Womack, James D.

File contributed by Mike Miller
A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 196, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.

James D. Womack is in character and professional achievement contributing his quota to the upholding of the high prestige of the bar of Louisiana's historical old capital city, Baton Rouge, and his success in the practice of law here is the more pleasing to note by reason of his being a native son of East Baton Rouge Parish, his birth having here occurred, on "Ben Hur" plantation, July 30, 1889. He is a son of Capt. Thomas A. Womack and a grandson of the late Thomas Womack, who passed his entire life in Louisiana save for the period of his loyal service as a soldier of the Confederacy during the Civil war. Thomas Womack was a resident of St. Helena Parish during the greater part of his life, and was there one of the substantial and representative planters at the time of his death. The lineage of the Womack family traces back to staunch Scotch-Irish stock, and the first representatives in America settled in Georgia.

Capt. Thomas A. Womack was born in St. Helena Parish, in 1856, was there reared to adult age, and in addition to receiving the advantages of local schools, he attended a college in Virginia. As a young man he purchased "Chatsworth" plantation, ten miles south of Baton Rouge, and there he continued his productive activities fifteen years. He is now living retired in the city of Baton Rouge, and he served one term as sheriff of East Baton Rouge Parish.

Upon coming to this parish he was associated with James Houston in the purchase of "Ben Hur" plantation, his interest in which he sold within a short time, and thereafter he purchased "Chatsworth" plantation, as previously noted. He has been active in the local ranks of the democratic party was for eight years a member of the Pontchartrain Levee Board, and he gave twelve years of service as police juror from the Eighth Ward of Baton Rouge.

His wife, whose maiden name was Alma Thompson, was born in St. Helena Parish, in 1858, of their children the eldest is John A., who is engaged in the horse and mule business, with residence in the City of Baton Rouge; Minnie D. is the wife of Albert Jolly, who is engaged in the grocery business at Baton Rouge; Thomas P. holds a position with the Standard Oil Company of Louisiana, at Baton Rouge; George W. is engaged in the automobile business in this city, Grace is the wife of William Staples, who is engaged in the dairy business at Ruston, Lincoln Parish; and James D., immediate subject of this review, was the fourth in order of birth.

After completing his studies in the Baton Rouge High School James D. Womack entered the law department of the University of Louisiana, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1916 and with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In September of that year he was admitted to the bar, and he has since been successfully engaged in the general practice of his profession at Baton Rouge, where his offices are in the Masonic Building.

Mr. Womack takes loyal interest in advancing the cause of the democratic party, and in their home city he holds membership in the First Methodist Church, and his wife is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He became a candidate for the office of judge of the Municipal Court of Baton Rouge, and in the election was defeated by only fifteen votes.

He is an active member of the local Chamber of Commerce and the East Baton Rouge Parish Bar Association, and his fraternal affiliations are as here recited: St. James Lodge No. 47, A. F. and A. M.; DeSoto Lodge No. 7, I. 0. 0. F.; Baton Rouge Lodge No. 490, B. P. 0. E.; and Myrtle Camp No. 30, W. 0. W. Among his real estate holdings in Baton Rouge and vicinity is his pleasant home place at 1930 North Street.

February 3, 1916, marked the marriage of Mr. Womack and Miss Inez Sanchez, daughter of Anthony F. Sanchez, who is engaged in the meat market business in Baton Rouge. Mr. and Mrs. Womack have a winsome little daughter, Mary Inez, who was born August 24, 1918.