Abner Smith Lipscomb

Abner Smith Lipscomb

• Abner Smith Lipscomb was born on 10 February 1789 in Abbeville District, South Carolina.
• He married Elizabeth Gaines in 1813.
• Abner Smith Lipscomb became a widower at the 1841 death of his wife Elizabeth Gaines.
• On Friday, 5 May 1848, Green Wood recorded in his travel journal: "Passed Judge Lipscombs, a fine grove of live oaks about his house 5 miles from Independance. He informed that there were 700 children at School in Washinton County, a population of 5000."
• Abner Smith Lipscomb appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Washington County, Texas. Other members of the household included Frank Lipscomb. Also in the household were Frank's step-mother and three half-siblings.
• Abner Smith Lipscomb died on 8 December 1856 at age 67 in Austin, Travis County, Texas.
• He was interred at Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Travis County, Texas.
• The following appeared on 13 December 1856 in the State Gazette: The citizens of Austin have been called to witness the decease in their midst, of one of the respected members of our Supreme Bench. Hon. Abner S. Lipscomb died at the residence of Mrs. George, at two o'clock, on the morning of the 8th instant, in his sixty-ninth year.
       Venerable in years, he may be said to have lived out his allotted term of life. Still his death has come upon us with fearful sadness. Yesterday, and he was seated in our court, dispensing with a firm and faithful hand the decrees of justice.-- To-day he sleeps the sleep that knows no waking.
            "Mans' uncertain life,
            Is like the rain drops hanging on the bough,
            And which shall soonest lose its perilous hold,
             We cannot guess."
       The State must deeply deplore his loss. We are in the infancy of our Supreme Court, and now, more than any other time, it requires master minds and thorough knowledge of and familiarity with our legal and civil history to lay a broad and sound foundation. For this task, none were more competent than the illustrious deceased. With the rest of the present bench, he opened the first court, bringing to his aid a long previous life spent in the Judiciary of Alabama, and to the last hour of his labors, he evinced the most sincere desire to sustain an elevated and consistent character of decisions.
       We omit much that the heart dictates for the memory of this worthy man, to give place to the proceedings of the Supreme and Federal Courts, and Masonic Lodge. Truly, do they speak our feelings and sentiments. We would especially call attention to the truthfully eloquent remarks of Wm. Alexander, Esq., Chief Justice Hemphill, and S. D. Hay, Esq.
• Lipscomb County, Texas, established in 1876, was named in his honor.
• For additional biographical information, see The Handbook of Texas Online.

• Last Edited: 14 May 2013