Judge Aylmer Leake Slack - Submitted for the USGenWeb by Richard P. Sevier November 10, 2013

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Judge Aylmer Leake Slack - Madison Parish, Louisiana

From The Madison Journal October 3, 1914

JUDGE A. L. SLACK.

The following is to be presented to the Supreme Court on October 5, 1914, by the undersigned committee 
of the Bar Association:

To the Honorable Chief Justice and the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Louisiana:

Your committee, appointed by the Louisiana Bar Association to prepare resolutions on the death of 
Aylmer Leake Slack, a member of this Association, who died at his home at Tallulah, Louisiana, on 
September 11th, 1914, respectfully report the following:

Aylmer Leake Slack was born at Germantown, some ten miles east of Memphis, Shelby county, Tennessee, 
on the 7th of April, 1841. On his father's side his ancestors were Dutch, who originally settled in 
New York, New Jersey, or Delaware. His early days were spent in Memphis, where his father was President 
of the University of Memphis. From there the family moved to Washington, Arkansas, where his father 
again engaged in teaching. About the year 1852 they moved to Minden where they built the Minden Female 
College. At Minden Aylmer attended the male academy where he received his primary education.

In 1856 his father concluded to abandon teaching, moved to New Orleans where he begun the practice of 
law. From there young Slack was sent to Central College, Danville, Ky., where he remained one year. 
He came in 1857 to Monroe, La., to which place his father had moved.

After this he was trained at home under the supervision of his father and became his assistant in his 
law office. Later he was appointed deputy clerk of the district court.

He continued in that office until the Civil War came on and in 1861 enlisted as a private in the Pelican 
Grays. On the 23rd or April of that year the company started to New Orleans where it was attached to the 
Second Louisiana Regiment. Shortly the regiment left for Richmond; from there it was ordered to the 
Virginia peninsular and remained one year.

From this time young Slack saw continuous active service. He participated in many bloody battles and was 
badly wounded in the Second Battle of Manassas.

Prior to Chancellorsville he received the appointment of Second Lieutenant in the First Artillery then 
stationed at Vicksburg, where he went through the fateful siege, suffering all the privations that fall 
to a soldiers lot. He later surrendered at Meridian, from thence he returned to his home in Minden where 
he engaged in teaching until, September 1865 when they again moved to Monroe.

In 1867 he was elected clerk of the district court of Ouachita and administered that office until the 
Constitution of 1878(?) turned him out.

In the meantime he had been admitted to the bar and was appointed District Attorney protem. He was elected 
parish judge in 1879 and moved to Tallulah, where he has since resided.

He was enthusiastic K. of P. and was Grand Chancellor of Louisiana during 1884-5.

Judge Slack had been married three times. The children of his first wife have died; but there are seven living 
of the second and three of the last.

Like most old people, Judge Slack lived the last few years with dreams of the past. He often wished he could 
travel the ground again that he walked over during the War.

He was a good christian man. One that lived his religion every day. He slipped easily across the line over the 
great divide without any fear for the hereafter, for he had faith and knew at any time he could "wrap the drapery 
of his couch about him and lie down to pleasant dreams."

Whereas, it has pleased the Divine Ruler of the Universe to remove from our midst Judge Alymer Leake Slack after 
a long and useful life; Therefore Be It Resolved:

That, in the death of Judge Slack, this Association has suffered the loss of an able and worthy member, and the 
community has lost an honored and useful citizen, who, in all the walks of life, acted well his part. Beginning 
the Battle of Life, before he had arrived at Man's Estate, as a soldier under Lee, he gave the first four years 
to his country and won promotion from the rank to Lieutenant of Artillery. Afterwards as Clerk of the District 
Court of Ouachita Parish, as prosecuting attorney, as Judge and for many years as practicing Attorney at this Bar 
and as a citizen, he proved worthy of his trust and after finishing the work allotted to him here, has passed to 
Wider Fields.

Resolved that, these Resolutions be presented to the Supreme Court of the State, be spread upon the minutes of the 
Bar Association and that a copy be furnished to the family and to the Madison Journal.

Respectfully submitted, 

JEFF B. SNYDER, Chairman, 
JOHN B. STONE,
JAMES H. GILFOIL, JR. Committee.