�April 23, 1997
MACK, Judge L. L. Posted by Goodspeed's Biographies; 1889 on Fri, 11 Sep 1998 Surnames: MACK, TAYLOR Judge L. L. Mack, attorney at law. The firm of Mack & Son is one of the leading and most influential at the bar in the city of Paragould, and gives strength to the fraternity. The gentlemen composing it are admirably adapted to the honorable prosecution of this most exalted of professions, and possess that easy and interested grace of manner not easily acquired by the majority. Judge L. L. Mack was born in Maury County, Tenn., on the 18th of December, 1817, and is the son of Lemuel D. and Mary (Taylor) Mack, natives of Rockingham County, N. C., and of Wake County, N. C., respectively. The parents emigrated to Tennessee when single, were there married and located in Maury County, of that State, where they remained for several years, and then removed to Wayne County, also in that State. In 1851 they removed to Greene County, Ark., locating near Gainesville, where they passed the remainder of their days. They lie buried in the cemetery at Gainesville. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom our subject is the eldest. He was born a cripple, and on that account it was thought that he would never amount to anything. He was reared and educated in Maury County, Tenn., receiving an ordinary education, and after his school day's work was over he began the study of law, a part of the time with a preceptor and a portion without any. When in his twenty-first year he was admitted to the bar in Maury County, although living in Wayne County, and practiced in the last named county for about twelve years. In the year 1844 he was elected county clerk, and filled this position with credit for four years. He became very prominently identified with the whole section of country for many miles. He was a candidate for the legislature from Wayne County, but was defeated by forty-four votes. In December, 1850, he landed in Greene County, Ark., with his family, and in October of the following year settled at Gainesville, then the county seat. Here he began the struggle for life and reputation. Previous to [p.160] this, in 1844, he married Miss Felicia Cypert, a a sister of Judge Cypert, and became the father of eleven children, nine now living. They are named as follows: Robert P., an attorney; Allen P., also an attorney; William N., a physician; Messilla B., wife of P. H. Crenshaw; Emma W., wife of Judge James E. Riddick; McCall, Thomas C., Idella A. and Sarah J. After locating in Greene County, Ark., he found his money scarce though a good sized family depended upon him for support. He had a little library and set to work in earnest in the practice of his profession, notwithstanding there was very little to be done in those days. However he held on to what little there was, and in 1855 he was elected prosecuting attorney from the First district, and on next election was defeated. In November, 1860, he was elected to the legislature and served during that session, but later resigned and was a candidate for prosecuting attorney from the Third district. He was elected and served one term. In the year 1865 he was elected circuit judge of the same circuit and went off under reconstruction in 1868. In 1874 he was elected circuit judge of the Second circuit without opposition, and held one term of four years. He was re-elected in 1878 and served until 1882. Since that time he has turned his attention to his practice. The most of his life has been spent in serving the public, and in that capacity he has given entire satisfaction, meriting the respect and admiration of all by his firmness and advancement. As a lawyer he is a ready and fluent speaker, and has but few superiors. A singular circumstance of the family is that there were eleven children in his father's family, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest, and eleven children in the wife's family, she being the youngest. The Judge is also the father of eleven children. There were twenty-three grandchildren born, and twenty-two are living at the present time. Judge Mack is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also the I. O. O. F. He and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
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