Lawrason, Samuel McCutchon

Submitted by Mike Miller

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and
Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 247-248. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Lawrason, Samuel McCutchon, successful lawyer, jurist, and financier, of St. Francisville, West Feliciana parish, La., was born in the city of New Orleans, July 31, 1852; son of George C. and Zelia (McCutchon) Lawrason. The father was a native of the State of Virginia, born at Alexandria, that state, and when a young man of fair education, came to New Orleans, where he became a successful merchant, broker, and prominent citizen. During Pres. Filmore's administration he served as collector of the port of New Orleans. He was of English and Irish lineage, and came of an old and highly-esteemed Virginia family. He married, in Louisiana, Miss Zelia McCutchon, and 2 sons were born to their union, the eldest of these being the subject of this sketch, and the younger being Dr. George B. Lawrason, of Shreveport, La. The mother was of Scotch-Irish descent.

Just prior to the coming-on of the Civil war, the father and mother, with their 2 sons, went to Europe, but when the war began, the father returned to New Orleans, leaving the wife and sons in Europe. At New Orleans, during the war, he was a member of the committee of public safety, and when the city fell into the hands of Gen. Butler, the father was made a prisoner of war by Butler and held as such during more than a year, being confined at Ship Island and Fort Pickens. He died at New Orleans, in 1874, at the age of 57 years. He was a modest and retiring man, unostentatious, plain and unassuming, and rarely talked of himself, possessing none of the attributes of an ''ego.''

It was in 1858 that he went with his family to Europe, returning alone at the beginning of hostilities. The wife and sons spent 6 years in France, and 1 year in Spain, and during their sojourn in the latter country the wife died, and was buried at Barcelona, Spain, her death occurring in 1865, when the subject of this sketch was about 13 years of age. He had been given splendid educational advantages in both France and Spain, but to brush up in English, he went to the Isle of Jersey, and afterward returned to his native land late in the year of 1865. After the return to America the young man matriculated at Virginia Military institute, Lexington, Va., from which he graduated, in 1872, receiving the degree of C. E. In 1874 he graduated in law from the old Louisiana university (now Tulane university of Louisiana), and at once entered upon the practice of law at the city of New Orleans.

In March of 1875 he married Miss Harriet Matthews, of West Feliciana parish, La., and at that time located at St. Francisville; where he has since resided. Mrs. Lawrason is a granddaughter of the distinguish jurist, George Matthews, who was the first presiding justice of the Louisiana supreme court. Eight children have been born to Judge and Mrs. Lawrason, and they have 7 grand children. Under the old system of parish judges, Judge Lawrason was twice elected judge of the court of West Feliciana parish, and was incumbent of this position when the office was abolished by state constitution of 1879. Judge Lawrason 's professional career has brought him into a position of eminent success and prominence as a lawyer. He has been connected with much of the important litigation in his own and adjoining parishes, and before the Louisiana supreme court. He is an active member of both the Louisiana State Bar and the American Bar associations. He is affiliated with the Democratic party, and since first beginning to exercise the right of the elective franchise has been a potent force in upholding the principles for which his party contends. In 1894 he was elected a member of the Louisiana state senate, and discharged the duties of the office with conspicuous ability and credit to his constituents. He was a member, and served as vice-president, of the Louisiana State Constitutional convention of 1898, and in this capacity, as in all other commissions entrusted to him, acquitted himself with distinguished honor.

To the cause of education he has
rendered invaluable service. For 10 years or more he was a member of the parish school board, and for 6 years was a member of the state board of education, representing the sixth district. Aside from these commissions, however, he has rendered his greatest service to education as a member of the board of supervisors of Louisiana state university, on which board he has served continually for more than 25 years, throughout which unusual period of service he has at all times sought the best interests of the institution and of the people who support and patronize it. He has been largely instrumental in securing legislative appropriations that have from time to time made possible the greater efficiency of the university. Judge Lawrason is a financier, too, of extended experience and ability. Upon the organization of the Bank of West Feliciana, in 1895, he was made president, and in 1904 was chosen president of the Louisiana State Bankers' association. Judge Lawrason is a man of modest and retiring manner, and bears the reputation, among the people with whom he comes in daily contact, of being a man of unquestioned integrity and the highest ideals of personal honor. He is deservingly apopular and esteemed citizen.