Reuben Laffoon
Reuben Francis Laffoon | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Claiborne County, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | June 28, 1929 (aged 75) Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Attorney, mining investor |
| Years active | 1886–1929 |
| Known for | Early attorney in Tacoma; federal bankruptcy referee; mining law expertise |
Reuben Francis Laffoon (March 10, 1854 – June 28, 1929) was a trailblazing attorney in Tacoma, Washington, arriving amid the city's significant expansion during the 1880s. After an initial period concentrating on real estate, he soon reestablished his law practice from an office located in the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce building. Laffoon earned a reputation as a distinguished expert and was among the earliest attorneys authorized to appear before the federal court for Washington’s Western District. In 1912, Judge Edward E. Cushman appointed him to serve as a federal bankruptcy referee.
He invested in mining ventures throughout Washington and Alaska and temporarily stepped away from law for three years to work within Nevada’s mining sector. This hands-on mining involvement deepened his knowledge and contributed to his success in mining law when he resumed his legal career.
Laffoon was a committed Mason from 1880 onward, actively participating in Tacoma’s lodge and the Order of the Eastern Star. He attained several degrees within the Scottish Rite and aimed to achieve the distinguished 31st degree.
Early life, family, and education
Born on March 10, 1854, in Claiborne County, Tennessee, Laffoon was the eldest child of Drewry Laffoon, a farmer originally from North Carolina, and Minerva Laffoon (Stone), a Tennessee native. The family consisted of four children. In 1859, they relocated to Cass County, Missouri, where they acquired farmland. During the Civil War, they provided support to both Union and Confederate troops. Following wartime challenges and damage to their property, the family briefly moved to Nebraska City before returning to Missouri to restore their farm.
Laffoon completed his education at Southwest Missouri State Normal School in Warrensburg.
Early career
At age nineteen, Laffoon left home to travel while teaching in Kansas and Missouri as he pursued legal studies. He began practicing law in Coldwater, Kansas in 1886 before relocating soon afterward to Tacoma, Washington.
Washington and Nevada States
Arriving in Tacoma in 1887 during a pivotal era of growth—including the consolidation of Old and New Tacoma (1883), establishment of the Northern Pacific Railway headquarters, designation as a transcontinental railroad terminus, burgeoning maritime commerce with Southeast Asia, and rapid population increase—Laffoon initially engaged in real estate for about a year. By 1903, he had resumed his legal profession operating from an office within the Chamber of Commerce building. He became affiliated with the Pierce County Bar Association and earned recognition as a skilled legal specialist.
In addition to his legal work, Laffoon made financial investments in mining enterprises across Washington and Alaska and dedicated three years working directly in Nevada’s mining industry. This practical experience allowed him to develop expertise in mining law upon returning to his practice. Noted by historian William Farrand Prosser as one of Tacoma’s leading attorneys, he was among the first admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington based in Tacoma.
In 1912, Judge Edward E. Cushman appointed Laffoon as federal bankruptcy referee, succeeding Judge Worden.
Masonic Membership
In 1880, Laffoon was initiated as a Mason at Belton Lodge No. 54 located in Belton, Missouri. Subsequently, he became affiliated with Tacoma Lodge No. 22 and also joined the Fern Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.
By the year 1902, Laffoon had progressed to the 18th degree within the Scottish Rite in Tacoma. Three years later, in 1905, he was a candidate for the prestigious 31st Masonic degree, which ranks among the highest honors in the Scottish Rite.
Personal Life, Family, and Death
Laffoon married Emma Pearman in Missouri in 1880. The couple settled in Tacoma and raised two daughters, Agnes and Emma. Agnes became the wife of Col. William J. Sutherland, who was known for his involvement in promoting gold mining ventures in Alaska. Following Sutherland's passing in 1912, Laffoon acted as a secondary executor of his estate and collaborated with Agnes during a legal contest concerning Sutherland’s assets.
Reuben Laffoon passed away on June 28, 1929, in Tacoma and was interred at Tacoma Cemetery.