The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-09-18

norace Harmon Lurton. associate
justice Of the supreme court of the
United States. who died at the MARI
borough Blenheim hotel, Atlantic City.
was the fourth ex confederate soldier
to become member of the country's
highest court. He was the appointee
Of former President Taft. who had be-
come his intimate friend when they
States circuit court. In 1906. when
there was vacancy In the supreme
court through the retirement Of JUS
tice Brown. President Roosevelt offer
er the vacancy to Mr.. Taft. In declin-
ing he suggested Justice Lurton for the
place. 1t was thought that the seat
would be granted to him. but In the
end William Henry Moody, then attor.
ney general, was named.
In 1909 Mr.. Taft. then president, had
the opportunity Of comforting the honor
on his friend when Justice Peckham
died. and Justice Lurton took his seat
OH the bench on Jan. 3, 1910.
Horace Harmon Lurton was born In
Newport. Campbell county. KY. Feb.
%. 1874. He was educated by private
instruction and in the public schools.
and at the outbreak of the civil war
was studying in Douglas university,
now the University Of Chicago. He
returned to Tennessee, where his par
ents had moved when he was small
child. and enlisted in the Thirty-fifth
Tennessee. Confederate, commanded by
Colonel B. J. Hill. being made sergeant
major.
Escapes From War Prison.
At the battle OF Fort Donelson. he
was taken prisoner and confined in
Fort Chase. He escaped and promptly
re-enlisted In the Third Kentucky cav
airy. with which he served until July.
1868. when he was again captured In
Ohio on General Morgan's famous raid.
His mother made personal appeal to
President Lincoln. and he was released
on parole. At the close Of the war he
was studying law In Cumberland uni
versity, graduating in 1867.
Justice Lurton's father. Lycurgus B.
Lurton. had been physician, but In
1870 he gave up medicine for the
church. and was ordained Protestant
Episcopal minister.
When he was thirty years old JUS
tice Lurton was appointed chancellor
of the sixth chancery division Of Ten
nessee by Governor James d. Porter.
to fill a vacancy. He was the young
est man who had ever held the place.
In 1876 he was elected to the same
position without opposition. In 1878
he resigned and returned to the prac-
tice of law ut GAINESVILLE, in partner
ship with Charles G. Smith. At that
period he was president of the Farm
ers and Mechanics National bank.
In 1886 he was elected a judge Of the
supreme court Of Tennessee and be-
came chief justice In January. 1893.
In March of that year he was appoint
ed circuit court judge of the sixth ju-
dicial circuit of the United States by
President Cleveland, to succeed How
ell E. Jackson, who had been elevated
to the United States supreme bench.
Trustee Of College.
Justice Lurton was an Episcopalian
and for many years a vestryman in
Trinity church. GAINESVILLE, Tenn.
Since 1882 he was trustee of the
University of the South at Sewanee.
Tenn. That institution conferred on
him the degree Of doctor Of civil laws
In 1899. He was professor Of constitu-
tiona law in Vanderbilt university
from 1898 until 1910 and dean of the
university from 1905 until 1910.
In 1867 he married Miss Mary Fran
les, daughter of Dr. Benjamin Frank
lin Owen of Wilson county, Tenn,
and stepdaughter Of Professor James
M. Stafford. geologist OF Tennessee.
They had four children. two Of whom
survive him.
In politics Justice Lurton was always
a stanch Democrat He was never
active in party affairs. but In his early
years he affiliated with the Democrat.
ic party and never deserted It, His
appointment. therefore. to the supreme
bench by former President Taft was a
particularly striking testimonial of the
high regard in which his friend held
| IA