Ending a notable law career encompassing 65 years of practice, Judge Edwin James Mantooth, 92, retired attorney and head of a prominent Lufkin and East Texas family, died today at 9:30 a.m. at the family residence, 405 North Raguet St., following several years of ill health.

Judge Mantooth, born in Cocke County, TN., April 10, 1852, moved to Homer, TX. with his parents, Thomas and Lydia Mantooth in 1857.

He attended the old Pennington College at Pennington, Trinity Co. TX., prior to obtaining his law degree from Cumberland University in Cumberland, TN.

In addition to being a member of the American Bar Association and the Texas Bar Association, Judge Mantooth was one of the founders of the First Christian Church here and was a life-long member, being active in all phases of church work.

Following his admittance to the Bar in 1879, Judge Mantooth served as Angelina County attorney for four years, but never accepted public office after that.

He was President of the Lufkin National Bank for 25 years, retiring approximately ten years ago, due to ill health.

Funeral rites will be held Saturday, May 20, at the family residence, 405 North Raguet at 4 p.m. with Rev. J. N. Wooten, pastor emeritus, and Rev. W. A. Welsh, pastor of the First Christian Church, officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery.

Survivors include daughters, Mmes. Dell Lanter, Winnie Shotwell, Chloe Collins, Cleo Denman and Robbie Bowers, all of Lufkin, and Mrs. Mollie Simons of Tyler; 29 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

The Gipson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for the rites.

Published in The Lufkin Daily News (TX), May 1944
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Note: s/o Thomas Mantooth and Lydia Dillon Mantooth. He married Callie Watson on May 31, 1874 in Angelina County, TX (Source: Angelina County, Texas Marriage Records 1846-1899).