David Grant Colson

David Grant Colson (April 1, 1861 – September 27, 1904) was an American politician from the State of Kentucky who served as a U.S. Representative from Kentucky's 11th congressional district.[1] He previously served in the Kentucky House of Representatives and as the mayor of Middlesboro.[2]

David Grant Colson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 11th district
In office
March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899
Preceded bySilas Adams
Succeeded byVincent Boreing
Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives
In office
1887
1888
Personal details
Born(1861-04-01)April 1, 1861
Middlesboro, Kentucky
DiedSeptember 27, 1904(1904-09-27) (aged 43)
Middlesboro, Kentucky
Resting placeColson Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
Alma materUniversity of Kentucky
ProfessionLawyer
Military service
AllegianceUnited States of America
Branch/serviceKentucky volunteers
RankColonel
Battles/warsSpanish–American War

Biography

Colson was born in Yellow Creek (now Middlesboro, Kentucky), Knox (now Bell) County, Kentucky.[2] He was the seventh of eleven children.[1] Colson attended the common schools and the academies at Tazewell and Mossy Creek, Tennessee.

He studied law at the University of Kentucky at Lexington in 1879 and 1880. He was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Pineville.[2]

Political career

Colson, a Republican, served as a state representative in 1887 and 1888, representing Bell, Harlan, Perry, and Leslie Counties, and again in 1902. He was the Republican nominee for State Treasurer in 1889.[1] He served as mayor of Middlesboro in 1893-1895.[2]

Colson was elected a US Representative in 1894 and re-elected in 1896, serving in the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth Congresses (March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899). He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures on Public Buildings in the Fifty-fifth Congress.[2] During his second term in Congress, Colson was known as a supporter of President McKinley's administration, but often voted with Democrats on regional issues.[1]

While a Representative, Colson was a member of the "Free Cuba" group. In 1898, during the Spanish–American War, Colson left his position in Congress to become colonel of the Fourth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry. After his military service, he did not run for re-election.[1]

In 1899, Colson was shot in the arm by a fellow officer, Lieutenant Ethelbert Dudley Scott. Colson had previously brought court-martial charges against Scott.[1] On January 16, 1900, Colson got in a pistol fight with Scott in a hotel lobby in Frankfort, Kentucky. Three men were killed: Scott and two bystanders, Charles Julian and Luther Demaree. Colson was acquitted of the charges that April.[1]

Colson died at his farm outside of Middlesboro, Kentucky on September 27, 1904.[1] He was interred in Colson Cemetery.

See also
  • Colson–Scott Tragedy

References
  1. Stephens, Thomas E. (2000). "Congressman David Grant Colson and the Tragedy of the Fourth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry" (PDF).
  2. "COLSON, David Grant, (1861-1904)".

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Silas Adams		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Kentucky's 11th congressional district
1895 – 1899 (obsolete district)		 Succeeded by
Vincent Boreing
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