History of Waco, (McLennan County) Texas United States of America

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Biographies:

Rufus C. Burleson, educator, was born near Decatur, Ala., Aug. 7, 1823, son of Jonathan Burleson. He attended Nashville university, and in 1840 was licensed to preach by the First Baptist church of Nashville. He was graduated at the Western Baptist literary and theological institute at Covington, Ky., in 1847. A postgraduate course of seven months completed his theological studies, and he was elected pastor of the First Baptist church, Houston, Texas, which he built up until it became the largest church in the city and the most liberal in the state. In June, 1852, he was elected president of Baylor university to succeed Dr. H. L. Groves. In 1861, with his brother, Richard Burleson, LL.D., vice-president, and the entire faculty he removed to Waco, Texas, as a more accessible location, and founded Waco university, which became one of the leading co-educational institutions of the south. As a preacher, in his early days, Dr. Burleson baptized Mrs. Dickenson, the heroine of the Alamo, and Gen. Sam Houston, the hero of San Jacinto. His interest extended beyond his pastoral and educational work, and he joined in advancing the political and material interests of Texas. He received the degrees of D.D. and LL.D. He died in Waco, Texas, May 13, 1901.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Richard Coke, senator, was born at Williamsburgh, Va., March 13, 1829; son of John and Eliza (Haukins) Coke; grandson of John and Rebecca (Shields) Coke; and a descendant of John and Sarah (Hoge) Coke, who immigrated to Virginia from England in 1724. He was graduated at William and Mary college in 1849 with honors, was admitted to the bar in 1850, and removed to Waco, Tex. ,where he became prominent in his profession. At the outbreak of the civil war, he enlisted in the Confederate army as a private and at the close of the war was mustered out as a captain. In 1865 he was appointed judge of the 19th judicial district of Texas, and in 1866 was elected as a Democrat to the supreme bench of the state. In 1867 he was removed by military order of General Sheridan as "an impediment to reconstruction." In 1873 he was elected governor of Texas by a majority of 50,000 and was re-elected in 1876 by a majority of 102,000. On Dec. 1, 1876, he resigned the governorship to take his seat in the U.S. senate to which he had been elected as successor to Morgan C. Hamilton, Republican, and he was re-elected in 1882 and again in 1888, the last two elections being the unanimous vote of both parties in the legislature. He declined re-election in 1894 and was succeeded by Horace Chilton. In the senate he served on the committees on commerce, judiciary, Revolutionary claims, and as chairman of the committee on fisheries. He was married in 1852 to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. James L and Amanda (Evans) Horne. He died in Waco, Tex., May 14, 1897.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor