Nelson TIFT, Congress, GA (1810-1891)

TIFT, Nelson, a Representative from Georgia; born in Groton, Conn., July 23, 1810; attended the village school; moved to Key West, Fla., with his father in 1826, to Charleston, S.C., in 1830, and engaged in the mercantile business; moved to Georgia and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Augusta, Richmond County, in 1835, at Hawkinsville, Pulaski County, in March 1836, and at Albany, Baker (now Dougherty) County, in October 1836; founder of the Augusta (Ga.) Guards in 1835; founder of the city of Albany, Ga., in 1836; served as justice of the peace; delegate from Baker County to the State convention held in Milledgeville, Ga., in 1839, to reduce the membership of the State legislature; elected to the Baker County Inferior Court on July 5, 1840; reelected in January 1841 and again in 1849; elected colonel of Baker County (Ga.) Militia in 1840; member of the State house of representatives in 1841, 1847, and 1851-1852; founder in 1845 of the Albany Patriot and served as editor and publisher until 1858; during the Civil War was connected with the Confederate States Navy Supply Department with the rank of captain; upon the readmission of Georgia to representation was elected as a Democrat to the Fortieth Congress and served from July 25, 1868, to March 3, 1869; presented credentials as a Member-elect to the Forty-first Congress, but was not permitted to qualify; contested the subsequent election of Richard H. Whiteley to the Forty-first Congress, but no action was taken thereon; conducted an extensive plantation and operated lumber, flour, and corn-meal mills; also instrumental in promoting the building of several railroads, serving as president; delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1877; died in Albany, Dougherty County, Ga., on November 21, 1891; interment in Oakview Cemetery.

Bibliography

O’Donovan, Susan E., ed. ‘’The Journal of Nelson Tift, Part IV: The 1841 Legislature.” Journal of Southwest Georgia History 6 (Fall 1988): 21-40.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present