History of Monroe, (Ouachita Parish) Louisiana United States of America

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Samuel Douglas McEnery, senator, was born in Monroe, La., May 28, 1837; son of Henry O'Neil and Caroline (Douglas) McEnery. He attended Spring Hill college, near Mobile, Ala., the U.S. Naval academy, Annapolis, Md., and the University of Virginia, and was graduated from the State and National Law school, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in 1859. He entered the Confederate army with the first company of volunteers formed at Monroe, La., and served as lieutenant throughout the war. He returned to his native town in 1865; taught school; studied the Louisiana system of law, and settled in practice as an attorney. He took a leading part as a Democrat in all the political movements in northern Louisiana. He was married June 27, 1878, to Elizabeth, daughter of C. W. Phillips, a cotton planter in Ouachita parish, La. He was elected lieutenant-governor, with Louis A. Wiltz as governor for the term 1880-84, and when Governor Wiltz died in October, 1881, he filled out his unexpired term as governor and was elected for the term 1884-88. During his administration of over six years he rebuilt the levees, re-established in a great measure the fiscal credit of the state, improved the public-school system, and organized the farmers for the protection and advancement of agricultural interests. He was defeated for re-nomination in 1888 by Francis I. Nicholls, who as governor appointed him associate justice of the supreme court of Louisiana, in which office he served 1888-97. He was nominated for governor at the regular Democratic state convention in 1891, but the ticket was defeated by the Anti-Lottery party. He was elected U.S. senator in 1896 for the term expiring March 3, 1903, taking his seat March 4, 1897, and on May 22, 1900, he was unanimously elected to be his own successor for the term ending March 4, 1909.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Monroe, (Ouachita Parish) Louisiana

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