William J. Leake | |
---|---|
12th President of the Virginia Bar Association | |
In office August 3, 1899 – July 19, 1900 | |
Preceded by | John Goode |
Succeeded by | William A. Anderson |
Personal details | |
Born | William Josiah Leake September 20, 1843 Goochland, Virginia, U.S. |
Died | November 23, 1908 Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | (aged 65)
Spouse(s) | Sarah Jordan Clara Grundy |
Military service | |
Allegiance | Confederate States |
Branch/service | Confederate States Army |
Battles/wars | American Civil War |
William Josiah Leake (September 20, 1843 - November 23, 1908) was a Virginia lawyer and judge, who served as a railroad president and president of The Virginia Bar Association.
Leake was born in Goochland County, Virginia, and was a great-grandson of William O. Callis. [1] 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. [2]
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." [3] In a detailed opinion, the Virginia Supreme Court affirmed Judge Leake's decision. [4]
Leake was from 1889 general counsel and from 1905 to 1906 president of the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad Company. [5]
Leake was a charter member of the Virginia State Bar Association, beginning in 1890, [6] and served as president of the Association for 1899–1900. [7]
Judge Leake died at his home in Richmond. [8]