Thomas Hurley BRENTS, Congress, WA (1840-1916)

BRENTS, Thomas Hurley, a Delegate from the Territory of Washington; born near Florence, Pike County, Ill., December 24, 1840; attended the common schools, Portland (Oreg.) Academy, Baptist Seminary, Oregon City, Oreg., and McMinnville (Oreg.) College; justice of the peace in 1862; engaged in the general mercantile business at Canyon City, Oreg., 1863-1866; postmaster of Canyon City in 1863 and 1864; clerk of Grant County, Oreg., 1864-1866; delegate to the Union-Republican convention of Oregon in 1866; member of the State house of representatives in 1866; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1866 and commenced practice in San Francisco, Calif., in 1867; moved to Walla Walla, Wash., in 1870; city attorney of Walla Walla in 1871 and 1872; presided over the Republican Territorial convention at Vancouver in 1874; elected as a Republican to the Forty-sixth, Forty-seventh, and Forty-eighth Congresses (March 4, 1879-March 3, 1885); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1884; resumed the practice of law; judge of the superior court of Walla Walla 1896-1913; died in Walla Walla, Wash., October 23, 1916; interment in Blue Mountain Cemetery.

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