MABRY, William A., Attalla County, MS., then Caddo Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: 1999-2000



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Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and
Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 543-544.  Edited by Alc‚e
Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.

Mabry, William Alexander, district attorney of Caddo parish, La., was born in
Attalla county, Miss., Dec. 12, 1866, the son of Griffin L. and Sarah A.
(Donald) Mabry.  His parents were natives of Mississippi.  His father, who was
a farmer, died in 1878, when the son was 12 years of age, leaving him the
support of the family.  The father was a Confederate soldier.  The
grandfather, Alexander Mabry, was a Mississippi planter and served in the
legislature of his state.  ''Will'' Mabry, as he is known by his friends, is a
self-made man.  By hard work on the farm he was able to attend 2 months of
school in the winter and 2 months in the summer.  In 1882, having saved up
some means, he entered the Mississippi State university, where he remained a
year and a half.  This was his only college education.  He returned to the
farm; also taught school and in 1884 became clerk in a country store of
general merchandise for S. Goldstein at Sallis, Miss., with whom he was
associated when he came to Shreveport in 1888.  He entered the retail grocery
business at Shreveport, La., which was later enlarged to both retail and
wholesale trade, at which time he became a member of the firm of Goldstein,
Rose & Co.  Four years later Mr. Rose withdrew from the firm, which was
succeeded by Goldstein, Mabry & Co., wholesale grocers.  Mr. Mabry remained
with the firm until 1902, when he became a member of the wholesale grocery
firm of Ardis & Co.  In this firm Mr. Mabry was head salesman in the city
department until 1906, when he withdrew to enter the practice of law.  He had
studied law at night under Hon. Thos. C. Barrett and Judge E. W. Sutherlin,
and Jan. 3, 1906, passed a successful examination before the supreme court of
the state and was licensed to practice law, and has risen very rapidly in his
profession.  He has always shown an interest in public affairs and served as
city councilman from 1898 to 1900.  In politics he has borne a prominent part
in the interests of democracy, as a member and vice chairman of the parish
committee and otherwise.  For 4 years during Gov. Blanchard's administration,
he was president of the board of supervisors of elections for Caddo parish,
La.  He was elected district attorney of the first judicial district of
Louisiana in which office he has won distinction as a faithful, fair and
capable states attorney.  Mr. Mabry also practices civil law in his home city,
Shreveport, being the senior member of the law firm of Mabry & Foster, who
enjoy a lucrative practice.  Mr. Mabry, in addition to his law business, is a
large real estate owner and he is also interested in and treasurer of the
Louisiana Oil Refining Co., of Shreveport.  He is a stockholder in the
Commercial National bank of Shreveport.  In 1890 Mr. Mabry married Miss Nelli,
daughter of the late Hon. John Lake, then sheriff of Caddo parish.  Mr. And
Mrs. Mabry have 1 daughter, Josephine.  He is a 32nd degree Scottish Rite
Mason, and he is Grand Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias of
Louisiana.  He is also a member of the B. P. O. E. and past Exalted Ruler of
Shreveport Lodge, No. 122.  He is past Consul Commander of Maple Camp, No. 54,
W. O. W., and past president of Post A, of the T. P. A. at Shreveport.  In
religion, Mr. Mabry adheres to the Baptist faith.  He is a true Southerner,
and loves the southland, and by his success is shown the opportunities that
are open to young men in his adopted state.