==Early life, education, and career==
==Early life, education, and career==
Born near [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]], in [[Albemarle County, Virginia]], Fagg was the youngest of four children of John and Elizabeth (Oglesby) Fagg.<ref name=”History” /> As a child, he personally met an elderly [[Thomas Jefferson]].<ref name=”BTP obit”/> Fagg completed preparatory studies at the [[University of Virginia]] before moving with his parents to [[Pike County, Missouri]] in 1836.<ref name=”Missouri Courts” /> The following year he entered [[Illinois College]] at Jacksonville, Illinois, though his studies were twice interrupted by family circumstances.<ref name=”History” />
Born near [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]], in [[Albemarle County, Virginia]], Fagg was the youngest of four children of John and Elizabeth (Oglesby) Fagg.<ref name=”History”/> As a child, he personally met an elderly [[Thomas Jefferson]].<ref name=”BTP obit”/> Fagg completed preparatory studies at the [[University of Virginia]] before moving with his parents to [[Pike County, Missouri]] in 1836.<ref name=”Missouri Courts”/> The following year he entered [[Illinois College]] at Jacksonville, Illinois, though his studies were twice interrupted by family circumstances.<ref name=”History”/>
In 1843 Fagg began [[reading law]] in the office of [[Gilchrist Porter]] at Bowling Green, Missouri, and was admitted to the bar in May 1845.<ref name=”Missouri Courts”/><ref name=”History”/> He practiced with [[James O. Broadhead]] until 1848, when he relocated to Clarksville to continue his legal work and administer estates.<ref name=”History”/>
{{quote|In 1841, he again returned to his home and remained until 1843, when he entered the office of Hon. Gilchrist Porter as a law student at Bowling Green, with whom he studied until he was admitted to the bar in 1845. He then became associated in the law practice with Hon. James O. Broadhead at Bowling Green, with whom he practiced until 1848, when he removed to Clarksville where he continued his law practice, and also settled the large estate of H. T. Kent and brother. In the summer of 1850 he, espousing the Benton policy, became a candidate on that ticket for a seat in the legislature, but after a bitter and vindictive campaign he was defeated. In November, 1850, by a coalition of the Benton Democrats and Whig party, he was elected probate judge of Pike county, a position that he filled so acceptably that he was re-elected to the same office in 1854. In January, 1855, he resigned the judgeship to accept a seat in the legislature, to which he had been elected to fill a vacancy, and to which he was re-elected in 1858. He removed to Louisiana in 1856 and became associated with Hugh Allen in the practice of law, he retiring from the firm when he went to the legislature in 1858. In 1875 he received the appointment of judge of the Louisiana court of common pleas, filling that position one year, when by an act of the legislature the circuit judge became judge ex officio of that court. In 1860 he was a candidate on the American ticket for lieutenant-governor, but with the rest of his ticket he was defeated. During the war he was an uncompromising Union man; and during the summer of 1861 assisted in organizing several companies of home guards, and was appointed by Governor Gamble brigade inspector with the rank of colonel. In the meantime the Fifth Regiment of the State troops was organized, known as Fagg’s Regiment, of which he was elected colonel and served in command until January, 1862, when he was appointed judge of the third judicial district by the Governor to fill a vacancy, and in 1863 he was elected to the same office for a term of six years, but in 1865 the state convention passed an ordinance vacating all the offices in the state. He was then appointed by Governor Thomas C. Fletcher to fill the same position, which he held until September, 1866, when he was appointed one of the judges of the Supreme Court, and presided as such until the fall of 1868. Since he has held no office, but has twice run for Congress against Hon. A. H. Buckner, in 1872 as the Republican candidate, and as an independent candidate in 1878. Mr. Fagg is a man endowed with broad and comprehensive views, and acquitted himself with honor in all the positions he has filled; a firm advocate of right, yet courteous in his bearing toward those with whom he came in contact. Since retiring from judicial and political honors he has successfully engaged in the practice of law at Louisiana and St. Louis, removing to the latter place in July, 1882. He was at one time associated with Hon. D. P. Dyer in the law practice, and in June, 1879, his son E. B. Fagg and Hon. M. G. Reynolds, his son-in-law, became associated with him, forming the present law firm of Fagg, Reynolds & Fagg, of Louisiana city. November 11, 1847, he married Miss Madora, daughter of Eleazer Block, of Ashley, Pike county. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a Master and Royal Arch Mason.<ref name=”History”>”[https://books.google.com/books?id=NyUBgSvKANsC&pg=PA686 The History of Pike County, Missouri: An Encyclopedia of Useful Information]” (Mills & Co., 1883), p. 685-86.</ref>}}
