Leigh Burleson
One of the ablest and best known lawyers of west central Texas is Leigh Burleson, who was admitted to the bar in this state forty years ago, and since 1876 has had his home and professional and business relations with San Saba. While Mr. Burleson ranks as one of the pioneer residents and lawyers of San Saba county, his prestige does not consist entirely in this long security of position, but on his forceful ability in the every-day work of his profession, and out of the Tichness of his experience and his broad knowledge he has become one of -the most successful members of the profession. Leigh Burleson was born in Washington County, Texas, in 1847, and is a son of Richard and Sallie (Leigh) Burleson. The Burleson family in Texas is too well known to require extended comment. General Edward Burleson, a cousin of the San Saba lawyer's grandfather, succeeded Stephen Austin in command of the Texas army, at the siege of San Antonio, in 1835, and was subsequently eminent in the military and civil affairs of the Texas Republic. Burleson county was named in honor of that noted Texan. An uncle of Leigh Burleson was Dr. Rufus Burleson, famous as an educator, the founder and for many years president of Baylor University, at Waco. The present postmaster general in President Wilson's cabinet, Albert Ed. Burleson, is a grandson of the General Edward Burleson above mentioned. Richard and Sallie Burleson, parents of the San Saba lawyer, were natives of northern Alabama, settled in Texas in Washington county, during the pioneer days, and finally moved north to McLennan county. Mr. Leigh Burleson was reared in McLennan County and from the common schools entered the old Waco University, subsequently Baylor University. After leaving college he studied law in the office of Coke, Herring, and Anderson, of Waco, one of the best known law firms of Texas, in their time. The first three years after his admission to the bar were spent in Waco, and in 1876 he moved to San Saba on account of failing health. Instead of practicing law, he lived the life of the out of doors, and owned and conducted a fine ranch at the mouth of Brady Creek, twenty miles west of San Saba. After getting fully restored in body and mind, he sold his ranch, and has since been continuously identified with his profession in San Saba. Mr. Burleson, while devoting himself zealously to the law, has acquired numerous interests which are strictly outside his profession, and has never been known to neglect an opportunity to forward the material development of his favored section of the great Lone Star State. He took a leading part in the securing of adequate railroad facilities for San Saba county, and was attorney for the company, and otherwise instrumental in promoting the great projects undertaken by the San Saba River Irrigation Company, which was organised in 1909, succeeding a corporation which had undertaken the development of an irrigation and power plant on the San Saba River in 1892. Mr. Burleson's wife before her marriage was Bee Moore. Her father, Woods Moore, was one of the pioneers of Bastrop county. Her brother, James Moore, is a prominent business man of Galveston, and the Moore family has long; been active in business and civic affairs in this state. The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Burleson are mentioned as follows: Russell Burleson, a banker at San Saba; Lieutenant Richard Burleson, a graduate of West Point, and serving with the rank of captain, in the United States army; Worth Burleson, a Waco business man; and Wade Burleson; and Mrs. Mary Leigh Price. -- A History of Texas and Texans, Volume 3, Francis White Johnson, 1914 |