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(1793-1873) Noted lawmaker, judge, lay preacher, served in the legislatures of his native Kentucky and of Alabama. Represented Alabama in U.S. Congress, 1829-1831. Came to Texas 1839. Was Associate Justice Supreme Court, Republic of Texas, 1840-1846. Judge 3rd Judicial District, 1846--1863. Helped organize Baptist churches, Masonic lodges, Texas State Baptist Convention. For leadership in their founding, Baylor University and Mary Hardin-Baylor College were named for him. Had to organize courts in some of the 8 counties of his 3rd Judicial District. He carried Bible along with law books. After week of court, he would remain in a town to preach on Sunday, then ride his horse as far as 50 miles to hold court on Monday morning. Was a judge when Texas pioneered such legal rights as community property and homestead exemption, now accepted throughout the U.S. and much of the world. (1965) Baylor and 19 other State Judges in Confederate Texas considered such wartime matters as seizure of aliens' property, conscription of soldiers, and exemption by substitution. Involved in many suits were slaves, land, personal property, contracts and debts. Such criminal charges as assault, slander, fraud and murder were also tried in District Courts. (1965) |
