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(Liano News) There come times in the life of ev ery man when words fail to give ex pression to that which the heart feeleth, and it is then that we real ize the dearth of words with which to give suitable expression to them in most thoughts which stir the human soul. Particularly is this true when it fails our unhappy task, as it does now, to record the passing of one whom we have known so intimately and loved so devotedly through all the passing years; and never, except where the ties of family love existed, have we felt the sting of death more keenly. When Judge J. Hi. Mc Lean breathed his last in the Nimits Hotel in Fredericksburg on last Sun day night, there passed from the ac tive walks of life, one of God’s truest and most honored Christian gentle men, ‘True to himself, to his family, to his friends, to his country and to his Creator. Honored by all for his worth as a citizen and as a public servant, but most of all for the char acter which he had builded for him self, Judge McLean was born in Shackel ford county on July 24, 1863, and was a native son of this state, which he loved and served so well. His father was Hampton McLean, who came to Texans as a lawyer from Georgia, and was also an officer in the Confeder ate army during the Civil War. On account of the death of his fath er, he was thrown upon his own re sources when a mere boy, and was truly a self-made man. In those trying days, when as a lad, it was necessary for him to support him self, he worked on the old cattle trafis, and made many trips with the cowboys of the frontier. Truly he did well his part in the develop ment of the West. His early training in school was limited, yet he put him self through the University of Texas and graduated with honors from that law school. Upon leaving the University, he practiced law in Columbia for a short while and then came to Liano in the early nineties, where he was engaged in the practice of law until he was elected district judge of the — thirty third judicial district, in 1920. Judge McLean built up a splendid practice for hmself and from a financial standpoint made a sacrifice when his many friends urged him to enter the race for the position he was holding at the time of his death. Within a few years after coming to Kane, he was married to Miss Min nie Button in San Antonio, and to this union five children were — born, three of whom, with the mother, sur vive the father: Harold Mclean, editor of the San Antonio Light, Lieutenant Heber McLean, command er of U. S submarine 45, with head quarters at San Tego, Calif. and Mrs. Walter J. Ligon of Liano. Sle leaves four grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Samuel Spears of San Benito, Texas, who was here to at tend, the funeral of her brother. Judge McLean went to Fredericks burg on last Sunday afternoon, where he was to open court Monday morn ing. For several months he had been suffering with heart trouble, and his friends had noticed a marked differ ence in his physcal appearance, yet he was never a man to complain, and no one considered his condition as ecriatian it really was. He died from heart failure sometime Sunday night and was found in his room at the Nimitz Hotel Monday morning. The remains were brought to Liané ‘Monday afternoon and the ser vices held at the Methodist church Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock by his pastor, Rev. J. W. Black, assist ed by the other pastors of the town. Members of the bar from every coun ty in the district were thhere for the service and the church auditorium would not begin to hold the vast throng who came to pay their last tribute of respect and love to his memory and his worth. At the cemetery, the Masons con ducted the Masonic service, when the last tribute was paid to one of the best and most highly honored men Liano county ever claimed. Judge McLean was a devout mem ber of the Methodist church, of a legal fraternity at the State Univer sity, a York and Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Liano K. of P. lodge. At the time of his death he was serving his third term as judge of this judicial district and for a man occupying this distinguished position it was quite noticeable how rigidly he refrained from the political excite ments of life. The thought of politic al favors or advancement never en tered his mind, but straightway he hewed to the line in the discharge of his duty, ever haying before him the thought of service, and that in a manner which would bring about a higher regard for the laws of man and God, for the elevation of socie ty and the ultimate good that would come to his fellow man. Possessing all the qualifications for high rank as a public man, he carefully selected his walk in life, and seemed to find his most congenial occupation in the peaceful paths of literature or the rigorous studies of his legal profes sion. He was the peer of any jurist, and acquired that distinction no more by the native force of his genius than by the culture which was the result of long and patient industry. Judge McLean's service on the bench and throughout his entire dis trict was always outstanding; he contributed to the church and to all worthy enterprises without a stint, both in personal service and financial aid; his every day life was far above reproach and could stand the clos est scrutiny of the noon-day sun. His life was so clean, his thoughts so pure and his actions so worthy, that “he could sit in the center of night and enjoy bright day.” His was a genial soul, and one could say that kindliness was the essence of his very nature. One of those men with out rancor, who possessed a bright fontlook upan life, who loved human ity, and lived for the good that he might do. His highest ambition was to live and serve in a way that would always work for the betterment of mankind. As we write these few lines of fee ble tribute to the memory of our de parted friend, it is indeed difficult to realize that his cheerful voice is for ever stilled and the cordial hand clasp is no more. During all these years of our close and intimate friend ship we have found it perfectly safe to rely upon his judgment, and had implicit trust in his wise and con servative counsel. Not only will we miss him, but perhaps, search in vain for another to whom we can go, as we have so often gone to this de parted friend. As we reflect upon his life tonight, recall the yesterdays when we knew him in his daily work, the words which are inscribed upon the tomb of Henry Grady, come to our mind: “Who serves his country, serves all things, And all things served will bless him. “Who lets his country die, lets all things die, And all things dead will curse him.” Like Grady, that ilustrious son of the South, the two first lines apply to the life of Judge McLean. It is well to bestow our flowers on the living, but surely when that soul, which had winged its way to a more glorious home, looked down upon the scenes which marked our last tribute of love and respect to his memory and his worth, saw and felt and knew the full meaning of reward. Yes, Judge, it was then that we, your friends and companions, tried to express that appreciation. Within the walls of the church during the ser vice it seemed that the very atmos phere was filled with nobler thoughts and a keen desire for better lying. True it was a solemn occasion, when eyes were moist, and yet as Tennyson desired, “there was no mourning at the bar,” because, “such a tide as moving seemed asleep, too deep for sound or foam.” We are sorrowful because you are gone, but glad to know that such a man had lived a mong us, that such an influence will remain for untold years to bless those who must follow afterward. The tribute paid to your life and worth and character by Walker Black and Weasley Prince will live in the mem ory and stimulate the desire for righteous living in the minds and hearts of all who heard. Your own pastor, Rev. Black, referred to you as “the noblest Roman of them all,” the one in whom the “elements of nature were so fixed that all the world could say, here lies a man.” He likened you into the character whom you always felt was the greatest man Shakespeare ever pictured in words. And Rev. Prince remarked that as he reflected upon the work which you had done, it brought to his mind the works of Samuel, Israel's most right ous judge, who, when his work was ended, was brought home by his peo ple, just as loved ones brought you home. Your work upon earth is end ed, but the reward which is yours, is just being bestowed. Your influence today, is taking on new life, and will expand with each passing year. The memory of your life will ever stand forth in letters of gold upon the pag es of the catalogued past, and your worth as a private citizen and pub lic official will be recognized and ap preciated by those who are yet un born, and today many are praying for the wisdom and the strength and the courage to emulate, even in a small degree, the life you have left behind. Then with a part in word, we would say “Green be the turf above thee, friend of our better days. None knew thee but to love thee, nor named thee but to praise.”
Newspaper Details
Burnet Bulletin
Burnet, Texas, US
Thu, Feb 26, 1931
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Ft M.
USA 16 Jul 2026
Other Publications Near Burnet, Texas
Burnet County Bulletin
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