Judson LaMoure
Judson LaMoure (March 27, 1839 – March 16, 1918) was one of the first men to serve in the North Dakota state legislature; he served in the State Senate as a Republican. The state towns of Jud, Judson, and LaMoure along with LaMoure County were named after him. Contrary to popular belief, the American author Louis L'Amour was of no relation to LaMoure despite both men being from North Dakota. Family LaMoure was the son of John Edward LaMoure (1795-1869) and Lois Louisa (Perry) LaMoure (1805-1881) and was of French-Irish ancestry. He was the last of five children; his eldest brother Edward Byron LaMoure was killed during an Indian raid in Elk Point, Dakota Territory on August 9, 1865. LaMoure married Minnie Ella Nelson on December 3, 1874. Together they had six children, of which only four survived to adulthood. Biography LaMoure was born in Frelighsburg, Quebec on March 27, 1839; after two years at the local academy there he completed his education and immigrated to America. He came to Davenport, Iowa on March 2, 1859, in 1860 he joined a rush of gold-seekers to Pike's Peak but turned back east during the Fall of that year without striking gold.