William J. Leake
Encyclopedia
William Josiah Leake was a Virginia lawyer and judge, who served as a railroad president and president of The Virginia Bar Association
.
Leake was a great-grandson of William O. Callis
.
Leake was born in Goochland County, Virginia
. He served four years in the Confederate Army
. After the War, he was selected for a term as judge of the Virginia chancery court at Richmond
, but declined to be re-elected.
In 1891, Judge Leake decided the case of Bettie Thomas Lewis, concluding that she was entitled to her deceased father's property. The father had owned the mother of Ms. Lewis as a slave. The New York Times
reported that this ruling made Ms. Lewis "the richest colored person in Virginia." In a detailed opinion, the Virginia Supreme Court affirmed Judge Leake's decision.
Leake was from 1889 general counsel and from 1905 to 1906 president of the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad Company
.
Leake was a charter member of the Virginia State Bar Association, beginning in 1890, and served as president of the Association for 1899-1900.
Judge Leake died at his home in Richmond.
Virginia Bar Association
The Virginia Bar Association is a voluntary organization of lawyers in Virginia, with offices in Richmond, Virginia.- VBA Mission : is the independent voice of the Virginia lawyer, advancing the highest ideals of the profession through advocacy and volunteer service.- History :The VBA, , was...
.
Leake was a great-grandson of William O. Callis
William Overton Callis
William O. Callis was the son of William Harry Callis and Mary Jane Cosby. He was a childhood friend of Presidents James Madison and James Monroe, was with Washington at Yorktown, and was known to Lafayette, Thomas Jefferson, and Benedict Arnold.-Early life:William Overton Callis was born March...
.
Leake was born in Goochland County, Virginia
Goochland County, Virginia
Goochland County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 21,717. Its county seat is Goochland. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area ....
. He served four years in the Confederate Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
. After the War, he was selected for a term as judge of the Virginia chancery court at Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, but declined to be re-elected.
In 1891, Judge Leake decided the case of Bettie Thomas Lewis, concluding that she was entitled to her deceased father's property. The father had owned the mother of Ms. Lewis as a slave. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
reported that this ruling made Ms. Lewis "the richest colored person in Virginia." In a detailed opinion, the Virginia Supreme Court affirmed Judge Leake's decision.
Leake was from 1889 general counsel and from 1905 to 1906 president of the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad Company
Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
The Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad was a railroad connecting Richmond, Virginia, to Washington, D.C. It is now a portion of the CSX Transportation system....
.
Leake was a charter member of the Virginia State Bar Association, beginning in 1890, and served as president of the Association for 1899-1900.
Judge Leake died at his home in Richmond.