Teachers at Austin, Dr. Burleson's Statement of Convention's
Work, The Teachers' Recommendations to ihe Legislature,
Committee Report on University of Texas, Dr. Burleson
Chairman, Last Meeting of Texas Teachers' Convention,
Ceased to Exist Where it was Organized June 30th, 1880,
Merged into the Texas State Educational Association. Gov.
O. M. Roberts Addressed the Meeting, Organization of the
T. S. E. A., July 1st, 1880, Its Continued Success 371
Chapter XLV— Dr. R. C. Burleson's Address Before the Texas
Teachers' Convention in Galveston June 30th, 1890. Pithy and
Pointed, Breezy and Bright, AVitty and Wise, Learned and
Logical, Education, Public and Private, The Sam Houston
Normal Institute Suggested for the First Time, Other
Matters 3S2
Table of Contents. xvii
Page
Chapter XLVI— Progress of Education in Texas, Development
of State Institutions, Dr. B. Sears' Report for 1S79, Establish-
ment of State University, Corner Stone Laid November 17th,
1883, Educational Measures Passed During Gov. Roberts-
Administration, Prairie View Made a Branch of the Univer-
sity, Medical University at Galveston Opened October 1st,
1891, Summer Normals, Value of School Property, Charitable
Institutions, Generosity of the People in Favor of Education 393
Chapter XLVII— Resolution of the East Texas Convention Octo-
ber 12th, 18G7; Organization of the Baptist General Associa-
tion of Texas July 17th, 18G8, Gen. James E. Harrison, of
Waco, Elected President, R. C. Burleson. Corresponding Sec-
retary, Gen. Joseph W. Speight, Chairman of Committee to
Remodel Constitution, Dr. Burleson Moves to Send Fraternal
Delegates to State Convention, Dr. Burleson Elected Corre-
sponding Secretary for the Fourth Time 402
Chapter XLVIII— Growth of the General Association, Dr. Burle-
son Elected President at Jefferson July 25th, 1873; Re-elected
at Dallas, 1874; Sherman, 1875; Waco, 1876; Paris, 1877;
Fort Worth, 1878; Pittsburg. 1879; Served the Association as
Corresponding Secretary and President Eleven Consecutive
Years, Movement to Establish Organic Connection Between
General Association and Waco University, The Pott's Reso-
lution, Movement Consummated at Sulphur Springs in 1882,
A Slietch of the Consolidation Movement Resulting in the
Union of all the General Baptist Conventions in the State. . . 407
Chapter XLIX— First Session of the Consolidated Convention in
Waco, June 26th, 1886, Dr. Burleson Member of the Board
of Directors, Constitution of the Convention, Dr. Burleson
Continued on the Board of Directors at Dallas in 1887, and
Made Chairman of Committee on Colored Population, Bishop
College, Vice-President in 1889 and 1890, Elected President
in 1892 at Belton and Re-elected at Gainesville in 1893 415
Chapter L— Dr. Burleson and His School Work at Waco. Trinity
High School, S. G. O'Brien, First President. Waco Classical
School. J. C. West, President, Dr. Burleson Elected President
and Name Changed to Waco University, Gen. Speight's Let-
ter, Dr. Burleson Visits Waco April 15, 1861, Accepts the
Presidency, Civil War of 1861 Again, Professors and Students
Enlist in the Confederate Army, Dr. Burleson Chaplain of the
Fifteenth Regiment, Session of 1865, Co-Education, Resolu-
tion of Trustees 423
xviii Table of Contents.
Page
CuAPTER LI— Years that Follow the War, a Crisis in the History
of all Enterprises, People Restless, Changing Conditions, Dr.
