Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-10-26

Harlan all retire together, President
Roosevelt would have the extraordinary
privilege of naming seven of the nine
members of the court during his incum-
bency of the office of President.
Judge Lurton's Career.
Judge Lurton, who will probably sue
coed Justice Brown, was born in Camp
bell county, Ky, February 26, 18Th, the
son OF Lycurgus l.. and Sarah Ann Har-
mon Lurton, who were natives of the
Blue Grass state. Judge Lurton'S father
years ago was 4 practicing physician,
but III 1916 he left incidence for clerics
ana was ordained a priest i'll the Protest
ant Episcopal church.
Judge Lurton'S early education was
received from private instructors, but in
1899 he went to Chicago and entered
Douglas University. later the University
OF Chicago. The Civil war brought a
halt to the completion of his collegiate
training. for, at the first hugle blast
young Lurton hurried South and Of
fered his services. He was enlisted in
the Thirty fifth Tennessee. commanded
by Colonel B. j. Hill, and was made
Sergeant-maior.
discharged on account of i'll health, but
he was not idle long, as he returned in
time to take part in the battle of Fort
DonelSon, where he was taken prisoner
and confined in Camp Chase. He man
aged to effect his escape in the spring
of 1862, and promptly enlisted in the
Third Kentucky cavalry, with which
he served until July, 1868. when he was
again captured, this time IN Ohio on
Morgan'S famous raid.
Judge LurtOn was carefully guarded
and remained in prison until the end of
the war. when he entered the law depart
ment of Cumberland university, LCba-
non, Tenn. and was graduated in Feb
ruary, 1867, and entered at once into
practice at GAINESVILLE, Tenn, in partner
ship with Gustayus A. Henry, Il kinsman
was partner of James e. Bailey, who
subsequently was elected to the United
States Senate.
His Life in Tennessee.
In January, 1879, Judge Lurton wa.
appointed by Gov. Porter chancellor of
the sixth chancery division of Tennes-
see to fill the vacancy accustomed by the
resignation of Charles G.. Smith. At the
expiration of the term of appointment
in 1876 he was elected to the office with
out opposition, but in 1878 he resigned.
From 1878 to 1886 he practiced law at
ClarkSville in partnership with Charles
q. Smith, having served as the first
president of the Farmers and Mechanics
National bank and also acquired wide
reputation as tinancier.
In 1886 he was elected a justice of the
supreme court of Tennessee, and in Jan
uary, 1893, by vote of his colleagues,
became chief justice in place of Peter
Turney, who was governor-elect of Ten
nesSee Two months later he was APP
pointed by President Cleveland circuit
judge of the Sixth United States circuit
to succeed Howell Il. jackson, who had
been elevated to the United States SUI
preme bench.
Judge Lurton is an Episcopalian, was
for many years Il vestryman i'll Trinity
church, Clarksvile, Tenn, and since
1888, has been Il trustee of the Univcr-
sity of the South at Sewanee, Tenn,
from which university he received the
degree of doctor of. civil laws. He mar
ried in September, 1867. Miss Mary
Frances, daughter of DR.. benjamin
Franklin Owen of Wilson county, Tenn,
and stepdaUghter Of Prof James Nj.
Stafford geologist of Tennessee. They
have four children. Of whom the two eld-
est, Catherine Howard and Leon Owen,
have died, and two, Mary Lurton Nande-
venter, wife of Horace Nandcventer of
Knoxville, Tenn, and Horace Harmon
Lurton, Ir.. are living.