MODISETTE, James O.; Webster;Jefferson Davis, La. Submitted by: Mike Miller Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 303-305. Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association. Submitted: 4-30-98 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ -- Modisette, James O., successful and prominent attorney, Jennings, Jefferson Davis parish, La.--Was born at the farm home of his parents in Webster parish, La., July 27, 1881; son of Henry Harrison and Anne Eliza (Vaughan) Modisette, both of whom are natives of Georgia, which state they left at an early age with their respective parents, the Modisette family at that time locating in northern Louisiana and the Vaughan family in southern Arkansas, the families being only a short distance apart. Henry Harrison Modisette, the father, has followed the vocation of a planter in Webster parish throughout his active life. The paternal grandparents, were Judge Samuel and Elizabeth (Harrison) Modisette. Judge Modisette was a successful lawyer and served as county judge of Franklin county, Ga. After locating in Webster parish, La., however, he devoted his energies to the vocation of a planter, and, previous to the Civil war, in which his fortune was depleted, was a large land and slave owner. The maternal grandfather, William Henry Vaughan, followed the business of a planter in Georgia and so continued after having located in southern Arkansas. James O. Modisette was sixth of 12 children born to his parents, 9 of whom survive at this time, and his education and success in life have been brought about entirely through his own unaided efforts. He for a brief time attended a country school in Webster parish, La. and again, in Columbia county, Ark., he for a similar time attended a like school, but so small was the aggregate result of these transitory terms of instruction that at the age of 14 years the boy was not able to read or write with practicable facility. At this time he made resolutions to get an education, and studied at home unaided and attended short terms of country schools taught by Jerome Taylor, Jesse Barnard, Bonnie Davis, and Dr. J. C. Walker, until he reached the age of 18, when he began, after a time, to sell books, and made some money, and soon thereafter he went to Oklahoma to work in his uncle's store in Wynnewood, Okla., where he remained but a few weeks. Later he managed to enter the high school at Ravia, Okla., and there eagerly pursued his studies until he had graduated from that institution, following which he became a missionary teacher to the Indians in Oklahoma, in the service of the U. S. government. After some time in this work he became an instructor in a public school in Arkansas during one year, and then entered the state normal school at Natchitoches, La., from which he graduated in 1905. Following his graduation from the normal school, during the school term of 1905-06 he occupied the position of principal of the high school at Cheneyville, La., and during the succeeding term, 1906-07, was principal of the Campti, La., high school. During the time he was engaged in teaching he was also taking a correspondence course with the University Extension law school and studying law under a private tutor as opportunity was afforded. In 1907 he entered the third year senior class of the Illinois college of law at Chicago, from which he graduated in 1908 with the LL. B. and LL. M. degrees. In 1909 this last mentioned institution conferred on Mr. Modisette the degree of D. C. L., a distinction which he may properly highly appreciate. In 1908 he began the practice of law at Little Rock, Ark., but after two months in that location removed to Shreveport, La., and was admitted to practice in the latter state. After a few months at Shreveport, in the summer of 1908 he removed to Jennings, La., where he has since been continuously engaged in legal practice, with the exception of eight months passed in Los Angeles, Cal., 1912-13, where he was admitted to practice in the courts of California. During the time of this stay in California he maintained his office at Jennings, La., to which he returned in June 1913. Mr. Modisette is married to Miss Zada McDowell, a daughter of M. J. McDowell of New Orleans, and one son has been born to their union, namely, Marion Harrison Modisette, born Dec. 27, 1911. Mr. Modisette is affiliated with the Democratic party, but has never sought or desired public office. He is a member of the Unitarian church. During some time past he has been serving as a member of the Jennings school board. He is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member also of the Rebekah degree; the Masonic fraternity--Blue lodge and Royal Arch, and the Order of the Eastern Star, of which latter he has been Worthy Patron during the past three years. Also, he is a member of the Jennings chamber of commerce, the civic league, and the Men's Fellowship society of Jennings. Mr. Modisette has taken post-graduate work at Louisiana state university. He has a large and constantly increasing legal practice, and enjoys a most substantial and desirable clientele, being generally recognized as a leading and able member of the bar of the new parish of Jefferson Davis. As has already been stated in different words, Mr. Modisette is distinctly a self-made man, having acquired not only his professional education without aid, but even his academic knowledge. Among the people of the locality in which he lives he is regarded as a man of sterling traits of character--as being not only a capable lawyer, but also a citizen both able and willing to acquit himself with conspicuous fidelity in every eventuality involving integrity and a sane perspective of the obligations of manhood. -end-