Burleson Quick to Grasp the Situation, Knew What to Do,
and Did It, Girded on His Armor, Took the Field and
Preached, Lectured and Wrote, Confidence in the Security of
Waco Inspired, Elected President of Sheveport University,
Degree of D. D. Conferred by Howard College, Dr. Burleson
Keeps Track of Old Students, Reference to the Manner in
Which He Marked Catalogues, Every Page in His Working
Testament Marked, Address to the Baptists of Texas 433
Chapter LII— Reconstruction of the Educational Affairs of
Texas Baptists, Question of Removing the Schools from In-
dependence, Educational Union, Centennial Commission,
Navasota Resolutions, Dr. Burleson Attends American Bap-
tist Educational Commission in 1ST4, Receives the Degree of
LL.D. from Keachi College, Unification, Hayden Preamble
and Resolutions at Ennis, Issue Joined, Line Drawn, and
Every Baptist Steps on One Side or the Other, Baptist State
Convention at Lampasas, Resolutions on Removal. Committee
Appointed, Dr. Burleson's Position, Joint Meeting of Com-
mittees from Convention and Association at Temple. Plan of
Consolidation Adopted, Consolidated University Goes to
Waco, Female College to Belton 442
Chapter LIH— Results of Baptist Educational Reconstruction in
Texas, First Session of the Consolidated School, Dr. Burle-
son's Remarks, Transfer of Property of Waco University,
Gen. Speiglit, President, and W. H. Jenkins, Secretary, of
the Old Board, Their Faithfulness, B. H. Carroll, President
of the New Board. His First Report to the Convention. New
College Campus Purchased, and New Buildings Erected, In
1893 All Debts Paid. Co-Education Readopted After Ten
Years' Trial, Dr. Burleson a Hard Worker, In Baylor, His
Rosiest Dream Realized, Exposure in Early Days in Texas,
Advanced in Life. Elected President Emeritus on Full Pay,
His Letter of Acceptance, Trustees Kneel, Dr. Burleson Leads
in Prayer. Public Career Closes in a Spirit of Human Mag-
nanimity, and Flow of Chvistinn Followshiii and Lnvo 4r,7
After- Word 4(56
PART II— 'Fttnekal of Dr. Burlkso.n.
(Waco Auditorium. May ir)th, 1001.)
Prayer by Dr. .\. M. .loluison 47.T
Funeral Sermon by 1 )i-. AN'. II. Parks 47fi
Address by Dr. S. J. Anderson 481
Address by Supt. J. C. Lattimore 483
(Riprosmlin- Public Schools. i
Table of Coxtexts. xix
Page
Speech of M. B. Davis 486
(Representing Tlie Press.)
Speech of Prof. W. H. Pool 487
(Representing Old Students. i
Speech of Dr. Addison Clark 488
(Representing Sister Schools.)
Speech of Dr. D. R. Wallace 489
(Representing Facnlly of 18')1.)
Speech of Rev. E. A. Puthuff 491
(Representing Missionary Students to Foreign liaiids.)
Speech of Mr. E. P. Alldredge 494
(Representing Student Body of Baylor.)
Speech of [Mayor J. W. Riggius •. 49G
(Representing City of Waco.)
Address by Dr. O. H. Cooper 498
(Representing Baylor Faculty.)
Speech of Hon. W. B. Denson 499
(Representing Baylor Trustees.)
Resolutions Adopted by the Board of Trustees of Baylor Uni-
versity 501
Speech of Hon. W. S. Baker 506
(Representing Old Students.)
Resolutions Adopted by the "Faculty of Baylor University 507
Addl-ess by Dr. O. I. Halbert— "Home Life of Dr. Burleson' 510
(Contributed after the Funeral.)
Address by Hon. W. B. Denson— -Dr. Burleson a :\Iodel for
Texas Youths" 512
(Contributed after tlie Funeral.)
PART III — Chapel Talks bv T)u. Buklesox.
Introduction 521
Toung People: Their Duties and Perils 522
Moses. The Grand Model of Preparation 524
Jonah, or Running Av\'ay from Duty 526
Do Thyself no Harm 528
Absalom or Filial Ingratitude 531
There is a Time to Laugh 53.3
The Crime of Parental Partiality 535
XX Table of Coxtexts.
PAET IV — Selected Addresses axd Articles by
Dr. Burlesox.