==Political and judicial activities==
{{quote|The vacancy caused by Judge [[Walter L. Lovelace]]’s death was filled by the promotion of Judge Fagg from the circuit court bench, which he had occupied for four years previously. Judge Flagg was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, July 15, 1822, and came to Missouri on his father’s removal to Pike County in that State in 1836. He was admitted to practice in 1845, and for some years ensuing practised with Hon. James O. Broadhead. In November, 1850, he became probate judge; in 1855, a member of the Legislature; in 1856, judge of a common pleas court; in 1858, a member of the Legislature a second time; in 1861, a brigade-inspector and colonel; in 1862, a circuit judge; and in 1869, upon the expiration of his term as judge of the Supreme Court, he resumed the practice of his profession. These few lines disclose the busy life of a man ever active in public and professional duties. To complete the sketch, mention should be made of not a few candidacies for such positions as member of the General Assembly, Lieutenant-Governor, and Congressional seats.<ref name=”Green Bag”>L. C. Krauthoff, ”The Supreme Court of Missouri”, in [[Horace Williams Fuller]], ed., ”[[The Green Bag (1889–1914)|The Green Bag]]” (1891), Vol. 3, p. 182.</ref>}}
In the summer of 1850, Fagg was unsuccessful as a candidate for the state legislature, but in the November of that year was elected probate judge of Pike County, to which he was re-elected in 1854.<ref name=”Missouri Courts”/> He resigned in 1855 to take a seat in the [[Missouri House of Representatives]], later returning for another term in 1858.<ref name=”Green Bag”/> From 1856 he also served as judge of a court of common pleas.<ref name=”History”/>
An outspoken Unionist, at the outbreak of the [[American Civil War]], Fagg organized companies of home guards in 1861 and was appointed brigade inspector with the rank of colonel by Governor [[Hamilton Rowan Gamble|Hamilton Gamble]]. He commanded the Fifth Regiment of Missouri State Troops, known as “Fagg’s Regiment”.<ref name=”History”/>
{{quote|We had heard on several occasions during the past two weeks, that Hon. T. J. C. Fagg, Judge of the Pike Circuit, had been appointed by Governor Fletcher, to fill the place oi the Supreme Court bench, made vacant by the death of Judge Walter L. Lovelace. On Monday Judge Fagg took his seat with Judges Wagner and Holmes. Judge Fagg is a man of some learning, more native talent, and an immense capacity for yawning and whittling. He is a Radical of the most Radical type, and is even more intolerant and vindictive in feeling than he is a fanatic in principle. Perhaps these qualifications eminently fit him for the place be now fills, and which it is altogether improbable he has the ability, under the circumstances of its organization, to disgrace. But whether be is or is not fitted lor the position of a Supreme Judge, one thing is very certain, and that is, four-fifths of the people of his late Circuit are eminently satisfied to know that they are rid of his presence as a Judge, and that be is placed in a position which, if it does not afford him an opportunity to do good, at least disables him to a good degree from committing mischief.<ref name=”Successor”>”[https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-missouri-republican-successor-to-j/137353788/ Successor to Judge Lovelace]”, ”Daily Missouri Republican” (October 17, 1866), p. 2.</ref>}}
In January 1862 acting Governor [[Willard Preble Hall|Willard P. Hall]] appointed him circuit judge for Missouri’s Third Judicial Circuit, comprising several eastern counties.<ref name=”Missouri Courts”/> One of his circuit cases later gave rise to ”[[Cummings v. Missouri]]” (1866), in which the United States Supreme Court struck down a state loyalty-oath requirement.<ref name=”Missouri Courts”/>
{{quote|Thomas James Clark Fagg, former judge of the supreme court of Missouri, died at the Missouri Baptist sanitarium, where he had been a patient for several months. He was 93 years old. Judge Fagg was born in Charlotteville, Va., July 15, 1821. He came west as a young man, and was on the supreme bench shortly before the beginning of the civil war.
