Brabson was elected as a member of the Opposition Party to the Thirty-sixth Congress, serving from March 4, 1859, to March 3, 1861.[8] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1860. During the presidential campaign of 1860, Brabson canvassed for the Constitutional Union candidate, John Bell.[2]
Although a slaveholder, Brabson opposed secession on the eve of the Civil War. When Tennessee seceded in June 1861, he returned to his residence at Chattanooga, refusing to take up arms against either side, though offered a commission by both. As a lawyer, he defended James J. Andrews, a Union operative facing court-martial for leading the raid known as the Great Locomotive Chase in 1862. But he also opened his home to the wounded Confederate casualties following the Battle of Stones River in early 1863.[4]
Brabson succumbed to typhoid on August 16, 1863. He was interred in the Citizens Cemetery in Chattanooga.[4]
Family and legacyedit
Brabson married Sarah Maria Keith, daughter of Judge Charles F. and Elizabeth D. (Hale) Keith, of McMinn County. The couple had six children, John Bowen, Ada Elizabeth, Maria Marshall, Catherine Douglass, Mary, and Rose.[4] Brabson was the uncle of Charles K. Bell, a U.S. Representative from Texas.
reese, bowen, brabson, september, 1817, august, 1863, american, politician, represented, tennessee, district, united, states, house, representatives, from, 1859, 1861, also, served, term, tennessee, house, representatives, from, 1851, 1852, brabson, opposed, s. Reese Bowen Brabson September 16 1817 August 16 1863 was an American politician who represented Tennessee s 3rd district in the United States House of Representatives from 1859 to 1861 He also served one term in the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1851 to 1852 Brabson opposed secession and took no active part in the Civil War Reese Bowen BrabsonMember of the U S House of Representatives from Tennessee s 3rd districtIn office March 4 1859 March 4 1861Preceded bySamuel A SmithSucceeded byGeorge W BridgesMember of the Tennessee House of RepresentativesIn office 1851 1852Personal detailsBorn 1817 09 16 September 16 1817Sevier County Tennessee United StatesDiedAugust 16 1863 1863 08 16 aged 45 Chattanooga TennesseeResting placeCitizens Cemetery Chattanooga Tennessee 1 Political partyWhig 2 Know Nothing 1856 3 Opposition 1859 1861 SpouseSarah Maria Keith Cleary BrabsonRelationsRobert H Hodsden brother in law Charles K Bell nephew ChildrenJohn Bowen Brabson Ada Elizabeth Brabson Colburn Maria Marshall Brabson Catherine Douglass Brabson Waggener Mary Brabson Rose BrabsonAlma materMaryville CollegeProfessionAttorney farmer Contents 1 Life and career 2 Family and legacy 3 References 4 External linksLife and career editBrabson was born at Brabson s Ferry Plantation near Sevierville on September 16 1817 He graduated from Maryville College in Maryville Tennessee in 1840 studied law in Dandridge 4 and was admitted to the bar in 1848 5 He commenced practice of law in Chattanooga Tennessee in partnership with James A Whiteside Brabson was an elector for presidential candidate Zachary Taylor in 1848 2 He represented Hamilton County in the Tennessee House of Representatives for the 29th Tennessee General Assembly 1851 1852 5 6 In 1856 he ran for United States Congress for Tennessee s 3rd congressional district on the Know Nothing ticket but ultimately lost the election to the incumbent Samuel Axley Smith 7 Brabson was elected as a member of the Opposition Party to the Thirty sixth Congress serving from March 4 1859 to March 3 1861 8 He was not a candidate for renomination in 1860 During the presidential campaign of 1860 Brabson canvassed for the Constitutional Union candidate John Bell 2 Although a slaveholder Brabson opposed secession on the eve of the Civil War When Tennessee seceded in June 1861 he returned to his residence at Chattanooga refusing to take up arms against either side though offered a commission by both As a lawyer he defended James J Andrews a Union operative facing court martial for leading the raid known as the Great Locomotive Chase in 1862 But he also opened his home to the wounded Confederate casualties following the Battle of Stones River in early 1863 4 Brabson succumbed to typhoid on August 16 1863 He was interred in the Citizens Cemetery in Chattanooga 4 Family and legacy editBrabson married Sarah Maria Keith daughter of Judge Charles F and Elizabeth D Hale Keith of McMinn County The couple had six children John Bowen Ada Elizabeth Maria Marshall Catherine Douglass Mary and Rose 4 Brabson was the uncle of Charles K Bell a U S Representative from Texas Brabson s home though extensively altered still stands on East Fifth Street in Chattanooga 4 The plantation where he was raised Brabson s Ferry Plantation still stands near Sevierville and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places References edit Reese Bowen Brabson at Find a Grave a b c Oliver Perry Temple Reese B Brabson Notable Men of Tennessee Cosmopolitan Press 1912 pp 75 76 William Gannaway Brownlow Americanism Contrasted with Foreignism Romanism and Bogus Democracy Brownlow 1856 p 176 a b c d e Gary C Jenkins Reese Bowen Brabson Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture Retrieved 2 May 2013 a b Reese Bowen Brabson Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved 3 April 2013 Tennessee Blue Book p 220 Retrieved 2 May 2013 American Electoral Ticket Nashville Daily Patriot Nashville Tennessee 3 September 1856 Retrieved 12 August 2016 Reese Bowen Brabson Govtrack US Congress Retrieved 3 April 2013 External links editUnited States Congress Reese Bowen Brabson id B000730 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress U S House of RepresentativesPreceded bySamuel A Smith Member of the U S House of Representatives from Tennessee s 3rd congressional district1859 1861 Succeeded byVacant Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reese Bowen Brabson amp oldid 1191040650, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