Page
General Sam Houston. Address delivered before tbe Texas Leg-
islature March 2d, 1S93, at tbe Memorial Services -on tbe One
Hundredth Anniversary of tbe Birtb of Gen. Sam Houston,
and tbe 57tb of Texas Independence. (Tbis address covers
all tbe various points of Gen. Houston's eventful life.) 543
Gen. L. S. Ross— A True Model 588
Senator Ricbard Coke 593
The Mirage in Texas 595
An Early Texas Missionary Among tbe Wolves 597
PART V — Dr. Burlesox as a Preacher.
(With Selected Sermons by Dr. Burleson.)
"Dr. Burleson as a Preacher," by Hon. W. B. Densou OO"
Sermon on "Family Government" 612
"Behold tbe Lamb of God"— His 57th Anniversary Sermon, de-
livered Nov. 12tb, IS97 ; 632
Sermon on "Tbe Deaconship"— Dedicated to tbe Deacons of
Texas 651
PART VI— Maxy of "The Old Guard" Series of
Biographies.
Introduction 663
James R. Jenkins 667
Tbe Old Guard— Their Work and Co-laborers 664
Wm. M. Tryon 669
James Huckins 675
Z. N. Morrell 681
R. E. B. Baylor 689
Noah T. Byars 695
Hosea Garrett '60
D. B. Mon-ill "63
A. C. Horton '06
Isaac Van Zandt '12
A. G. Haynes "!•*
TyroU J. .Tackson "1'
Gail Borden. Jr '21
T. J. Pilgrim '2f>
Mrs. Dickinson— "Tbe Heroine of the Alamo" 735
M. V. Smith 741
Table of Contents. • xxi
PAET VII — Articles by Dr. Burleson on Texas History.
(Condensed and Interesting Sketch of Texas History, dis-
cussed under the "Seven Eras," with many articles,
throwing light on Texas History, gathered by Dr. Burle-
son during 54 years of study and association with Texas
Pioneers and Patriots).
Page
Texas— Name, Size, Climate, History 749
Address to Texas Veterans 764
Era of Missions 779
Era of Fredonians or Filibusters 783
Era of Colonization 792
Stephen F. Austin ". 798
Revolution 801
Siege and Fall of the Alamo 815
The Fort Parker Massacre 817
The INIexican War 82G
The Great Comanche Raid of 1840 834
Gen. Woll's Invasion and the Mier Expedition 840
Presidents of the Republic 847
Annexation 856
Seventh Era of Texas History 861
Hon. J. Pinkney Henderson 867
Hon. George Tyler Wood 869
Hon. E. M. Pease 873
Gen. Ed. Burleson 876
Railroads 881
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Dr. Rufus C. Burleson Frontispiece
.Jonathan Burleson 26
The Old Mountain Home, Alabama 29
Cold Cave 31
Flint River, where Dr. Burleson was Baptized 35
Mt. Pisgah Church. First Church Dr. Burleson was a Member of. 54
A Page from Dr. Burleson's Bible 67
A . S. Lipscomb Ill
On the Old College Campus at Independence 114
xxii List ok Illt'stratioxs.
Pagf
Old Baylor University Biiildiiiss at ludependeure llil
Dr. Burlosoii and Wife in 18r>3 l.T.
Mrs. Georgia J. Burleson 140
Richard B. Burleson 161
Pool where Dr. Burleson Baptized Gen. Sam Houston lOi;
Baptistry of the Independence Church 168
Dr. Burleson's First Faculty at Baylor University 170
Different Portraits of Dr. Burleson 19o
Baylor University 309
The R. C. and R. A. Burleson Home, Waco 414
S. L. Morris and Family 470
R. A. Burleson and Family 470
Dr. Burleson's Grave r»16
Gen. Sam Houston's Grave 583
James Huckins 67.")
