Bio: Hon. William Huston Jack, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana Nashville and Chicago, The Southern Publishing Company, 1890 Submitted by: Gaytha Carver Thompson ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** HON. WILLIAM HUSTON JACK As an example of the usefulness and prominence to which men of character and determination will attain, we have but to chronicle the life of Mr. Jack, who is the intelligent and efficient superintendent of public instruction of Louisiana. He is a descendant of a long line of illustrious ancestry, and worthily fills his position in this line. At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, one of the worthy and patriotic citizens of Charlotte, N. C., was Patrick Jack, his great grandfather a native of the Emerald Isle, who emigrated to America about 1730, and "pitched his tent" in the Old North State. His lineage is traceable to noble ancestors, one of whom was a ministerial sufferer in the reign of Charles II, in 1661. Col. William H. Jack is one of the most distinguished and talented lawyers of the South, and one of the most eloquent of her gifted bar. He first saw the light of day in Wilkes county, Ga., June 4, 1836, being the second son of Prof. William C. and Catherine Clara (Wellbone) Jack, the former of whom was born in Wilkes County, Ga., October 8, 1808, and died in Natchitoches, La., in November, 1886, having been a distinguished educator of this State. The mother of the subject of this sketch was born in Athens, Ga., September 23, 1818, and passed to her long home in the State of Arkansas in July, 1860. William H. Jack came from Arkansas to Louisiana in 1860, being then twenty four years of age. After a considerable amount of preparation, both in the common and civil law systems, he began the practice of law in Natchitoches, where he has attained the highest rank in his profession, his reputation for ability, zeal and earnestness being fully recognized not only in Louisiana, but in the adjoining States. For several years he was associated in the practice of law with Judge David Pierson, and for legal ability and thorough knowledge of law, this firm had not its superior in the State. Mr. Jack's very superior mental endowments were practically recognized in 1863, when he was elected to the State Legislature, serving during 1863-1864, and while a member of that body he was chosen chairman of judiciary committee, and although he was the youngest member of the House, and was known as the "boy member" he showed that he had the intellect and sound views that, as a usual thing, only mature years bring. During the dark days of reconstruction and the Radical rule period in Louisiana, Mr. Jack took a prominent and leading part against "Carpet bag Government" and alien usurpation, and was inspired by no other motive than a love of country and a patriotic desire to see the government of his State restored tot he hands of her people. During this period he was one of the advance men of the Democratic party, and his qualities of leadership were never more significantly displayed than in the arena of politics. He has been prominent in the councils of his party, and was one of the chief instigators of the famous Natchitoches revolt against the Kellogg government, and the mover of the Natchitoches resolutions, which required the Republican office holders to resign their trust into the hands of the people, and desist from further encroachments on their rights. The struggle against heavy odds was long and doubtful, but in 1876 the smoke of political conflict drifted away, which fact was owing to the skill and determination of such leaders as Mr. Jack. In 1874 he was elected district judge, but Gov. Kellogg refused to commission him on account of an alleged informality in the notice of the election, but really for political reasons and purposes. In 1880 and 1884 he was chosen as one of the presidential electors for Louisiana, and has always been deeply interested in State and National politics, and is regarded as one of the ablest, most active and indefatigable leaders of the party in this State if not in the South. In 1890 he was appointed by Gov. Nicholls, superintendent of public instruction of Louisiana to succeed Judge Breaux, promoted tot he supreme branch, and his address delivered July 25, 1890, at Shreveport, before the Louisiana Educational Association, was a masterly and scholarly effort, and shows him to be in this, as in all matters, a thorough master of the situation, and fully equipped to admirably discharge the duties of this responsible position. In May, 1880 he was elected president of the Baptist State Convention of Louisiana, which body represents about 37,000 members, and this position has been conferred upon him by unanimous vote, at the several annual elections since 1880. The present finds this distinguished lawyer and orator enjoying the enviable position of being one of the representative men of his State, true to his convictions and earnest and sincere in all his deeds, a man to be respected and loved. He has been twice married, having six children by his first wife (Mary C. Whitfield), none by the last. His eldest daughter, Ida Lillian, is the wife of Judge W. P. Hall of Mansfield. His second Ada Whitfield, is the wife of M. H. Carver, Esq., of Natchitoches. His eldest son, John W., is practicing law in Dallas, Tex., and his second son, William H., is secretary in the superintendent's office at Baton Rouge. The other two children, Whitfield and Mary Kate, reside with him at Natchitoches. He was married to his present wife, Miss Ella G. McIntyre, an accomplished lady of Minden, La., about seven years ago, an in their home true hearted, yet unostentaious hospitality is displayed.