Benjamin Franklin McLaughlin (1846 - 1923)

Born 18 Jan 1846 in Mountville, Troup County, Georgia

Husband of Elizabeth Evelyn (Hamby) McLaughlin — married about 28 Jan 1869 in Meriwether County, Georgia

Descendants

Died 5 May 1923 at age 77 in Greenville, Meriwether County, Georgia

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Biography

COL. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MCLAUGHLIN. TO attain a high place in an honorable profession and to reach advanced years with bodily health and a light and cheerful spirit, unspoiled by fortune or misfortune, and to enjoy the companionship of a host of warm friends, both of the older and the younger generation, is a lot that the ordinary man might well envy. Such blessings, however, are incident to the career and personality of Col. Benjamin F. McLaughlin, of Greenville, Meriwether County, Georgia, the nestor of the bar ofGreenville and the Coweta Circuit. Mr. McLaughlin was born at Mountville, Troup County, Georgia, January 18, 1846, the son of Josiah T. and Mary Jane (Jordan) McLaughlin.

Benjamin Franklin McLaughlin was educated at Union Springs Academy, now Freeman's Chapel, Meriwether County. Only fifteen years of age when the war broke out, he was unable, however, to restrain his patriotism and accordingly joined Company A, Georgia Volunteer Cavalry, in which he served six months. Later he was detailed to the quartermaster's department, with which he was connected until the end of the war. After Lee's and Johnston's surrender he returned home and engaged in farming, being thus occupied for several years. He had ambitions, however, which were directed towards the law and as soon as he could make suitable arrangements he began the study of his future profession under Col. A. H. Freeman, of Greenville. In 1874 he was admitted to the bar by the Hon. Hugh Buchanan and began practice in Greenville in the same year. His selection of this town was contrary to the advice of his friends, who warned him that a young attorney would stand a small chance against the able and experienced lawyers, several of them "leading lights," who then adorned the Greenville bar. Nothing dismayed, however, he followed the bent of his own inclinations and his subsequent career has amply justified his action. Though he passed through some hardships in his early professional life, by dint of pluck, energy and ability he overcame them and the struggle did him good, for it strengthened his moral fibre without souring his disposition, and he can now look back on those times without self-pity but rather congratulating himself upon the training he then received in true manliness and perseverance. For many years he has been one of the leading attorneys of Meriwether County and one of the foremost lawyers of the Coweta Circuit. In 1893 Colonel McLaughlin formed a partnership with W. R. Jones, which was continued until the year 1900 and then dissolved on account of Mr. Jones being elected city judge. Mr. Jones' brother, J. A. Jones, .then joined Colonel McLaughlin, the firm name, McLaughlin & Jones remaining the same. After Judge Jones retired from the bench he again joined the firm, and it then became McLaughlin, Jones & Jones. In July, 1914, Mr. J. A. Jones died and the firm, which is the leading law firm in Greenville, is now known as McLaughlin & Jones, as originally. As a citizen Colonel McLaughlin has always been prompt to perform his duties and at times has taken a prominent and useful part in public life. He served as mayor of Greenville for three terms and was also elected to the Legislature, of which body he was a member from 1896 to 1900. While thus serving he took a leading part on judiciary and other committees and was active in passing what is known as the Slayton Law, which established the present mode of presenting applicants for the bar. In the fall of 1914 he was elected senator for the thirty-sixth senatorial district and is now serving in the Senate. He was one of the organizers and is a director of the GreenvilleBanking Company. Aside from his profession and his public duties, Colonel McLaughlin is an agriculturist, having large farming interests.

Colonel McLaughlin was married January 28, 1869, at the home of his brother-in-law, N. S. Hamby, of Meriwether County, to Miss Eliza Evylin Hamby, a daughter of Jonathan and Elithia (Hudson) Hamby. The Hambys and Hudsons are old and prominent families of Meriwether County, having large planting interests here. To Colonel and Mrs. McLaughlin nine children have been born, two of whom are deceased, one dying in infancy. Their record is in brief as follows: Frances L., who married Joseph T. McGahee, is now deceased; Ada, the wife of Judge W. R. Jones, her father's law partner, resides in Greenville: Mary, wife of Hon. Henry Harris Revell, judge of the city courts of Greenville; Benjamin R., a graduate of Atlanta Dental College, now practicing his profession in Chipley, Georgia; Walter Evylin, widow of James Olin McGahee, a planter of Meriwether County; Charles Franklin, a graduate of Mercer University and now an attorney practicing at Columbus, Georgia; Jonathan Irby, a resident of Madison, Georgia, and ♦ Louis Hamby, a planter residing in Greenville. Colonel McLaughlin's happy and cheerful disposition has already been alluded to. He is especially fond of the society of young people and is loved and esteemed by all who know him. His personal friends include leading men in all parts of the state.

From: A Standard History of Georgia and Georgians, Volume 5 By Lucian Lamar Knight

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Sources

A Standard History of Georgia and Georgians, Volume 5 By Lucian Lamar Knight

Georgia Family Group Sheet for Benjamin Franklin MCLAUGHLIN Family by: Elaine McLaughlin Bonds and Ben McLaughlin

Their sources include:

Georgia Death Certificates - all deaths 1918 and later Meriwether County, GA marriage records recorded by Elaine McLaughlin Bonds The Meriwether County Vindicator - various issues 1873-1918 Tombstones - Greenville, GA Cemetery Family Bible of Josiah T. McLaughlin and Benjamin F. McLaughlin - transcribed by Daughters of the American Colonists, Columbus (GA) Chapter Family History Library film 1320503, item 11 Federal Census 1850-1930

Footnotes

1. ↑ Entered by Stephen Jones.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Stephen Jones for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Stephen and others.