John Theodore Ludeling was an American jurist. He served as the fifth chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court from 1868 to 1877.
Background
John Theodore Ludeling, the son of John and Françoise Lorette (de Salnavo) Ludeling, was born on January 27, 1827 in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States but moved when a boy to Monroe, Louisiana. His mother was from Santo Domingo. Her father, a coffee planter, and most of his family were massacred in 1801 during the rebellion of the blacks under the leadership of Toussaint L'Ouverture. The future Mrs. Ludeling, then three years of age, escaped with her grandmother and reached a vessel which brought them to New Orleans. Here she was brought up by her grandmother, and here she married John Ludeling, an emigrant from France. After his death she married Bernard Hemken, and settled in Monroe.
Education
On July 18, 1839, when Ludeling was twelve years of age, he enrolled, as a Roman Catholic, in St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, which at that time drew more than half of its students from Louisiana. He attended until 1843, but neither he nor his brother, who enrolled at the same time, remained to complete the work for the bachelor's degree, which then required six years. His name appears in a very small roster of students of excellent conduct, and again in a long roll of diligent students, but he seems to have won no premiums for scholarship. While at the university both brothers were known by the name of their stepfather, Hemken, but John, at least, later took back the family name of Ludeling. After leaving St. Louis University, he returned to Monroe, studied law in the office of Isaiah Garrett and was admitted to the Louisiana bar.
Career
Ludeling’s law practice prospered in Monroe before the Civil War. He was a successful lawyer, and was also successful financially. He early took the side of the North in the sectional controversy, joined the Republican party soon after its organization, and, although two brothers served in the army of the Confederacy, he remained a Union man. After the Civil War, the Republican governor, H. C. Warmoth, appointed him chief justice of Louisiana, and he held the office from November 1, 1868, to January 9, 1877, through the bitter years of reconstruction.
When he retired from the bench he returned to Monroe and associated himself with Talbot Stillman, and the connection continued until his death. He also served as the first president of Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific Railroad and acquired great wealth as a major stockholder of the company.
Achievements
Serving in the very difficult postwar period, Ludeling brought stability and integrity to the Louisiana court. It has been said that the Ludeling court was one of the best that Louisiana ever had. He was also instrumental in building the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific Railroad.
Politics
Ludeling was a member of the Republican Party.
Personality
Ludeling was a man of indomitable courage and unshakable integrity, and was charitable in ways not published to the world.
Connections
In 1855 Ludeling married Maria Copley Larkin, daughter of Enoch Copley. They had four children.
