BURLESON, HOPSON
Hopson Burleson, a successful farmer of Ellis county, was born in Marion county, Alabama, February 27, 1846, a son of Benjamin and Kaziah (Mathews) Burleson. The father, a native of Georgia, served as Justice of the Peace of Leon county, Texas, was a prominent farmer and stock-raiser and a good citizen. He bought, improved and sold eleven farms in Texas, and died in Lamar county, December 21, 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Burleson had thirteen children, seven of whom still survive; John F., who died at the age of six years; David W., a farmer and blacksmith of Edwards county; Kaziah J., the wife of Isaac M. Mayberry; Oliver W., a farmer of Freestone county; H. M. out subject, James E., a farmer of Edwards county; and Sarah A., the widow of A. Bushares, formerly a farmer of Leon county. The wife and mother died in 1854, and the father was married a second time, and after his death the heirs received twenty-five acres each.
Hopson, the subject of this sketch, came with his parents at the age of nine months to Texas, in 1846, settling in Leon county, where he was reared to farm life, and received five months schooling. He left home at the age of eighteen years and was employed as a farm hand several years. During the war he served in the militia three moths and was detailed to hunt deserters. In 1867 Mr. Burleson rented land farmed on shares, and in 1870 he bought a pre-emption right which he improved, and afterwards received a title form the Government for 160 acres of land in Leon County. In 18741 he sold this land and bought a tract of 213 acres, which he also sold in 1880 and one year later he came to Ellis county, and purchased 125 acres, and afterward sold that and bought the 20 acres where he now lives. He has since purchased eighty-seven acres more, and he now has about 180 acres in cultivation, raising principally cotton and corn. For five years his cotton has averaged one-half bale to the acre.
Mr. Burleson was married in 1870 to Miss Nancy Dupru, who was born in Houston county, October 6, 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Burleson have had twelve children, viz: Elizabeth, born February 6, 1871, married J. E. Rowe, a farmer of Ellis county: Mary F., born November 15, 1872, is at home; Ellen born March 9, 1874; William T. and Robert, born December 14, 1876; Macon T. and James O., October 8, 1878; Luther F., November 16, 1880; David W., November 12, 1882; Ruth A., October 17, 1884; Liddy L. June 28, 1887; Rufus E., November 27, 1889. Mr. Burleson is identified with the Democratic party, and has held the office of school director and school trustee. Socially he is a member of the F. & A. M. and religiously, the family are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Burleson has been blessed with excellent health, since he can remember not having suffered form a single day's illness. (Memorial and biographical history of Ellis county, Texas, by the Lewis Publishing Company, 1892)