The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-01-25
BIOGRAPHICAL.

With the passing away of Associate Justice
of the United States Supreme Court Lucius
Qnintius Cincinnatus Lamar contemporaneous
political history loses one of its most unique
figures.
Mr.. Lamar was noted in Washington, where
the best years OF his life were spent, for his
observation-disclosures and eccentricities, no less
than for his genial nature and charming man
ners. Every trait OF his character was inher-
fted. His father, for whom the dead justice
was named, had his unusual cognomen selected
for him by an eccentric brother of his mother,
who insisted on naming her children after his
favorite historical heroes.
Like Justice Lamar's personality. his public
career was remarkable. He comes of one of
the oldest families in Georgia. He was born in
Putnam county in 1925, and after his fathers
death was taken to Oxford, Miss, where his
education may be said to have begun. After
acquiring all that was to be learned in the
Oxford schools young Lamar was sent to En-
Dry college In Georgia. He graduated in 1S45,
Mt once commenced the study of law in Macon,
Ga, and was admitted to the bar two years
later. -s...
After practicing law for several years with
unsatisfactory results Mr.. Lamar accepted q
professorship in the Mississippi university,
which position he held for year. He then re-
moved to Covington, Ga, and resumed the
practice of law.
Important eases were given him, and his
fame spreading rapidly in his adopted county
the people in 1853 elected him to represent
them In the state legislature.
His Public Career.
This may be said to have been the beginning
of Mr.. Lamar's public career and 1t came dan
gerously near being the end, for small politics
was not to his liking either, and he gave it up
in disgust and in 1854 moved back to Missis-
sippi, locating on plantation which hs owned
In Lafayette.
The citizens of Mississippi were unwilling to
permit their brilliant young advocate TO waste
his ability on a plantation, and in 1856 he was
elected to congress Democrat He served
from 1857 to 1850. Things had reached such a
pass then that every public officer had to de-
eide between the Union and the Confederacy.
Mr.. Lamar therefore resigned his seat in con-
gress to become member of the Mississippi
secession convention, in which body he played
an important part.
When hostilities began Mr. Lamar accepted
q commission as lieutenant colonel of the
Nineteenth Mississippi regiment. He was
afterward promoted to the colonelcy. Ill
health compelled his retirement from actual
service in the field. Mr.. Lamar was sent as a
Confederate commissioner to Russia. His
mission, as history relates, failed Of its pur-
pose.
Returned to Congress.
When the war closed he went back to the
University of Mississippi, where he became
professor Of political economy and social sci
ence in 1866. and was given the chair of law a
year later. He then once more resumed his
practice of law, which he continued until he
was elected to congress In 1872. He was re-
elected in 1874 and in 1875 was chosen by the
legislature as one Of the representatives of his
adopted state in the United States senate. He
remained in the senate until March 4, 1885,
when he accepted the portfolio of secretary of
the interior rendered him by President Cleve-
land.
On Dec. 8. 1887, Mr.. Cleveland sent to the SEN
ate the name of L. O. G. Lamar to be associate
justice of the United States supreme court,
vice Justice Woods deceased. After some
delay the nomination was confirmed, and in the
latter part of January, 1883, he entered upon
the discharge of his new duties.
His Home Life.
Justice Lamar was twice married. His first
wife was cousin of Longstreet, the famous
Confederate general. She died early in Janu-
ary, 1885, leaving one son and three daughters.
Two years after the death of his first wife Mr..
Lamar married Mrs. William 8. Holt. the
widow of a well known Georgia judge. The
ceremony was performed in Macon. Ga, Jan.
s, 1887.
In April. 1892, Justice Lamar was stricken
down in Washington with hemorrhages of tho
lungs, complicated by symptoms of Bright's
disease. He had occasional rallies at intervals
OF a few months, until exhausted nature sue
rsrryx s1.od t<,f he's ptr Nm,