David H. Leake Explained

David H. Leake
Office1:Member of the Virginia House of Delegates for Fluvanna and Goochland
Term Start1:December 4, 1901
Term End1:January 13, 1904
Predecessor1:Pembroke Pettit
Successor1:Ernest Alfonso Gray
Birth Name:David Harris Leake
Birth Date:July 13, 1875
Birth Place:Goochland, Virginia, U.S.
Death Place:Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Alma Mater:Washington and Lee University
University of Virginia
Party:Democratic

David Harris Leake (July 13, 1875 – May 8, 1955) was an American lawyer and politician who served in the Virginia House of Delegates, representing Fluvanna and Goochland counties, and as general attorney of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.[1]

Early life

Leake was born on July 13, 1875 at Midway, the Leake family home in Goochland County, Virginia. He was the eldest son of Judge Andrew Kean Leake (1842–1907) and Juliana Elizabeth Louise (Harris) Leake (1856–1926). Among his siblings were Jane Margaret Leake Hubard, Louis Knight Leake, Walter Alexander Leake, Charles Lancelot Leake, Catherine Frederica Leake Swindell, and Eliza Overton Leake Cone.[1]

He attended the county schools of Goochland, the Charlotte Hall Military Academy in Maryland, and Washington and Lee University. He attended law school at the University of Virginia.[1]

Through his maternal grandfather, Col. David Bullock Harris of the Confederate Army, he was the great-grandson of Frederick Harris of Fredericks Hall in Louisa County, president of the Louisa Railroad, which became the Virginia Central Railroad (later the C&O). Another great-grandfather was Dr. Andrew Kean, who was a surgeon in the War of 1812.[1]

Career

Leake joined the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway's legal department in 1899 and was appointed general attorney in 1938. He held that post until he retired on June 30, 1947, to become a member of the Advisory Council of the Virginia Railway Association.[1]

Personal life

In 1909, Leake was married to Susan "Sue" Conway Spilman (1882–1970), a daughter of William Mason Spilman and Heningham Lyons (Scott) Spilman. Together, they were the parents of:[1]

Leake died on May 8, 1955 in Richmond, Virginia.[1]

Descendants

Through his daughter Elizabeth, he was a grandfather of stockbroker Bradford Hasting Walker (who married Pamela Drexel, daughter of John R. Drexel III)[6] and David Hastings Walker,[7] a yacht broker.[6]

Notes and References

  1. News: David Harris Leake, 79, Dies in Hospital Here. Richmond Times-Dispatch. May 9, 1955. 1. June 26, 2020. Newspapers.com.
  2. News: TIMES . Special to THE NEW YORK . ELIZABETH LEAKE A BRIDE; Wed in Virginia to Bradford H. Walker, Insurance Executive . 15 September 2023 . . 5 February 1940.
  3. News: James A. Burden Dead In Syosset . President of Iron Company Bearing the Family Name Victim of Embolism. Sequel To An Accident. Prominent In New York Society Prince of Wales Entertained at Woodside, His Estate . . June 2, 1932 . 2015-08-04 .
  4. News: Times . Special to The New York . MRS. R.M. TOBIN, A SOCIAL LEADER; Owner of Vast L.I. Estate Once Used by Prince of Wales Is Dead at 86 . 12 May 2020 . . 11 January 1960.
  5. News: JAMES A. BURDEN MARRIES IN PARIS; Member of Noted Family Weds Mrs. Elizabeth Leake Walker --H.F. Byrd Jr. Escorts Bride . 15 September 2023 . . 26 June 1951.
  6. News: Pamela Noreen Drexel Married Here; Becomes the Bride of Bradford Hastings Walker, Broker . 11 July 2023 . . 22 November 1966.
  7. News: James A. Burden Is Dead at 81. Roller-Bearing Concern Ex-Head . James A. Burden, a former president of the Orange Roller Bearing Company, died Saturday at his home in Locust Valley, L.I., after a long illness. He was 81 years old . . May 8, 1979 . 2015-08-04 .