Z. N. Morrell 681
R. E. B. Baylor »"80
Grave of Tudse R. E. B. Baylor 604
X. T. Byars 69r.
Hosea Garrett 700
A. G. Haynes 714
Gail Borden 721
The First Sunday School in Texas 733
Landing of LaSalle 750
Murder of LaSalle 755
Santa Anna Behind Lieut. Sylvester 762
Executive Mansion 764
Aztec Indians Disoovering Texas 765
Siege of Alamo 771
Santa Anna at San Jacinto 773
Santa Anna Before Gen. Sam Houston 775
Battle of San Jacinto 777
The Alamo 780
Priests and Attendants Leaving the Alamo 782
Airs. Long Firing the Cannon 791
Stephen F. Austin '<'98
Santa Anna ^^-^
Bowie Being Carried over the Line 816
Presidents of the Republic 847
The Governors of Texas 860. 864
The State Capitols 872
Gen. Ed. Burleson 877
PART 1
BIOGRAPHY OF DR. BURLESON
HARRY HAYNES.
EXORDIUM,
A long life has passed under view, the story of which is
recited in the following pages. It was not a life of idleness
and ease, but one of ceaseless planning, and constant toiling.
To write the life of an idler would be an easy task, since
Paul by one of his masterly strokes in a communication to
Timothy, furnishes a matchless model for the biography of
all the slothful who lived both before his day and in all suc-
ceeding ages. "Wandering about from house to house; and
not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things
which they ought not."
To write the life of a busy man is a very different propo-
sition, and the energy of the biographer can be no less than
the hero of the narrative he faithfully relates.
The value of all history consists in its accuracy and relia-
bility, and hence the task of the historian is by no means
trifling, but both difficult and arduous. Oliver Wendell
Holmes states this truth most forcefully when he says :
"The age of mystery with its hoarded power,
That girth the tyrant in his storied tower,
Have past and faded lilie a dream of youth,
And riper eras asli for history's truth."
As the whole mass of imcounted and countless stars that
form the firmament is composed of single shining specks, so
is the sum of a busy man's life made up of little events, which
in their concrescence, form a mighty force. To recite every
act, and reproduce every event is impossible, just as an effort
would be to enumerate the stars. The work of the biographer
4 The Life and "Writings of
therefore, like the task of the portrait painter, is only an
honest effort to reproduce the original as nearly as possible.
Too often the lives of men, who have won renown, are
hurled before our vision like resplendent meteors. We are
dazzled with the view, because he is enrobed with all his dis-
tinguishing perfections and eminence, we can not rightly
appreciate his character or methods, because we do not see
his previous footsteps. In the present case, we have com-
menced our story even beyond Dr. Burleson's birth, moved
along in orderly procession, withholding nothing intentionally
from the public, connecting his boyhood mth his manhood,
his child life on the frontier of Alabama, with his residence
in Waco, at the head of a great institution of learning.
We have performed the service with some degree of en-
thusiasm, have been assiduous and diligent in our search for
facts, painstaking and careful in our investigations, and loyal
to our trust, but are aware that the work is imperfect.
Some will read this book, and recall incidents in Dr. Bur-
leson's life not recorded, and wonder why they were omitted.
Let all such critics bear in mind that the book would have
been subject to the same criticism if they had been the author.
Others will say, the facts of Dr. Burleson's life have not
been correctly recited; others will say his character has not
been properly presented; still others will say our deductions
are faulty and illogical.
Amid all this adverse comment, we will derive comfort
and consolation from the reflection, that from Lord Macaulay
down, critics are but men, frail and fallible men.
Dr. Rufus C. Burleson.
CHAPTER 1.
Genealogy — General Remarks — Importance Attached
TO THE Subject by Royal Families — Leads to Ances-
tral Worship — Origin and Genealogy of the Burle-
son Family — Sir Edward Burleson — Aaron Burle-
son — Genl. Ed. Burleson — Dr. R. C. Burleson.
V^ IISrCE the shimmering shining sun arose from its bed
s^^' of nothingness in the east, imparting light and
~ ' warmth to a chilly cheerless earth, there has never
been a time in the world's history, when the subject of gene-
alogy was not considered of the highest importance.
