Judge James E. Trimble, 1834-1887
Submitted by Frances G. (Mrs. John Frederic) Trimble, Houston, TX



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Son of Samuel Talmadge and Matilda E. Appleton Trimble, born Bridgewater,
PA, 22 February 1834.  Graduated from Williams College, Williamstown, MA in
1857.  Studied law in Iowa and in Feburary 1859 became president of
Farmerville Female College until he entered the CSA in 1862.  He was
assigned duty as military engineer with rank of 1st Lt. He was then
transferred to the Asst. Adjutant General's department as Chief of Staff
with acknowledged rank of Major, to General D. Provence.  Throughout the war
he remained a Unionist and he cast the only Republican vote in his parish,
in 1868, for General Grant.
 
After the war he resumed his legal studies and in 1866 was admitted to the
bar of Louisiana.  In 1872 he was elected Judge of the 11th District of the
State and held that position for four years.  During this period "he
performed the most conspicuous act of his life by imprisoning a US officer
for refusing to recognize a write of habeas corpus" thus recognizing the
supremacy of civil law over military authority.
 
In 1858, he married Laura C. Bartlett.  After her death, James E. Trimble
married Isabella Munger of Rutland, Vermont.
 
For many years Judge Trimble owned and was editor of the Farmerville
Gazette.  He died on 19 December 1887 and is buried in Farmerville.
 
Portions of the above were extracted from "Biographical Record of Life"
Kappa Alpha Society, Williams College.
 
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