Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/348

 COLQUITT

COLSTON

governor of Georgia for a term of four years. He was re-elected in 1880 after the revision of the state constitution, the new term being for two years, and on the expiration of his term in 1883 he was elected a U.S. senator. He was re-elected in 1888, and was succeeded in 1894 by A. O. Bacon of Macon, Ga. He was a trustee of the Univer- sit}^ of Georgia, 1878-89, president of the Inter- national Sunday school convention of 1878 and a prominent temperance advocate. He died in Washington, D.C., March 26, 1894.

COLQUITT, Walter T., senator, was born in Halifax county, Va., Dec. 27, 1799; son of Henry and Nancy (Holt) Colquitt. He was educated at the schools of Hancock county, Ga., whither his familj' had removed in his infancy, and he attended the College of New Jersey for a time. In 1820 he was admitted to the bar at Milledge- ville, Ga., and began to practise at Sparta, later removing to Columbus, Ga. Late in 1820 he was chosen brigadier-general of militia. He was li- censed a Methodist preacher in 1827. He was cir- cuit judge, 1826-32, presiding over the first court held in Columbus; and in 1834 he was elected to the Georgia senate, being returned in 1837. In 1838 he was elected a representative in the 26th congress as a State Rights Whig, resigned his seat in July, 1840, having transferred his alle- giance to the Democratic party, and was elected to the 27th congress, serving from February, 1842, to March, 1843. He was elected a U.S. senator in 1842 and resigned in February, 1848, Herschel V. Johnson completing his term. He was a delegate to the Nashville convention of 1850. He was married first, Feb. 23, 1823, to Nancy H., daughter of the Hon. Joseph Lane; secondly in 1841, to Mrs. Alphea B. (Todd) Fauntleroy, and thirdly in 1842, to Harriet W., daughter of Luke Ross. He died at Macon, Ga., May 7, 1855.

COLSON, David Grant, representative, was born at Yellow Creek, Ky., April 1, 1861; son of John C. and Katherine (Smith) Colson, and grandson of James Colson. He attended the academies at Tazewell and Mossy Creek, Tenn. , and took the junior course in law in the Ken- tucky university, 1879-80. He was an examiner in the pension bureau of the interior department, Washington, D.C., 1882-86, and in 1887 was elected to the lower house of the Kentucky legis- lature. He was mayor of Middlesboro, Ky., 1893-95; and a representative in the 54th and 55th congresses, 1895-99. On July 27, 1898, he was commissioned colonel of the 4th Kentucky regiment of infantry, U.S.V., which regiment he organized, and commanded in the war with Spain.

COLSTON, Edward, representative, was born near Winchester, Va., Dec. 25, 1786; son of Raw- leigh and Elizabeth (Marshall) Colston; grand-

son of Traverse and Susanna (Opie) Colston; great-grandson of Charles and Susan (Traverse) Colston; great ^ grandson of William Colston, and great' grandson of William Colston who left Bristol, England, for Virginia, about 1645. In 1801 his family removed to " Honey wood " Berkeley county, and in 1806 he was graduated at the College of New Jersey. He became a law- yer and was elected in 1821 to the Virginia house of delegates. He was a representative in the 15th congress, 1817-19. He was again in the house of delegates in 1826-27, and in 1833-34. For many years he was a magistrate and in 1845 was high sheriff of Berkeley county. He served in the war of 1812 as a lieutenant. He died at " Honey- wood," Berkeley county, Va., April 23, 1851.

COLSTON, Raleigh Edward, soldier, was born in Paris, France, Oct. 31, 1825; son of Ra- leigh Edward and Teresa Colston. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother was of French birth. He was educated in Paris until 1842 when, with a passport as an American citizen given by Lewis Cass, U.S. minister, he came to America and entered the Virginia military institute where he was graduated in 1846. He was assistant teacher of French and professor of French, 1846- 59, and professor of military history and strat- egy and of political economy in the military institute, 1859-61. He was ordered by the gov- ernor of Virginia to Richmond, Va., with the corps of cadets in April, 1861, and in May he was commissioned colonel of the 16th Virginia infan- try stationed at Norfolk. In December, 1861, he was commissioned brigadier-general and com- manded the military district extending from Smithfield, Va., to Weldon, N.C. He was or- dered Avith his brigade to Yorktown, Va., in April, 1862, where he reinforced General Magru- der, and engaged in the battles of Williamsburg and Seven Pines. In April, 1863, he was assigned to a brigade in Trimble's division, Jackson's corps. He commanded Trimble's division at ChancellorsviUe, May 2, 1863, and took part in the flank movement that surprised and defeated Hooker's right, in which movement he distin- guished himself by his impetuous bravery. After the death of Jackson he was placed in command of a brigade of Georgia troops at Savannah and had command of the defences of St. Augustine river in the department of General Beauregard. He was ordered to Petersburg, Va., in the spring of 1864, and commanded the lines south of the Appomattox until the arrival of General Lee's army of Northern Virginia. In repelling the enemy his horse was shot under him. He was ordered to the command of Lynchburg, Va., in August, 1864, and held the place till after the sur- render of Lee. After the war he delivered lec- tures in Baltimore, Richmond and other southern