Burleson County
by Robin Montgomery
In 1846, the town of Caldwell became the capital of Burleson County. The town took its name for a patriot of the Texas cause in the revolution, Matthew Caldwell. Born in Kentucky in 1798, Matthew Caldwell made his way to Texas in 1831. Along the way, he assumed many names. One of these was “Old Paint” because of his spotted whiskers. Another name was “The Paul Revere of the Texas Revolution.” This was for his ride from Gonzales to Bastrop to call men to arms for the ensuing Battle of Gonzales in October 1835.
Matthew attended the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos in 1836 as a delegate from Gonzales Municipality. There, on the second day of March, he became a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. In 1840 he was a participant in two famous battles with the Comanche’s, the Council House Fight in San Antonio and that of Plum Creek near Lockhart.
Burleson County was named for Edward Burleson. The son of Captain James and Elizabeth Shipman Burleson, Edward was born in North Carolina in 1798. Upon serving in the War of 1812, in 1816 he married Sarah Griffin Owen. To them were born nine children.
By 1830, Edward Burleson was in Texas and in 1832 he was serving in the government of San Felipe de Austin. After numerous battles with hostile Indians as a Colonel of Militia, in November 1835 Burleson
succeeded Stephen Austin as commander of Texas forces engaging the siege of San Antonio. The following21 April 1836, he commanded the first regiment at the Battle of San Jacinto. After many further accomplishments in the realm of the military, in 1841 Edward Burleson won election to the vice presidency of the Republic of Texas.
Burleson County acquired its current boundaries in 1874 when 31% of its western territory came under the jurisdiction of the new county of Lee, itself a part of old Washington Municipality and the original Washington County.
In 1846, the town of Caldwell became the capital of Burleson County. The town took its name for a patriot of the Texas cause in the revolution, Matthew Caldwell. Born in Kentucky in 1798, Matthew Caldwell made his way to Texas in 1831. Along the way, he assumed many names. One of these was “Old Paint” because of his spotted whiskers. Another name was “The Paul Revere of the Texas Revolution.” This was for his ride from Gonzales to Bastrop to call men to arms for the ensuing Battle of Gonzales in October 1835.
Matthew attended the convention at Washington-on-the-Brazos in 1836 as a delegate from Gonzales Municipality. There, on the second day of March, he became a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. In 1840 he was a participant in two famous battles with the Comanche’s, the Council House Fight in San Antonio and that of Plum Creek near Lockhart.
Burleson County was named for Edward Burleson. The son of Captain James and Elizabeth Shipman Burleson, Edward was born in North Carolina in 1798. Upon serving in the War of 1812, in 1816 he married Sarah Griffin Owen. To them were born nine children.
By 1830, Edward Burleson was in Texas and in 1832 he was serving in the government of San Felipe de Austin. After numerous battles with hostile Indians as a Colonel of Militia, in November 1835 Burleson
succeeded Stephen Austin as commander of Texas forces engaging the siege of San Antonio. The following21 April 1836, he commanded the first regiment at the Battle of San Jacinto. After many further accomplishments in the realm of the military, in 1841 Edward Burleson won election to the vice presidency of the Republic of Texas.
Burleson County acquired its current boundaries in 1874 when 31% of its western territory came under the jurisdiction of the new county of Lee, itself a part of old Washington Municipality and the original Washington County.