LAND, Thomas T., Bossier Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and
Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 535-536.  Edited by Alc‚e
Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Land, Thomas T., district attorney of the 3rd judicial district, was born in
Bossier parish, Sept. 19, 1874, a son of Thomas T. and Ella M. (Watson) Land. 
His mother was from Caddo parish and a daughter of Col. Matthew Watson, who
was sheriff of that parish for many years.  The Land family were originally
from South Carolina, the grandfather, Thomsa T. Land, coming to Mississippi in
the fifties, and later to Shreveport.  He was a lawyer by profession, and
served as justice of the Superior court for a number of years.  He was also at
one time judge of the District court.  The father of the subject of this
sketch was also an attorney, practicing in Caddo and Bossier parishes.  He was
also the owner of a plantation near Benton, La., where he spent the last years
of his life, passing away in 1884 (age 43), 3 years after the death of his
beloved wife in 1881.  They were the parents of the following children:  Mary
E. (deceased);  Sally, wife of G. G. Nesbitt, of Pecos, Tex.;  Nellie, wife of
Thomas S. Serpell, D. D. S., and  Thomas T., the subject of this biography. 
He received his early education in the public schools of his community, after
which he entered Thatcher's institute, graduating in the class of 1890.  On
leaving school he began the study of law in the offices of Land & Land, at
Shreveport.  He also spent 3 years on his father's plantation near Benton.  In
1898 he was admitted to the bar, and immediately began the practice of his
profession.  When war was declared between the United States and Spain Mr.
Land enlisted in the 1st Louisiana regiment, was mustered in at New Orleans,
and proceeded with the regiment to Miami, Fla., and later to Jacksonville. 
After hostilities had ceased he returned to Benton where he resumed his
practice, and at one time was mayor of that city.  In 1900 he was elected
district attorney of the 2nd judicial district, composed of Webster and
Bossier parishes, and served in this incumbency until 1905.  He then moved to
an Indian reservation, in what is now Osage county, Okla., and later to
Mineral Wells, Tex.  In 1907 he returned to Homer, La., continuing his legal
practice, and in 1912 became district attorney of Bienville and Claiborne
parishes without opposition, which office he has filled most efficiently ever
since.  In Dec., 1907, he led to the altar Miss Elizabeth Lemerick, of
Vicksburg, Miss. This union has been blessed by 1 child, Mary Elizabeth
Landry.