Andrew L. Sevier
| Andrew Leonard Sevier, Sr. | |
Louisiana State Senator
for the 32nd district | |
| In office 1932 – March 26, 1962 | |
| Preceded by | Norris C. Williamson
Clifford Cleveland Brooks |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Irene Newman Jordan Sevier |
| Born | November 9, 1894 Madison Parish, Louisiana |
| Died | March 26, 1962 (aged 67) Tallulah, Madison Parish |
| Resting place | Silver Cross Cemetery in Tallulah |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Irene Newman Jordan Sevier (married 1918-1962, his death) |
| Children | Andrew L. Sevier, Jr.
Howard Spencer Sevier |
| Residence | Tallulah, Louisiana |
| Alma mater | Louisiana State University
LSU Law Center |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| | |
Andrew Leonard Sevier, Sr. (November 9, 1894 – March 26, 1962), was an attorney from Tallulah, Louisiana, who served for thirty years from 1932 until his death as a Democratic state Senator. He represented the 32nd District, which then included Madison, East Carrol, Tensas, and Concordia parishes.[1]
He was the scion of a prominent Madison Parish family that traces its descent from John Sevier, a fighter in the American Revolution, pioneer and former governor of Tennessee, and the namesake of Sevierville in Sevier County near Knoxville.[2]
Biography
Sevier was one of four sons of George Washington Sevier, Sr. (1858–1925), a native of Port Gibson, Mississippi, and the former Florence Arrenah Leonard (1867–1944) of Madison Parish, who were wed on November 23, 1883. George Sevier, Sr., was a member of the Madison Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body akin to county commissions in other states. He was the Madison Parish tax assessor from 1891 to 1916.[2] A Madison Parish native, Sevier was educated in Tallulah. He received the Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and the Bachelor of Laws from the LSU Law Center. From January 1, 1918, to October 19, 1919, during World War I, Sevier served as a first infantry lieutenant in the United States Army.
From the time of his graduation from LSU and entry to the bar until his death, Sevier practiced in the Tallulah law firm of Spencer, Sevier, and Adams. As the long-term state senator, he served during the administrations of six Louisiana governors from Oscar K. Allen to Jimmie Davis.[2]
Sevier's brothers were George Washington Sevier, Jr. (1886–1965), Howard Clay Sevier (1888–1944), and Albert Vertner Sevier (1892–1968). There was also a sister, Juanita Sevier Cassidy (1901–1988), later Juanita Burton, who resided for most of her adulthood and died in Tucson, Arizona.[2] A cousin, attorney, Henry Clay "Happy" Sevier[2] served from 1936 to 1952 as the Madison Parish member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, with his tenure corresponding with that of Senator Andrew Sevier. A cousin's husband, Mason Spencer and Sevier's law partner, held the Madison Parish House seat from 1924 to 1936.[3]
From 1927 until his death, Andrew Sevier was a director or president of the Farm Loan Association. He was also a president of the Production Credit Association in Tallulah, which was organized in 1934. He helped to organize and served as the first president of Rotary International in Tallulah. He was a member of the Tallulah Golf Club, the Masonic lodg, and a deacon of the Presbyterian Church.[2] On September 18, 1918, Andrew Sevier married the former Irene Newman Jordan (1901–1973). Their sons were Andrew Sevier, Jr. (1922–1995), Howard Spencer Sevier (1924–1980), and Warren Jordan Sevier (1926–1970). Andrew, Jr., and Howard Sevier ran the family's Sevier Plantation. Warren Sevier was the manager of the Tallulah Finance Company.[2]
Irene Sevier was appointed to succeed her husband in the state Senate when he died midway in his eighth term. Her district colleague was [Howard M. Jones (Louisiana politician)|Howard M. Jones]] of St. Joseph in Tensas Parish, located south of Madison Parish. She was succeeded in 1964 by Charles M. Brown, also of Tallulah.[1] The Seviers died in Tallulah and are interred there at Silver Cross Cemetery.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Members of the Louisiana State Senate from 1880 to Present. Legis.state.la.us. Retrieved on August 19, 2019.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Sevier Family of Madison Parish, Louisiana. rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved on February 15, 2011.
- ↑ Membership in the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2020 (May 27, 2019). Retrieved on August 19, 2019.
