One of the oldest lawyers of El Paso is Judge Leigh Clark. He has been identified with his practice in that city for nearly thirty years since the pioneer days of west Texas. A man of splendid ability in his profession he has been connected with the largest commercial practice in this city, and as a corporate and commercial lawyer has few equals and no superiors in this section of the state.

Judge Leigh Clark was born in Issaquena county, Mississippi, March 20, 1856, a son of John M. and Eliza Clark, the father being a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of Tennessee. The father was a life long farmer, and substantial citizen, and provided a good home and a fair amount of schooling for his children. Judge Clark spent about the first twenty-five years of his life in Mississippi and his early education in the public schools was supplemented by study in the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, a course in a high school in Virginia, and subsequently by study in the University of Virginia. Moving to Vicksburg, Mississippi, he began the study of law in the office of Buck and Clark, and continued his studies there until he was admitted to the bar in 1877. His first practice was in Vicksburg, and he next opened an office at Rolling Fork, Mississippi., where he remained until he came out to Texas in 1884 and located in El Paso.

Judge Clark is a Democrat who takes more than passive interest in politics, and for many years has been one of the party fighters, both in local and state affairs. He has served in the office of city attorney of El Paso, but outside of that he has never sough nor accepted political honors, all his efforts being given to supporting the cause of his fellow candidates, and friends. In El Paso on June 19, 1890, he married Miss Fannie Eckols, whose parents were formerly from Adairsville, Georgia. Mrs. Clark died April 1, 1907, when about thirty-three years of age, and her remains now rest in one of El Paso's cemeteries. She was a member of the Baptist church and a very devout Christian woman, and devoted to her family and home. She left one child, Frances, now the wife of Dr. James Vrant of El Paso.

Judge Clark is a member of the Episcopal church, is affiliated with the Masonic Order from the Blue Lodge to the Thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite, including the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Toltee Club, the El Paso Country Club and the El Paso Bar Association. He enjoys an occasional fishing trip, and in his private library at the home are some of the old standard authors. Judge Clark has a versatile ability both in his profession and otherwise, and is esteemed and respected as a man of unusual attainments and powers. During his career as a lawyer he has been connected with many of the largest business corporations of Texas as counsel. He maintains fine offices in the Caples Building.