EP. 137:  The First Chief Justice (sort of)

EP. 137: The First Chief Justice (sort of)

Author: Ken Wise July 29, 2025 Duration: 20:19

The Republic of Texas Congress formed the first state Supreme Court in 1836. However, the Court really didn’t meet in any significant way until 1840 under the leadership of Chief Justice John Hemphill. Being Chief Justice was a little different then. It meant fighting Indians, mastering Spanish law, and even leading an expedition to invade Mexico! Chief Justice John Hemphill did it all. Learn more about one of Texas’ greatest jurists in this episode of Wise About Texas.


There’s a particular feeling you get standing on a wide stretch of prairie or walking through a quiet courthouse square that seems to hold a century of stories. Wise About Texas is about uncovering those stories, layer by layer, with the kind of depth and context that makes the past feel immediate. Hosted by Ken Wise, each episode goes beyond the well-trodden tales of the Alamo and cowboy legends to explore the people, places, and pivotal moments that truly shaped this unique state. You’ll hear about forgotten communities, surprising cultural intersections, and the everyday lives that built Texas from the ground up. This isn’t just a dry recitation of dates; it’s a thoughtful exploration that connects history to the landscape you can visit today. Whether you’re a lifelong resident, a curious newcomer, or someone planning a trip with a desire to understand what you’re seeing, this podcast serves as an engaging guide. Tune in for narratives that are meticulously researched yet told with a conversational ease, making each chapter of Texas history accessible and genuinely compelling. The aim is to leave you not just better informed, but with a richer sense of the spirit and complexity that defines the Lone Star State.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 163

Wise About Texas
Podcast Episodes
EP 116: I Heard it on the X, Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:53
Dr. John Brinkley had figured out how to beat the system and built the most powerful radio station in the world. The entire United States could now hear what he was selling. Music was a big part of that and Border Blaste…
EP. 115: I Heard it on the X, Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:49
Dr. John Brinkley claimed to have the miracle operation for male “rejuvenation.” Dr. John Brinkley was also a quack who bought his medical degree for $100. Nevertheless, he became one of the best-known doctors in the nat…
Ep. 114: Winging it in Big Bend [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:22
In the 1920s, U.S. military aviation was in its early stages. New uses for air power were discovered frequently. The new flying machines would allow military and civilian authorities to patrol dangerous, remote areas mor…
Ep. 113: The Travis County Dog Wars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:00
Shortly after the civil war, Appalachia came to Austin. Known as the cedar choppers, migrants from the mountains moved into the limestone hills of western Travis County. They kept to themselves, didn’t like outsiders, an…
EP. 112:  A Texas mother- Mary Christian Burleson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:15
What is it about Texas mothers? They are tough, smart, and resourceful. Nothing phases a Texas mom, they can do it all! That was certainly true of Mary Christian Burleson. Mary was a mom to 7 and stepmom to 12. She was a…
EP. 111:  The Easter Fires of Fredericksburg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:21
Every Easter Eve, the hill country around Fredericksburg comes alive with huge bonfires. Some say this tradition came from Germany, some say the Indians started it, and some say the Easter Bunny is doing some cooking. He…
EP. 110: A Goliad Survivor? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:40
March 27, 1836 was Palm Sunday, a holy day. But the Mexican dictator Santa Anna didn’t care, he was out for blood. He ordered hundreds of Texian prisoners executed in cold blood at the Presidio La Bahia at Goliad. The pr…
Ep 109: Alamo Defenders- Dr. Amos Pollard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:34
Dr. Amos Pollard was a Massachusetts yankee seeking a new start and prosperity in Texas. He dared the Mexican army to “come and take it,” and served as an army doctor during the siege of Bexar. He would die defending the…
Ep. 108:  Alamo Defenders- Toribio Losoya [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:29
The Alamo defenders were heroes, but not everyone gets top billing. Hear the stories of some of the defenders that you may not think of when you remember the Alamo. This episode is about Alamo hero Toribio Losoya.
Ep. 107: Texans You Should Know- Anna Mebus Martin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:19
She arrived from Germany with very little, not even speaking English. She braved indian attacks, frontier outlaws and a civil war to become a cattle queen and a bank president. Learn about a great Texas entrepreneur in t…