son of John Veale - Susan Rayfield

Judge Veale spent his childhood in Tennessee. His family moved to Chickasaw County, Mississippi in 1842. In early 1852, he moved with his family to what is now Hill County, Texas where he began his law practice in 1854. In 1861, the family moved Navarro County. Then in 1863, William Veale reached Palo Pinto County where he continued his practice of law. The Veale family lived in a large stone building which was used for a fort during the frontier period. They built a double log cabin to live in 1874. William Veale was an early teacher in Palo Pinto County. Judge Veale was an active member of the Palo Pinto County community. He and his wife had eight children survive to childhood.

After serving as County Judge, he was elected in 1872 to represent District 23 which consisted of Bosque, Erath, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Eastland, Stephens, Callahan, Jones, Shackelford, and Taylor Counties to the Thirteenth Texas Legislature. During this one term, he chaired the Indian Affairs Committee, and was a member of the following committees - Agriculture and Stock Raising, Federal Relations, Judiciary No. 2, Payment of Treasury Warrants, and Redistricting.. In 1877, William Veale moved his family to Breckenridge. His son, Warren Veale joined his law practice in Breckenridge in 1889. Judge Veale was elected County Judge of Stephens County.

Judge William Veale delivered the 1897 Old Settlers Reunion address. "Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, less than 50 years ago all of this fair land from the Sabine to the Rio Grande, from New Mexico to the gulf, was dominated by Mexicans and savages. What wonderful changes have taken place in Texas within the last 50 or even 25 years. In just 25 years, Palo Pinto County was inhabited only by a few stockmen, infested with predatory bands of hostile Indians who roamed over the country for the purposes of pillage and murder. Just 40 years ago, there was not a stalk of cotton, a grain of wheat, oats or barley produced in the county. Children born and raised here never saw an apple, peach, never saw a railroad track or heard a church or school bell."

William Veale had eight children who survived him after his death:

John W. Veale

Milton Veale

A.S. Veale

W.C. Veale

Nettie Crudgington

Alliene Crudgington

Fannie Beck

Susie McAlpine

Palo Pinto, Tex., Nov. 4,- Capt Wm Veale died very suddenly at his place yesterday at 3:30 o'clock p.m. Deceased was an old settler of this county having moved sometime before the late war. He represented the Parker and Johnson counties in the state legislature in 1873 for one term. Since then he sought no office, but has been engaged in the practice of law, in which he was imminently successful.

11 June 1899

Dallas Morning News