Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas Page: 92 of 372
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76
BIOGRAPHICAL
vanquished in justifiable war, as the only means of General Jackson's orderlies in the battle of New
of securely establishing sectional peace and na- Orleans. Nat. M. Burford's grandfather was Captional
prosperity. tain Daniel Burford, who greatly distinguished himHaving
lost his material possessions by the war, self at the battle of King's Mountain, in the RevoGeneral
Waul resumned the practice of law, which lution. The Burfords are of English extraction,
he had abandoned, and located in Galveston. His emigrating from Cumberland, England, about the
talent and devotion to business secured a lucrative year 1720, and settling near Halifax Court House,
practice, and placed him in the front rank of active North Carolina. The mother of the subject of
practitioners. He was soon called by the profession this memoir, whose maiden name was Nancy
to the presidency of the Bar Association, over McAllister, was a native of Caermarthen, Wales.
which he has since presided. His practice, from She was a daughter of John McAllister, a farmer
choice, is chiefly in commercial and admiralty who settled in Hanover county, Virginia, about the
matters, and in Federal and Supreme Courts, year 1718. Judge Burford was brought up in Smith
in cases involving large transactions, but he is in- county, Tennessee. His education was liberal, and
timately familiar with the principles and practice was acquired at Irving College, Tennessee, from
of all divisions of the law. His intuitive good which institution he graduated in 1845. He read
judgment, and the unsparing pains bestowed upon law under direction of the Hon. A. Marchbank, of
his cases, fully account for his unvarying success McMinnville, Tennessee, and was admittedl to the
at every epoch of his life. Though a profound bar in 1846. In 1847 he located at Jefferson,
lawyer, he has found time to devote to the ameni- Texas, removing in the succeeding year to Dallas,
ties of literature, as well as to the researches of where he has since resided, engaged in the honorscience
and philosophy. For intellectual accom- able and successful practice of his profession. In
plishments, and breadth of culture, he is witllout 1850 he was elected District Attorney of the Ninth
a superior in the State. His personal, like his Judicial District of Texas, and re-elected to the same
mental characteristics, are strongly defined. With office in 1852. In 1856 he was chosen District Judge
every attribute of moral and physical courage, of of the Sixteenth Judicial District. In July, 1861,
the most undaunted character, is mingled justice the war between the States having been inauguand
generosity,'while thought and act are subor- rated, he entered the Confederate army as a private
dinate to a sense of duty, to which personal feel- soldier in the First Texas artillery, commanded by
ings and interests are ever sacrificed. Exalted Captain John J. Good, whose biography appears in
obedience to duty has marked his whole course this work. In February, 1862, he raised the Nineand
guided his every act, whether citizen or sol- teenth Texas cavalry, and was elected its colonel.
dier. General Waul is a consistent- member of the He continued in active service until 1864, when
Baptist church; has no political ambitions; is sickness and wounIds received in battle compelled
faithful to his clients, and devoted to his friends. him to resign. He was an active participant with
He has a great deal of common senste, allied to his regiment in all campaigns of the trans-Misperfect
candor, and enjoys that merited tribute of sissippi Department.
esteem which his talents, knightly character, and In 1866 he was elected a member of tile Legisiahigh
bred courtesy have never failed to secure. ture, and shortly afterward was made Speaker of
General Waul is an accomplished botanist, and the House. In 1874 he was selected to fill the
spends his leisure moments among the indig- position of Presiding Justice of Dallas county, and
enous plants that adorn his garden. His home is in 1876 was elected District Judge of the Eleventh
an elegant and hospitable retreat, where courtly Judicial District. In religion Judge Burford is an
manners and womanly grace preside over the Episcopalian. In politics he has always been a firm
amenities of life. and consistent Democrat of the true Jackson type.
He was married in 1854 to Miss Mary Knight, a
daughter of 0. W. Knight, a pioneer farmer of
Dallas county, from Tennessee. Judge Burford was
RFORD, NAT. MACON, lawyer, was born hborn of poor but honorable parentage, and was
on the 24th day of June, 1824, in Smith early thrown upon his own resources. Though becounty,
Tennessee. His father, John set by many difficulties and surrounded with ifuHawkins
Burford, was a native of Sauls- merous perplexities, the spark of honorable ambibury,
North Carolina, a farmer by occupation, a tion that burned within his breast never went out.
soldier in the war of 1812, and prominent as one Having in early life marked out for himself the
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Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas (Book)
Biographical view of Texas and its history including narratives of the individuals who helped shape Texas history and information about important point in history including: the pioneer days of Texas, Texas' transition from a Mexican state to being part of the United States, and the wars in which Texas citizens took part.
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Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas, book, 1880; New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth5827/m1/92/: accessed June 30, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.