Indeed it has its origin in the first chapter of all history,
for God said after the work of creation had been finished and
pronounced good, "Let us make man in our own image."
Closely following the execution of this purpose. He
assumes the role of the genealogist and declares "These are
the generations of the heavens and earth."
Following this example, nearly all the Old Testament
writers evidently studied the subject most profoundly,
and devote much time to giving the lineal descent of the
ancient Patriarchs and Prophets.
ISTot only so, but the first sentence in the ISTew Testament
is, "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ," followed by
the Savior's genealogy. These inspired writers, while devot-
ing less space, and covering more circumscribed lines, attach
even greater importance to the subject, for they fully appre-
ciate the fact that the Divine authority for the ISTew Dispen-
sation, depends upon their ability to establish the truth
() The Life and Writings of
unmistakably, that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, since
lie was the Alpha and Omega of the Dispensation of Grace.
From the creation of Adam on down to the birth of
Christ, prophets, priests, and apostles magnify the subject.
The earlv historians using the Bible as a model of nar-
ration, included nearly all history under the head of gene-
alogy, making- no distinction between current happenings,
tribal events, and the ancestors of men.
Later on, as the generations increased, it became a distinct
branch of learning, and was pursued wath much assiduity.
The ambition of the people to present unbroken lines of
descent in primitive days, was carried to a most absurd extent,
and gave rise to Totemism, a form of religion originating in
Egypt, and handed down to the present, through successive
generations of semi-savage people.
A man's Totem may be of the animal or vegetable world,
but all have Totems, to which their descent is clearly traced
with all collateral branches.
Among the Chinese, devotion to this science, and the
awful sacredness with which genealogical connection was
worked out and preserved, has evidently led to ancestral wor-
ship, to which they are wedded, and which they so successfully
perpetuate.
In Greece and Athens, so much importance was attached
to the subject, and so much stress laid upon the matter of
family connection, both by the Aristocracy and Plebians,
that a contestant in the athletic sports of these people, was
required to present his pedigree.
From the sixth to the eleventh century, enthusiasm on
this subject seems to have subsided to a large extent, but the
days of Feudalism in Europe, created what the leaders
thought to be a necessity for them to establish their superiority
over the common A'assal, so that the spoils might fall only to
the l)ctter classes. Scholars were therefore, put to work by
Feudal Loi'ds, to trace ancestral lines. The disorder and
darkness of the preceding centuries, presented difficulties
which obstructed their path of sober research, and supplied
an excuse for making their escape into the realm of imagina-
tion and conjecture.
Little trouble therefore was had in clearly connecting
Dr. Rufus C. Burleson. 7
these lords with some famous progenitor; when the property
ruthlessly wrested from an inferior and weaker people, became
theirs by divine right.
Coming on down to the effete despotisms of the East, and
monarchical countries of Europe, the question of genealogy
is not only a question of family pride, but one of much prac-
tical value and utility; at the same time, as was the case in
the days of Feudalism, society is lead by those wdio are able
to trace their lineage to a royal source. Political positions
depend upon family connections; vast landed estates become
the property of royal families exclusively ; far-reaching trans-
portation facilities are controlled by favorites of the Throne,
and nearly all valuable franchises granted to those who have
descended from royal stock.
In these countries title comes with birth, title means
possessions, possessions mean position, and position means
power, whether brains come with birth or not.
In Great Britain, less than 30,000 people out of a total
population of 42,000,000 own the landed estate of the United
Kingdom, and every officer of the government, from Edward
VII, to his equerries, holds his position by right of royal
descent.
What is affirmed of Great Britain may be said also of
Germany, Russia, Austria and other countries of Europe,
and in a much wider sense, is true also, of the centralized
despotisms of the east, social, civil and financial, among
these people, little men intellectually speaking, are made great
by the favors of fortune, and great minds suppressed by the
frowns of the same senseless potentate.