Following the death of Justice [[Walter L. Lovelace]] in 1866, Governor [[Thomas Clement Fletcher|Thomas C. Fletcher]] appointed Fagg to the Supreme Court of Missouri on October 1, 1866.<ref name=”Successor”/><ref name=”Missouri Courts”/> He served until November 1868, after which he returned to private practice.<ref name=”Missouri Courts”/> Contemporary commentary described him as a vigorous Radical Republican and a man of “native talent”, though his judicial temperament drew mixed assessments from political opponents.<ref name=”Successor”/>
Later he was postmaster at Louisiana, Mo. For was some years before his death Judge Fagg resided in St. Louis. Judge Fagg attended the dedication of the Jefferson memorial in the spring of 1913.<ref name=”BTP obit”/>}}
After leaving the bench, Fagg resumed practice in Louisiana, Missouri, partnering at times with Colonel D. P. Dyer and W. H. Biggs.<ref name=”Missouri Courts”/> He later moved to St. Louis, where he worked in the insurance business before returning to Louisiana in 1890 to form a law partnership with David A. Ball. He retired in 1898.<ref name=”Missouri Courts”/>
==Personal life and death==
<ref name=”Missouri Courts”>{{cite web|url=https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=130874 |title=Thomas James Clark Flagg|work=Missouri Courts|access-date=June 24, 2023}}</ref>
On November 11, 1847, Fagg married Madora Block of Ashley, Pike County; they had several children, including attorney E. B. Fagg, who became his law partner.<ref name=”History”/>
Fagg died in St. Louis on October 26, 1914, aged 92, and was buried in Louisiana, Missouri.<ref name=”BTP obit”/><ref name=”Missouri Courts”/> At the time of his death he was recognized as one of Missouri’s oldest surviving jurists.
==References==
==References==
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This draft is part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Missing encyclopedic articles/United States judges and justices.
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American judge (1822–1914)
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Thomas James Clark Fagg |
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|---|---|
| Born | (1822-07-15)July 15, 1822
Albemarle County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | October 26, 1914(1914-10-26) (aged 92)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
Thomas James Clark Flagg (July 15, 1822 – October 26, 1914)[1] was an American lawyer, legislator, and judge who served as a justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri from 1866 to 1868.[2]
Early life, education, and career
Born near Charlottesville, in Albemarle County, Virginia, Fagg was the youngest of four children of John and Elizabeth (Oglesby) Fagg.[3] As a child, he personally met an elderly Thomas Jefferson.[1] Fagg completed preparatory studies at the University of Virginia before moving with his parents to Pike County, Missouri in 1836.[4] The following year he entered Illinois College at Jacksonville, Illinois, though his studies there were twice interrupted by family circumstances.[3]
In 1843 Fagg began reading law in the office of Gilchrist Porter at Bowling Green, Missouri, and was admitted to the bar in May 1845.[4][3] He practiced with James O. Broadhead until 1848, when he relocated to Clarksville to continue his legal work and administer estates.[3]
Political and judicial activities
In the summer of 1850, Fagg was unsuccessful as a candidate for the state legislature, but in the November of that year was elected probate judge of Pike County, to which he was re-elected in 1854.[4] He resigned in 1855 to take a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives, later returning for another term in 1858.[5] From 1856 he also served as judge of a court of common pleas.[3]
An outspoken Unionist, at the outbreak of the American Civil War, Fagg organized companies of home guards in 1861 and was appointed brigade inspector with the rank of colonel by Governor Hamilton Gamble. He commanded the Fifth Regiment of Missouri State Troops, known as “Fagg’s Regiment”.[3]
In January 1862 acting Governor Willard P. Hall appointed him circuit judge for Missouri’s Third Judicial Circuit, comprising several eastern counties.[4] One of his circuit cases later gave rise to Cummings v. Missouri (1866), in which the United States Supreme Court struck down a state loyalty-oath requirement.[4]
Following the death of Justice Walter L. Lovelace in 1866, Governor Thomas C. Fletcher appointed Fagg to the Supreme Court of Missouri on October 1, 1866.[6][4] He served until November 1868, after which he returned to private practice.[4] Contemporary commentary described him as a vigorous Radical Republican and a man of “native talent”, though his judicial temperament drew mixed assessments from political opponents.[6]
After leaving the bench, Fagg resumed practice in Louisiana, Missouri, partnering at times with Colonel D. P. Dyer and W. H. Biggs.[4] He later moved to St. Louis, where he worked in the insurance business before returning to Louisiana in 1890 to form a law partnership with David A. Ball. He retired in 1898.[4]
Personal life and death
On November 11, 1847, Fagg married Madora Block of Ashley, Pike County; they had several children, including attorney E. B. Fagg, who became his law partner.[3]
Fagg died in St. Louis on October 26, 1914, aged 92, and was buried in Louisiana, Missouri.[1][4] At the time of his death he was recognized as one of Missouri’s oldest surviving jurists.
References
Category:1822 births
Category:1914 deaths
Category:Judges of the Supreme Court of Missouri
- This open draft remains in progress as of October 15, 2025.
