued in the practice of law, and on March 6, 1913, he was admitted to practice before the supreme court of the United States. He has long been interested in both sugar and rice planting, and is the author of the central factory plan, being first, too, to put this idea into practical operation. The judge has attained enviable prominence as an orator. He first won distinction as an eloquent and convincing debater in the state senate, and his speeches there, as well as his pleadings before the bar, and public addresses, have been noted for their brilliance and sparkling native Irish wit. Naturally, a man of such activities must have some diversion, and this Judge O'Donnell finds in yachting. He is ex-commodore of the Southern Yacht club, the second oldest organization of this kind in the United States, and was owner of the famous sailing yacht, ''Lady Sarah," also, the ''Florence," and the ''Semper Idem," the latter having been presented by the late Albert Baldwin. Judge O'Donnell is a 32nd degree Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. Although reared a Catholic, he is non-sectarian in church belief and contributes to all churches alike. He is an active member of the Louisiana State Historical society and the American Bar association, and is affiliated with various organizations in the city and state. A man of his attainments, varied activities, and wide acquaintance, must encounter many pleas for assistance, both public and private, and calls for aid in a diversity of projects and undertakings, and it is especially notable that Judge O'Donnell's moral aid and hearty personal cooperation, as well as his pocketbook, may always he relied upon in any legitimate and commendable work designed for the public weal or relief of private distress. Apart from his eminent professional abilities, the hand of goodfellowship, genial good cheer, and hearty and generous commendation, have brought the name of Judge O'Donnel into wide popularity and well-merited honor. In early manhood he was married to Miss Elizabeth Cheneville, and 5 sons and 2 daughters have been born to them as follows: Edwin O., Alexander C., Robert J., Walter Lawrence, Sidney and Florence (now Mrs. M. T. Williams), and Miss Juliette.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 330-332. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.