William B. W. Dent, US Congress

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Barton_Wade_Dent

William Barton Wade Dent (September 8, 1806 – September 7, 1855) was an American politician, educator, soldier and businessman from Georgia. He represented Georgia in the U.S. Congress (1853-1855).

Dent was born in Bryantown, Maryland, in 1806 and attended Charlotte Hall Military Academy in Charlotte Hall, Maryland. He graduated from Charlotte Hall Military Academy in 1823 and moved the next year to Mallorysville in Wilkes County, Georgia, and taught school.

In 1827, Dent pursued mercantile interests in Bullsboro, Georgia. He was also a key founding member of the city of Newnan, Georgia, in 1828. Dent pursued farming and milling in Coweta, Carroll and Heard Counties. He also did business in land holdings in Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas. Dent also served as a colonel in the Georgia Militia during the Creek War.

In 1843, Dent served in the Georgia House of Representatives. He returned to Newnan in 1849 and presided as judge of the inferior court of Coweta County. In 1852, he was elected as a Democratic Representative of Georgia's 4th congressional district to the 33rd United States Congress and served one term from March 4, 1853, to March 3, 1855. He did not run for reelection to the 34th Congress in 1854. Dent died in Newnan on September 7, 1855, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

He moved to Georgia in 1824 where he pursued various business ventures in Wilkes, Coweta, Carroll & Heard Counties. He became a successful land speculator & over time, acquired extensive property holdings in states from Alabama to Texas.

Dent also became one of the founders of the town of Newnan, GA where he settled.

During the Creek War (1836), Dent served as Col. of the Heard County Volunteers. The Plaque at his grave is inscribed "Col. Dent's Co. Heard Volunteers, GA Militia - Indian Wars - Congressman."

Married Sarah Elizabeth "Eliza" Hinton in 1827. The couple were the parents of 10 living children.

Although he did not formally study law, Dent served in the State House of Representatives in 1843 and was a presiding judge of the Inferior Court of Coweta County from 1849-1853. [He resigned his position to take his seat in the US House.]

US Congressman. Elected as a Democrat to represent Georgia's 4th District in the 33rd Congress; serving from 1853-1855.

Dent chose to not seek reelection in 1854. He died in Newnan, GA, 6 months after leaving office & one day short of his 49th birthday.

Source:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7115086/william-barton_wade-dent