Gordy, Judge Minos T.;  St. Mary Parish; now  Vermilion Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller



**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 
 


Gordy, Judge Minos T., district attorney, district Judge, justice of 
the Court of Appeals, member constitutional convention, member criminal 
code commission, Abbeville, Vermilion parish, La., was born in St. Mary 
parish, La., Sept. 29, 1865; son of Minos T. and Betty Ann (Johnson)
Gordy, the former of whom was born on the eastern shore of Maryland, 
in the year 1837, when 8 years old, came to Louisiana with his parents 
and located in St. Mary parish.  He became an architect and builder, 
and, excepting a few years previous to his death, in Oct., 1911, made 
his home at Franklin.  He died at Abbeville.  Betty Ann (Johnson) 
Gordy, the mother, was born in Henderson county, Ky., and located 
in St. Mary parish, La., following her marriage, which took place 
in Texas.  The paternal grandfather, John Collins Gordy, was a native 
of the state of Maryland.  He was a practicing physician and a 
prominent Mason, and during many years occupied the office of 
state lecturer for the Masonic order.  He was one of the earlier 
physicians of the vicinity of Franklin, and his practice was in 
and around that place.  The paternal grandmother was a Miss Hern, 
and the maternal grandmother, Miss Young.  Minos T. Gordy, the 
subject of this sketch, received his earlier education at the 
public schools of Franklin.  Later he attended Rugby academy at 
Franklin and in 1880 entered Louisiana State university, from 
which he graduated with the degree of B. S. in the class of 1883.  
Following his graduation he was employed as a clerk in stores at 
Franklin and Abbeville, and while so employed at the latter place 
began the study of law, under the direction of the law firm of 
White & O'Bryan of Abbeville. In 1888 he entered the law school of 
Tulane University, from which he graduated with his legal degree in 
the class of 1889, shortly thereafter beginning practice at 
Abbeville, where he has since remained.  In 1890 he was appointed 
district attorney by Gov. Nicholls, to succeed R. C. Smedes, who 
had died in office.  In 1892 he was elected to that office to 
succeed himself, and in 1896 was reelected, serving until 1900.  
In 1898 he was elected and served as a member of the constitutional 
convention of that year.  In 1900 he was elected district judge 
for a term of 4 years.  By virtue of his office as district judge 
he also served on the bench as a judge of the Court of Appeals.  
Since 1904 he has been engaged in the private practice of law.  
By Gov. J. Y. Sanders Judge Gordy was appointed a member of the 
criminal code commission, charged with the work of codifying the 
criminal laws of the state of Louisiana.  April 28, 1896, judge 
Gordy was married to Miss Laura Cage Haynes of Wilkinson county, 
Miss., and 3 sons have been born to their union1 namely:  John 
Collins, Sept. 8, 1897;  Walter Haynes, May 18, 1899;  
Minos T., Jr., Feb. 28, 1900.  Judge Gordy has voted the 
Democratic ticket throughout the term of his political 
affiliation.  He is a member of the Masonic fraternity 
and of the Episcopal church.  Judge Gordy was leading 
assistant to the district attorney in the prosecution of 
Dora Murff and James Duval at Crowley, Acadia parish, recently.  
This case attracted very wide attention during its pendency, and 
able council was engaged on both sides.  Both defendants were 
convicted.

Source:  Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, 
Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic 
Form (volume 3), pp. 181-182.  Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. 
Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.