Andrew L. Sevier
Encyclopedia
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
member of the Louisiana State Senate
. He represented the 32nd District, which then included Madison
, East Carroll
, Tensas
, and Concordia
parishes. He was the scion of a prominent Madison Parish family which traces its descent from John Sevier
, a fighter in the American Revolution
, former governor of Tennessee, and the namesake of Sevierville
and Sevier County
near Knoxville
in eastern Tennessee
.
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. George and Florence Sevier married on November 23, 1883. George Sevier, Sr., was a member of the Madison Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body similar to county commission
s in other states. He was also the Madison Parish tax assessor from 1891 to 1916.
A Madison Parish native, Andrew L. Sevier was educated in Tallulah and received both the Bachelor of Arts
and the Bachelor of Laws
degrees, the latter in 1921, from Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge
. From January 1, 1918, to October 19, 1919, during World War I
, Sevier served as a first lieutenant
of the infantry
. 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 different governors.
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.
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 and the Masonic lodge
. He was a member and deacon of the Presbyterian Church.
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
. A cousin, the attorney Henry Clay "Happy" Sevier (1896–1974), served from 1932 to 1952 as the Madison Parish member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
, with his 20-year tenure corresponding with that of Senator Andrew Sevier.
Irene Sevier succeeded her husband in the state Senate when he died midway in his eighth term. Her district colleague was Howard M. Jones
of St. Joseph
, the seat of Tensas Parish, located south of Madison Parish. She was succeeded in 1964 by Charles M. Brown, also of Tallulah. The Seviers died in Tallulah and are interred there.
Tallulah, Louisiana
Tallulah is a city in and the parish seat of Madison Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 9,189 at the 2000 census...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, who served for thirty years from 1932 until his death as a Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
member of the Louisiana State Senate
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
. He represented the 32nd District, which then included Madison
Madison Parish, Louisiana
-National protected areas:* Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge * Vicksburg National Military Park -Demographics:-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S...
, East Carroll
East Carroll Parish, Louisiana
East Carroll Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Lake Providence and as of 2010, the population was 7,759.-Law and government:In the 2004 presidential race, East Carroll gave the George W. Bush - Richard B...
, Tensas
Tensas Parish, Louisiana
Tensas Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is St. Joseph. In 2010, the population of Tensas Parish was 5,252; it is the least-populous of all sixty-four parishes....
, and Concordia
Concordia Parish, Louisiana
Concordia Parish borders the Mississippi River in eastern Louisiana. The parish seat is Vidalia. As of 2000, the population was 20,247. It is part of the Natchez, MS–LA Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Prehistory:...
parishes. He was the scion of a prominent Madison Parish family which traces its descent from John Sevier
John Sevier
John Sevier served four years as the only governor of the State of Franklin and twelve years as Governor of Tennessee. As a U.S. Representative from Tennessee from 1811 until his death...
, a fighter in the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, former governor of Tennessee, and the namesake of Sevierville
Sevierville, Tennessee
Sevierville is a city in Sevier County, Tennessee, located in the Southeastern United States. Its population was 11,757 at the 2000 United States Census; in 2004 the estimated population was 14,101. Sevierville is the county seat of Sevier County, Tennessee....
and Sevier County
Sevier County, Tennessee
Sevier County is a county of the state of Tennessee, United States. Its population was 71,170 at the 2000 United States Census. It is included in the Sevierville, Tennessee, Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Knoxville-Sevierville-La Follette, TN Combined Statistical Area. The...
near Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
in eastern Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
Sevier was one of four sons of George Washington Sevier, Sr. (1858–1925), a native of Port Gibson
Port Gibson, Mississippi
Port Gibson is a city in Claiborne County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,840 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Claiborne County.- History :...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, and the former Florence Arrenah Leonard (1867–1944) of Madison Parish. George and Florence Sevier married on November 23, 1883. George Sevier, Sr., was a member of the Madison Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body similar to county commission
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
s in other states. He was also the Madison Parish tax assessor from 1891 to 1916.
A Madison Parish native, Andrew L. Sevier was educated in Tallulah and received both the Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and the Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degrees, the latter in 1921, from Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
. From January 1, 1918, to October 19, 1919, during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Sevier served as a first lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
of the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
. 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 different governors.
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.
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
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
in Tallulah. He was a member of the Tallulah Golf Club and the Masonic lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
. He was a member and deacon of the Presbyterian Church.
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
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. A cousin, the attorney Henry Clay "Happy" Sevier (1896–1974), served from 1932 to 1952 as the Madison Parish member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
, with his 20-year tenure corresponding with that of Senator Andrew Sevier.
Irene Sevier succeeded her husband in the state Senate when he died midway in his eighth term. Her district colleague was Howard M. Jones
Howard M. Jones (Louisiana politician)
Howard M. Jones was a Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate from St. Joseph in Tensas Parish in northeastern Louisiana, who served two terms from 1960 to 1968....
of St. Joseph
St. Joseph, Louisiana
St. Joseph is a town in and the parish seat of Tensas Parish in northeastern Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,340 at the 2000 census. The town is 69 percent African American. St. Joseph is the entry community to Lake Bruin State Park located on Lake Bruin, a relatively clear oxbow...
, the seat of Tensas Parish, located south of Madison Parish. She was succeeded in 1964 by Charles M. Brown, also of Tallulah. The Seviers died in Tallulah and are interred there.