1914 Biography - W. L. Bagwell

Bagwell, W. L., is one of the prominent members of the bar at Jonesboro, and holds his prestige as one of the most able and efficient lawyers in Jackson parish. He was born at Downsville, La., in Union parish, Sept; 8, 1877, a son of Emory and Amanda (Gentry) Bagwell. His grandfather, Andrew Jackson Bagwell, of Downsville, served in the Civil war, in a regiment of Louisiana volunteers. His grandmother, Mahulda (Lewis) Bagwell was also a native of Downsville, her ancestors coming from a historic old family from North Carolina and Tennessee. His father was born at the old family homestead, near Downsville, in 1858. His mother, Amanda (Gentry) Bagwell was born near Vernon, Jackson parish, and was the daughter of T. C. Gentry, a pioneer settler who came from Bibb county, Ala., in the early fifties. His father has followed agricultural pursuits all his life and is now engaged in farming in Lincoln parish at Choudrant, where he reared a family of 3 children, the subject of this sketch is the eldest; Arthur, of Georgetown, a dairy and truck farmer, and a daughter, Willie Nora, wife of Julius F. Sanderson who is following agricultural pursuits in Lincoln parish. After completing his high school education at Downsville, Mr. Bagwell decided to study law and went to Indianapolis, Ind., where he entered the Indianapolis College of Law, completing the junior course of study in 1901-1902. On his return home he attended the State Industrial institute of Ruston, La., taking a special literary and commercial course during the year 1902-1903.

In 1904 he resumed his legal studies and entered Tulane university, where he remained for one year, but on the account of the yellow fever epidemic in New Orleans returned to Ruston, where he resumed his law studies under the well known law firm of Clayton & Hawthorn. He was licensed to practice by the supreme court of Louisiana and admitted to the bar in Feb., 1907, and immediately began the practice of his profession at Vernon, which was the parish seat of Jackson parish at that time. Soon after he began the practice of law, he was elected parish attorney, and in 1908 was elected clerk of the police jury, in which capacity he served for several years. He was prominent in the fight and instrumental in the removal of the court house from Vernon, in 1910. After the people had designated Jonesboro as the new parish seat he was very active as attorney and clerk of the police jury assisting that body in securing one of the best court house contracts ever put through, as is evidenced by the court house at Jonesboro, which speaks for itself. Mr. Bagwell is active in business, fraternal, religious and social circles, is an associate director of the Title Guaranty & Security Co. of Shreveport, confidential agent for R. G. Dun & Co., and secretary and treasurer of the local board of the Jonesboro high school. He is a member of the State Bar association, Knights of Honor, Woodmen of the World, the Maccabees, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist church. He was married Nov. 19, 1905, to Mary Gilder, daughter of Dr. E. G. and Mrs. Mamie (Boddie) Coleman of Camden, Ark. She was educated at Ouachita college, at Arkadelphia, Ark. They have 3 children, Cornelia Esther, Emerson Grady, and Edith Gilder.

Extracted 2020 Oct 29 by Norma Hass, from Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, Volume 3, pages 484-485.