In these countries of slow development, and fettered
brains, the answer to the question, "who am I?" is, "I am royal
or nothing." So vital are the issues involved and so much
depends upon descent, that genealogy is classed with astron-
omy,- mathematics, and other. sciences; is governed by rules
and principles, and in many places pursued as a learned pro-
fession.
Here, where people have lived from the dawn of time,
and generations have run far into the thousands, the line of
descent, and ancestral connection, is so ramified, complicated
8 The Life and Writings of
and intricate, the task of the genealogical expert or professor,
involves endless work and research; and the result a matter
of such moment, he is richly rewarded for his service. Then
too, the intricacy of the proposition makes room for perpetrat-
ing frauds; these frauds bring to the front rival claimants for
a throne or valuable property, which conditions have precipi-
tated some of the bloodiest wars, in the annals of the world.
Such is the complexity of the question, and with so many
difficulties is it beset, that an unbroken, and clearly estab-
lished line covering more than a dozen generations, is very
rare; although Victoria, late Queen of England, and Empress
of India, claimed to have clearly traced her family connection
to King David. Menelok, King of Abyssinia, claims to have
established the fact that he was a consanguineous relative to
the Queen of Sheba; and many of the Arabian Shieks have
pedigrees, conclusively showing a direct and unbroken descent
from Noah.
Family trees are planted, upon which branches spring by
the creative touch of the unscrupulous, professional genealo-
gist, in any desired direction, to which nutrition is furnished
by any distinguished blood desired.
Missing, or broken links in lines of descent, are fur-
nished for a stipulated fee on application as readily as a skill-
ful attorney could write a legal contract. And since a fam-
ily in Continental or Eastern countries amounts to little, in
the social and poltical realm, without a coat of arms, ingenius
artists furnish these ancient evidences of family distinction
upon short notice for an interesting consideration.
It has been said, "the road to fame is royal." This is
unquestionably true in some countries, but not the whole
truth; it is sometimes a matter of cold-blooded business.
It is not asserted that the laws of primogeniture and
heredity, in civil, social and business affairs, are either al-
ways disastrous and unsatisfactory; far from it; some thrones
have been filled by hereditary monarchs that were towers of
strength, who designed to promote the welfare of the coun-
try and w^eal of the people. Vast fortunes have been con-
trolled by men who were moved in all enterprises by patriotic
and philanthropic motives. The scepter in society has been
Dr. Rufus C. Burlesois^. 9
wielded by leaders whose lives were well ordered and whose
pui*poses were pure; but the correctness of these systems ia
not justified by these exceptional instances. They are mere
accidents. ISTero, the demon, was made Emperor of Rome by
the same rules and process that Bess the Good was made Queen
of England.
In democratic America some attention is paid, some
thought bestowed, and some study made of family history and
genealogical descent, but for a very dissimilar purpose. Here
commanders of our mighty armies rise from the ranks, tailors,
tanners and woodchoppers become Presidents; mill boys our
matchless orators; farm hands our greatest authors, and rail-
road laborers our college professors. In the struggle of life,
progenitors, antecedents, and connections count for very lit-
tle, and family history is merely a matter of family pride and
satisfaction. True, there are castes and classes among the
American people, and sharp distinctions in society, but these
conditions are not the result of fortunate birth or kinship;
they are due solely, and, we say with pride, exclusively to
the excellence of our civil institutions, the cultivation of the
mind, and proper use of opportunities.
Here, as in no other country on the globe, the fetters
have been stricken from the soul, the shackles from the mind,
and the standard of merit alone established. Every condi-
tion is favorable for the highest moral and intellectual devel-
opment, and opportunities are open to all alike, regardless
and irrespective of family antecedents and connections. Still
there is both pleasure and profit in the study of family his-
tory, and satisfaction derived from a knowledge of our origin.
Eor these reasons, and for this purpose, it is proposed to take
a cursory glance at the lineage and history of the Burleson
family.
"The history of a family is like that of a race. They
stand apart by themselves. Their patronymic is their birth-
mark. They trace it along the line of generations. In