Palestine High School Alumni Association

10 / 03 / 1842  –  10 / 05 / 1922

Samuel Raymond Burroughs, physician, surgeon and banker, of Buffalo, Texas, was born in Tuskaloosa County, Alabama on October 3. 1842, the son of Benjamin F. and Louisa Fair (Burton) Burroughs.

Both his parents of Scottish, Irish, French and English came to America from England before the revolutionary war. His ancestors first settled in Maryland. Sam’s father served as Captain of the 18th Regiment of the 5th Brigade, 2nd division of the Alabama state Militia. He studied medicine and civil engineering.

In 1845 Sam moved to Texas when tne family first settled in Sabine County where his dad obtained a prominent position as a planter. The family then moved to Palestine where his dad served as county surveyor.

Sam attended school at Melrose, Nacogdoches County, and then at the Palestine High School and Mound Prairie Institute, eight miles northeast of Palestine, in preparation of the medical field to be a doctor. Sam was to graduate at the end of the term in 1861. In 1861 the head of the Mound Prairie Institute was thought to be a northern sympathizer, and the academy was closed.

The call of duty in the confederacy army took priority in Sam’s life. He enlisted in March of 1861 leaving the graduation and his medical career at a stand still. He joined the Co. G First Texas Regiment of General Hoods Brigade, the Army of Virginia. The marching to Virginia was brutal; Sam with one shirt, one pair of pants and no shoes, suffered from blisters, frost bite, hunger, dysentery, chills, fevers, and the flux.

His fighting days came to an end when he was captured by General McCook’s bodyguard. He remained in prison under guard until he was released from the war.

In 1863, the family moved to Raymond, Leon County, Texas. Upon his release he was given transportation to Texas. However, he had to walk from Shreveport to where he had left his family.

He was graduated from Galveston Medical College, at which he later held the chair of chemistry, toxicology and medical jurisprudence for four years. He was married, in Leon County, Texas, May 9, 1867, to Rebecca Antoinette Henry. They had four children, Elie May, Robert Edgar. Core Lee and Mary Louella.

He engaged in the practice of medicine in Houston for two years. His health failed and he returned to Raymond, Leon County, where he recovered his health. He practiced medicine and was engaged in the mercantile and ginning business.

He then resided in Buffalo after 1896 and engaged in the practice of medicine and banking business.

He was President and stockholder Buffalo State Bank; director and stockholder in Amicable Life Insurance Company; stockholder in Texas Loan and Surety Company, First State Bank of Oakwood, Western Casualty and Guarantee Company, Texas Loan and Guarantee Company, and Houston Continental Trust Company.

He served as chairman of the Democratic representative district; chairman Democratic senatorial district; member State Democratic Executive Committee; president Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. Ex-president Texas State Medical Association ; member of county, state and national medical associations. Missionary Baptist; Democrat; Royal Arch Mason; Elk.

Source: The Buffalo Express May 7, 2003 taken from “The Flo News” written by Norma Moore