Cage, Hugh Connell; Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
Contributed by Mike Miller



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Cage, Hugh Connell, lawyer, was born on Woodlawn plantation, Terrebonne
parish, La., Nov. 15, 1859.  His parents were Duncan and Sarah Jane (Connell)
Cage.  The father was a native of Mississippi and the son of Judge Harry Cage,
who was also a member of Congress, his home being in Wilkinson county, Miss. 
Judge Cage was a native of Tennessee, and was a son of William Cage, who was a
"major in the American Revolution and the first speaker of the house of
commons of the Free and Independent State of Franklin."  The above quotation
is inscribed on his grave stone at Cage's B
end on the Cumberland river in
Tennessee.  He came from a Virginia family, and was a founder of the State of
Franklin, now Tennessee.  The mother of Hugh C. Cage bore the maiden name of
Sarah Jane Connell, and was born in Wilkinson county, Mississippi, of which
her father, Hugh Connell, was sheriff for more than 30 years.  His wife was a
Miss Holloman.  He was a son of Hugh Connell, who was a well educated Irishman
and a school teacher in the early days of Mississippi.  Duncan S. Cage was a
sugar planter in Terrebonne parish.  When the war of secession came on he
raised a company of infantry which became a part of the 26th Louisiana.  On
the formation of this regiment he was made lieutenant-colonel and later
colonel, in which latter position he was with his regiment at Vicksburg,
Miss., just before the siege of that city, but taking sick he was not
permitted to be in command of the regiment, which was captured in that siege. 
Afterward he served to the close of the war on the staff of Gen. Kirby Smith,
with the rank of colonel.  Col. Cage was elected a member of the legislature
that met at New Orleans in 1866, and was elected speaker of the house.  He
bore a prominent part in public affairs during reconstruction days, but never
held office after 1866.  He died in 1885.  His widow is now in her 84th year. 
She bore her husband 4 
sons and 3 daughters, one son, the eldest, being
deceased.  Hugh C. Cage was reared on his father's plantation; attended the
country schools till 15, at which age he entered the Virginia military
institute at Lexington, Va., where he remained 2 years, being forced by reason
of financial reverses in his father's business to leave the classroom and go
to work.  He afterward taught school 2 years and operated a sawmill 1 year,
earning funds to further his education.  He came to New Orleans and
matriculated in 1880 in University of Louisiana, now Tulane university, from
which he received his degree of LL. B. in 1882.  Immediately he began the
practice of law in New Orleans.  For 15 years he was associated with Mr. W. S.
Bennedict, and then was alone in the practice for 2 years.  In 1899 the
present and well-known law firm of Cage, Baldwin & Crabites was formed.  In
politics Mr. Cage is a Democrat, but in 1896 he was elected on the Citizens'
League ticket to the state senate from the 6th  senatorial district.  In 1900
he was a member of the state Democratic central committee and also managed the
campaign of Gov. W. W. Heard, and himself elected (this time on the regular
Democratic ticket) again to the state senate.  During his second term as state
senator he served as president pro tempore.  Fraternally Mr. Cage is a Master
Mason.  I
n 1889 he married Miss Margaret M. Baldwin, daughter of Dr. Henry D.
Baldwin, of New Orleans, La.

Source:  Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 81-82. 
Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical
Association.