MERIWETHER COUNTY, GA - BIOS - Benjamin
Franklin McLaughlin

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The following memorial commemorative is located in the
Minutes of the Superior Court of the Coweta Circuit at
the Meriwether County Courthouse in Greenville, Georgia.

May it please Your Honor

The Committee appointed by your Honor to prepare a
memorial commemorative of the life, character, and
services of our late distinguished friend and brother,
Hon. B. F. McLaughlin, with melancholy pleasure make the
following report:

Benjamin Franklin McLaughlin, nestor of Greenville bar,
was born at Mountville, Troup County Ga., January 18th,
1846.  He was the son of Josiah T. and Mary Jordan
McLaughlin, who later moved to Oakridge in this county in
1853.  Near by was Old Union Springs Academy, afterwards
called Freeman's Chapel, where Mr. McLaughlin passed his
first school years.  When the war between the States came
on he could not resist the patriotic desire and
determination to enlist in the great struggle for
Southern rights and Southern homes, and although only
fifteen years of age, he joined Company A of the Georgia
Volunteer Calvary.  Later he was detailed to the
quartermaster's department where he served until the
close of the war.  Returning home in the dark and trying
days of reconstruction the dauntless spirit of the young
soldier was not to be dismayed, and in the face of every
obstacle, he began the study of law under Hon. A. H.
Freeman, of Greenville, and was admitted to the bar in
1874 by Judge Hugh Buchanan, Judge of Superior Courts of
this Circuit, and entered at once into active practice.

Mr. McLaughlin's success was at once phenomenal, the
usual hardships of the young lawyer's life seemed but to
serve as inspiration to impel him on to greater zeal and
high endeavor.  In a bar composed at that time of some of
the most brilliant men in Georgia, he soon ranked with
the foremost.  His growing practice soon carried him not
only through out the Coweta Circuit but to other parts of
the State and adjoining States.  He participated in some
of the most celebrated cases in the state, and his name
will ever adorn the annals of our judiciary both State
and Federal.

Mr. McLaughlin always took an active interest in the
civic life and welfare of his town, county and state.
Three terms he served as Mayor of Greenville, always
showing great interest in all things, that pertained to
the welfare and upbuilding of the community.  In 1896 he
was elected to the legislature where he rendered this
county and State splendid service and gave his valuable
support to the passage of the present law providing rules
and requirements for admission to the bar.  In 1914, he
was elected Senator from this, the 36th senatorial
district.  While in the House and Senate he was regarded
as a safe, sound and sane leader on all public questions
and held prominent places on all important committees of
both houses.

Mr. McLaughlin was not only a State figure in his
professional and political life, but was prominent and
successful in business affairs of life.  He was one of
the organizers of the Greenville Banking company, one of
the leading county banks of the State, and also devoted a
great deal of his time to agricultural pursuit and
carried on extensive farming interest in this county.

Mr. McLaughlin was married January 28th, 1869 to Miss
Eliza  Evelyn Hamby, a daughter of Jonathan and Elithia
Hudson Hamby.  This good woman and devoted wife proved
indeed and in truth the ideal helpmate throughout a
period of more than half a century.  No more beautiful
devotion was ever witnessed than that existed between
this husband and wife and to which happy union were born
nine children of whom the following are living:  Mrs. W.
R. Jones, Mr. H. H. Revill, Mrs. Evelyn McGehee, Dr. B.
R. McLaughlin, Hon. C. F. McLaughlin, Mr. J. I.
McLaughlin and Mr. L. H. McLaughlin. As a husband,
father, citizen, friend and neighbor he was devoted,
patient, loving, loyal, helpful and forgiving.

As a man and lawyer, he was plain and simple, both in
manner and taste.  There was nothing ostentatious or
spectacular about him - in fact he disliked the veneer,
the unreal, the camouflage-and simplicity was in the very
warp and woof of the man.

Lord Coko said:  "When a learned man, long in the making,
dies, great is the loss."  Our friend and brother was
profoundly learned in his noble profession, and great
therefore is the loss of our bar.  As an antagonist and
in the trial of cases he was fair but almost invincible. 
He gave hard blows and at all times received them as the
brave gladiator that made him worthy to test any foeman's
steel.  In this court house and in the old one that stood
here before it, our distinguished friend has been heard
in many hard fought legal battles and his arguments
before the court and juries will be remembered as
masterpieces for their fervid eloquence and convincing
logic, and whether he came out Conqueror or conquered, he
could give sanction to the sentiment, "The law is
supreme, long live the law":

Our departed brother had passed the high meridian, and as
the shades of the eventide were lengthening and his face
turned toward a setting sun, night fell suddenly upon him
"When no man can work", and without warning to family or
friends, on May 5, 1923, he was called to join
 
"The innumerable caravan, which moves 
To that mysterious realm where each shall take
His Chambers in the silent hall of death".  

Peace be to his ashes, and may God give eternal rest to
his soul.

This Committee respectfully requests that this memorial
be entered upon the minutes of this court, and that a
copy be furnished the family or our departed brother.

J. R. Terrell, Chairman
N. F. Culpepper
J. F. Hatchett
Committee

It is ordered by the Court that the above and foregoing
memorial on the life and character of Honorable B. F.
McLaughlin, late of Meriwether County, be spread upon the
minutes of this Court and a copy be by the Clerk of this
Court furnished the family of the deceased. This August
30th, 1923.

C. E. Roop, J.S.C.C.C.

Note:  Retyped from a typed copy of the original.  Effort
was made to retype as the original was written.