Samuel Lawrason
Encyclopedia
Samuel McCutcheon Lawrason (July 31, 1852–November 8, 1924) was an attorney who served two nonconsecutive terms in the Louisiana State Senate
from West Feliciana Parish
, located north of Baton Rouge
, Louisiana
. He is principally known for the Lawrason Act
of 1898, by which municipalities in Louisiana may incorporate into towns or cities without specific clearance from the state legislature
.
to George Carson Lawrason and the former Zelia McCutcheon. He was educated in France
and Spain
before he received a degree in 1872 in civil engineering
from the University of Virginia
in Charlottesville
, Virginia. Two years later he received a LL.D. degree from Tulane University Law School
, then part of the institution known as the University of Louisiana at New Orleans, where he subsequently began his law practice. Lawrason also held interests in cotton
and sugar
planting at different locations along the Mississippi River
.
In 1875, Lawrason married the former Harriet "Hattie" Mathews, daughter of Charles Lewis Mathews and the former Penelope Stewart. He then relocated his law practice and residence to West Feliciana Parish. The couple had nine children: Zelia Lawrason, Annie Mathews Lawrason Butler, George C. Lawrason, Charles Lawrason, Helen Stewart Lawrason Kilpatrick, Margaret Butler Lawrason, Thomas Butler Lawrason, and Levering Lawrason. In 1891, the Lawrasons' next-to-the-youngest child, Samuel, Jr., died at three months of age on May 8 of that year.
Lawrason was affiliated with the Grace Episcopal
Church in St. Francisville
, the seat of West Feliciana Parish. He was also a member of the Masonic lodge
.
in Baton Rouge
, through which forum he became an early advocate of co-education.
Lawrason's state senate terms were twenty years apart - 1896-1900 and 1920-1924. He was the vice-president of the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1898, the same year that he authored the Lawrason Act. In 1908, he ran unsuccessfully for the office of lieutenant governor, losing to his fellow Democrat
, Paul M. Lambremont. From 1908 to 1912, Lawrason was a member of the State Board of Education, with parallel service still on the LSU board of supervisors.
Lawrason's place of death is unknown. He is interred at the Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery in St. Francisville.
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
from West Feliciana Parish
West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 15,111 people, 3,645 households, and 2,704 families residing in the parish. The population density was 37 people per square mile . There were 4,485 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile...
, located north of Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. He is principally known for the Lawrason Act
Lawrason Act
The Lawrason Act is an 1898 measure of the Louisiana State Legislature which permits municipalities in the state to incorporate into towns or cities without specific clearance from the legislature....
of 1898, by which municipalities in Louisiana may incorporate into towns or cities without specific clearance from the state legislature
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
.
Background
Lawrason was born in New OrleansNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
to George Carson Lawrason and the former Zelia McCutcheon. He was educated in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
before he received a degree in 1872 in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
, Virginia. Two years later he received a LL.D. degree from Tulane University Law School
Tulane University Law School
Tulane University Law School is the law school of Tulane University. It is located on Tulane's Uptown campus in New Orleans, Louisiana. Established in 1847, it is the 12th oldest law school in the United States....
, then part of the institution known as the University of Louisiana at New Orleans, where he subsequently began his law practice. Lawrason also held interests in cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
and sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
planting at different locations along the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
In 1875, Lawrason married the former Harriet "Hattie" Mathews, daughter of Charles Lewis Mathews and the former Penelope Stewart. He then relocated his law practice and residence to West Feliciana Parish. The couple had nine children: Zelia Lawrason, Annie Mathews Lawrason Butler, George C. Lawrason, Charles Lawrason, Helen Stewart Lawrason Kilpatrick, Margaret Butler Lawrason, Thomas Butler Lawrason, and Levering Lawrason. In 1891, the Lawrasons' next-to-the-youngest child, Samuel, Jr., died at three months of age on May 8 of that year.
Lawrason was affiliated with the Grace Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
Church in St. Francisville
St. Francisville, Louisiana
St. Francisville is a town in and the parish seat of West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,712 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:St...
, the seat of West Feliciana Parish. He was also a member of the Masonic lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
.
Public service
In 1876, Lawrason was elected as parish judge and served until 1879, when the position was abolished. He was active in the Ballot Reform League and served on the West Feliciana Parish School Board from 1884 to 1905. From 1887 to 1923, he was a member of the board of supervisors of Louisiana State UniversityLouisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
, through which forum he became an early advocate of co-education.
Lawrason's state senate terms were twenty years apart - 1896-1900 and 1920-1924. He was the vice-president of the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1898, the same year that he authored the Lawrason Act. In 1908, he ran unsuccessfully for the office of lieutenant governor, losing to his fellow Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, Paul M. Lambremont. From 1908 to 1912, Lawrason was a member of the State Board of Education, with parallel service still on the LSU board of supervisors.
Lawrason's place of death is unknown. He is interred at the Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery in St. Francisville.