ALCORN, James Lusk, statesman: b. Illinois, Nov. 4, 1816; d. Coahoma county, Miss., Dec. 20, 1894. He was reared in Kentucky, and educated at Cumberland College; taught school in Kentucky; was deputy sheriff of Livingstone county, Ky., for five years, and representative one term. He removed in 1844 to Friar's Point, Miss.; practiced law; was representative in the legislature in 1846 and 1856, and state senator in 1852 and 1854; and was Whig candidate for Congress in 1857, but was defeated by Lamar, Democrat. He was largely instrumental in establishing the levee system of the state. As a member of the convention of 1861 he opposed secession, but signed the ordinance. When the War of Secession began he was made brigadier-general of state troops. When the state government was reorganized after the war he was a member of the legislature; and in 1865 was elected to the United States senate, but was refused his seat. He became a Republican, considering resistance to the plan of reconstruction adopted by Congress to be hopeless; and in 1869 was elected governor on that ticket, being the first governor of the state as reconstructed. In 1870 he resigned, and was United States senator from 1871 to 1877. In 1873 he was an independent candidate for governor, but was defeated by Ames, Radical Republican. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1890, and there advocated the restriction of the franchise.

[Source: THE SOUTH in the Building of the Nation Volumes XI-XII; Edited by James Curtis Ballagh, Walter Lynwood Fleming & Southern Historical Publication Society; Publ. 1909; Transcribed and submitted by Andrea Stawski Pack.]