Hon. E. North Cullom, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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Among the prominent members of the bar of southwest Louisiana few surpass in profound legal
attainments Hon. E. North Cullom, of Opelousas.  He is a brilliant and forcible speaker, an
excellent judge of law, and a faithful and conscientious attorney.  Judge Cullom was born in
Opelousas, September 14, 1824, and is a son of Francis and Maria (Prewett) Cullom; the former
was a native of Kentucky, born at Monticello in 1793, and the latter was born in Tennessee, and
died in Louisiana in 1829.  Judge Cullom received but a limited school education, but through
private study  and tutorship attained a thorough literary education, being an excellent Latin
and French scholar, with considerable knowledge of Greek.  He studied common law at Danville,
Ky., and was admitted to the bar in that city March 9, 1849.  It was not his intention,
however, to locate there, and he returned to Louisiana and devoted himself to the study of the
civil law of this state under the preceptorship of his father.  He taught a school at
intervals, meanwhile pursuing his studies, and September 7, 1850, was admitted to the bar
before the supreme court of Louisiana in Opelousas.  He at once entered into practice with his
father and was his partner until the latter's death in 1855.  Judge Cullom arose quickly to
distinction and soon acquired a lucrative practice.  His ability as a speaker brought him into
general notice, and made him a leader in all matters for the public good.  He became one of the
most active agitators of the project known as the New Orleans, Opelousas & Great Western
railway, now known as Morgan's Southern Pacific railroad.  He remained in Opelousas until the
latter part of May. 1885, when he removed to Avoyelles parish, practicing his profession until
1858, when he was elected by the popular vote judge of the Thirteenth Judicial district,
composed of the parishes of Rapides and Avoyelles.  He was a whig in politics, and at the close
of his term he found considerable opposition to his reelection in 1861.  But, notwithstanding
the boundaries of the district had been changed, he was re-elected by a large majority. 
He was again elected in 1865, this time without opposition.  During the last two terms the
district was composed of the parishes of Avoyelles, Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana.  During
his last term he was forced to take the oath of allegiance to the confederate states
government, and when federal authority was restored he was, of course, decapitated for
"sympathy with the confederacy."  He immediately filed application before congress to have his
disability removed, and through the influence of Thaddeus Stevens was restored July 20, 1858,
to full citizenship.  In the meantime he had resumed practice in Avoyelles, Rapides and Pointe
Coupee parishes.  In February, 1869, he opened a law office in New Orleans, and was active in
getting up what was known as the liberal party at that time, and afterward as the fusion party.
By this party he was nominated in the convention for judge of the Fifth district court of
the parish of Orleans, and was elected, serving four years.  As he would not become the tool of
factions--too honest to descend from the dignity belonging to the high position he held--he was
forced to retire from the bench, and again he resumed his law practice.  In 1877 he was the
chief attorney in the noted returning board case, defending the Hon. J. Madison Wells in that
interesting matter.  In 1878 he was nominated by the workingmen's and the greenback parties for
congress in the Second district, but was defeated.  In the fall of 1882 he was appointed
assistant attorney of the United States on the French-American claims commission, vice Judge
Taylor Beattie.  In 1883, his interests calling him back to the country, he settled on his farm
in Avoyelles parish, on the bank of the Bayou Beuf, and remained there until 1889, when he
removed to Opelousas, with the intention of practicing law.  In September, 1890, he became
editor of the "St. Landry Democrat," in which capacity he continued until January 4, 1891.  In
1853 and 1854 he edited the "St. Landry Whig" at Opelousas.  All through his life Judge Cullom
has been a constant contributor to all the leading journals of Louisiana.  Judge Cullom was
married February 28, 1848, to Miss Mary J. Gilmore, of Danville, Ky.  They have had three
children.  The eldest, Robert L., died in 1884, leaving four children, three of whom are
being reared by Judge Cullom; the second is William M., and the third, Edward, is practicing
law at Marksville, La.  Such in brief is the record of Judge Cullom.  The foundation of his
active life was laid  here in southwest Louisiana, and the people who have known him long and
well will ever entertain for him the highest regard and admiration as a man, a lawyer and a
jurist.  In every position of life to which he was elevated, he gained distinguished honors.
Firm and conscientious in all his views, and bold and fearless in their enunciation, he always
commanded the respect of those who differed from him in his political faith.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 474-475.  Published by the
Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.