Twentieth Century Wars

Louis Francis Burleson (Father)

Click here for a detailed biography of Louis F. Burleson

(WWII, Korea) - Lt. Col USAF - Two-time winner of the Distinguished Flying Cross, Col. Louis Burleson flew more than 50 B-17 bombing missions over enemy territory during WWII.

He went on to receive the Air Medal and Bronze Star in Korea for extraordinary achievement in aerial combat. He retired from the Air Force in 1958 and died in 1975.

His father,

James Vespasian Burleson, 1870-1949

US Civil War

John Wesley Burleson (great Grandfather)

BFRG details on J. W. Burleson

Don Burleson Genealogy of John Wesley Burleyson

(Private, 28th NC Co. D) CSA 1843-1927

John Wesley Burleson fought with the Stanly Yankee Hunters and fought in almost every major battle in the Civil War including Pickett's charge On July 3, 1863 at Gettysburg.

Mechanicsville
Cold Harbor
Frasier's Farm
Sharpsburg
Fredericksburg
Antietam
2nd Manassas (Bull Run)
Gettysburg

John Wesley Burleson (front left) in 1925

Jonathan W. Hardister (Great Grandfather)

(Corporal, NC 10th state troops, Co. D) - Wounded numerous times in combat (always on July 1st!), Jonathan Hardister fought in several important Civil War battles:

New Bern
Malvern Hill (wounded in action July 1st, 1962)
Gettysburg (wounded in combat on July 1st, 1863)

Jonathan Hardister received severe leg lacerations at Gettysburg and was assigned to light duty at Pettigrew Hospital in Raleigh NC. Permanently disabled, Jonathan died in 1909.

American Revolutionary War

Isaac Burleson (great-Great-great grandfather)

Isaac Burleson, Sr.

by J.D. Burleson

Isaac Burleson was the founder of the line which resulted in most of the Burlesons of Stanly County. We know the following about him. He served his country in the American Revolution as a member of Captain Charles Polk’s Company of the North Carolina Militia. Records proving his service are contained in Record Group 93 (# 461) in the National Archives. Most of his service was in the Cross Creek (Fayetteville) area of the state, helping put down uprising Tory, or Loyalist, forces who continued to support King George. In 1785, following the Revolutionary war, the United States awarded ISAAC BURLESON, probably as a reward for his services at Cross Creek, 100 acres of land along the Yadkin River in Montgomery County.

It is believed that Isaac was born either in Lunenburg Co., Virginia or Cumberland Co., North Carolina around 1750. ISAAC’S name first appears on a tax list in Montgomery Co. (now Stanly) in 1782. In the 1790 Census, he is shown as a resident of Montgomery County, with a wife, Martha Clay and three children; Isaac Jr. age 10, Jonathan age 8, and Rachel (infant). Tradition says ISAAC’S wife, the former Martha Clay, was related to Henry Clay, the outspoken Kentucky senator.

Isaac and Martha went on to produce five more children; Jane, David, Joseph, an unknown child, and Thomas. Each of these children is another story in itself.

On Nov 5, 1794, Isaac Burleson recorded his purchase of 100 acres of land on Little Bear Creek about 300 yards below the mouth of Running Branch. This is according to Montgomery County land entries, file number 1033, grant book 94, page 80.

The 1800 Census shows ISAAC BURLESON to be a man more than 45 years of age, with his wife between 26 and 45, three male and five female children. A land grant to ISAAC BURLESON in November, 1815, file number 1870, grant book 125, page 386, mentions the property of ISAAC BURLESON dec’d as a line mark, so by this time ISAAC had died and his son was receiving the grant.