Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-07-10
JUDGE LAUGHLIN'S RECORD.

The announcement in the telegraphic
columns of the New MEXICAN yesterday
afternoon that President Cleveland had
nominated Hon. N. B. Laughlin, of Santa
Fe, for the position of associate justice
of the supreme court of New Mexico, was
greeted with almost universal express
sions of approval.
Judge Laughlin was born at Grand
Tower, Jackson county, ILL.,, on July 2f,
1914. In 1859 he went with his parents
to Pocahontas, Ark. He enlisted in the
confederate army as private in the 18th
Missouri cavalary in the spring of 1864
and was honorably mustered out of ser
vice at Jacksonport, Ark, in 1865. At
the time he enlisted every able-bodied
man in the south had to take hand in
the conflict on one side or the other. He
accompanied Gen. Price on his last raid
through Missouri and was a partici-
pant in the battles of Pilot Knob, West
port, Big Blue and Dry Creek. The lat
ter engagement was on the Kansas
border.
In 1866 the subject of this sketch set
tied at Wittenburg, Perry county, Mo-,
where he resumed the studies so sadly in
terrupted by the war at the neighboring
High Hill school in Montgomery county.
Subsequently he graduated at Bryant Il
Stratton's college in st. Louis. Then in
1879, he entered the Missouri State Uni
versity at Columbia, where he graduated
with honor in 1875. This was followed
by year in the law department of the
same excellent university.
Judge Laughlin moved to Dallas, Tex
as, in 1876, where he was admitted to the
bar and practiced the profession of law
until 1879. In the spring of 1879 he
sought the sunny and hospitable climate
of New Mexico and settled at Cerrillos
where he resided for three years, chiefly
occupied as mining recorder. In 1888 he
came to Santa Fe and since then has de-
voted himself with unhagging zeal to the
study and practice of law in this city.
During the past eleven years he has IN
dulged in only one vacation of three
| weeks. He has no apology to offer for
| neglecting business during those particu-
| lar weeks. An engagement of a kind
that honorable men respect above all
| others-an engagement with Miss Katie
Kimbrough-call him to Dallas, Texas,
lwhere he married his present charming
wife. Two beautiful little daughters are
the fruit of this happy union.
Judge Laughlin has held various posi-
tions of public trust with credit to him
self and satisfaction to the people. He
represented the Cerrillos district in the
lower house of the legislative assembly
of 1880; ran for the same position in 1882
and was counted out or defeated" as he
politely terms it; was elected as mem
Der of the council IN 1886; was appointed
but not commissioned as attorney gen
eral was Dedicated" for the council in
1892 with all the other Democratic candi'
dates in Santa Fe county, except Messrs
Easley and Gable; has been member OF
the board of penitentiary commissioners
since 1891 and most of that time has
served as secretary of that body.
Judge Laughlin, however, is a lawyer
rather than politician, and as such hi
was accorded probably the strongest ter
ritorial support from both lawyers ane
laymen. Republicans as well as Demo
Gratis, ever given to candidate for {
judicial position in New Mexico. Ovel
1000 people, including the three Demo
cratic justices of the territorial supreme
court and one of the Republican justices
thereof Judge Seeds, the judges of the
United States court of private lane
claims, the federal and territorial off
Gals, and nearly all the lawyers of The
territory, petitioned for his appointment
Besides he had strong backing as good
man, capable lawyer and sound Demo
t crat from Colorado, Missouri and Texas
No wonder the president arrived at thu
wise conclusion he did.
Judge Seeds term of office will expire
| on July "a. As there is no opposition tt
the confirmation of Judge Laughlins ap
pointmeut he will doubtless assume tn
duties of associate justice of the suprem
court and judge of this district on thu
24th. Judges of the supreme court ar
not REQUIRED to give bonds.