Benjamin E. Tarver

Benjamin E. Tarver
Texas Attorney General
In office
1864–1865
Preceded byNathan George Shelley
Succeeded byWilliam Alexander
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
In office
November 5, 1849 – July 21, 1850
Preceded byDistrict established
Succeeded byJames E. Shepard
Constituency35th district
In office
November 3, 1851 – November 7, 1853
Preceded byDarwin Massey Stapp
Succeeded byDarwin Massey Stapp
Constituency39th district
In office
November 5, 1855 – February 4, 1856
Preceded byRichard Johnson Swearingen
Succeeded byAlbert Gallatin Haynes
and A. M. M. Upshaw
Constituency49th district
Personal details
BornBenjamin Edward Tarver
(1802-05-01)May 1, 1802
Wake County, North Carolina, US
DiedApril 22, 1879(1879-04-22) (aged 76)
Brenham, Texas, US
PartyIndependent
OccupationLawyer, politician

Benjamin Edward Tarver (May 1, 1802 – April 22, 1879) was an American lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives and was the Texas Attorney General

Biography

Tarver was born on May 1, 1802, in Wake County, North Carolina, the son of Benjamin A. Tarver and Hannah (née Smith) Tarver.[1] He later moved to Lebanon, Tennessee, and in 1852 moved to Texas.[2] There, he practiced law in Brenham, Texas, where he owned a farm nearby.[1] In 1846 and 1847, he was in partnership with Barry Gillespie.[3][4]

Tarver was an independent politician. He was a member of the Texas House of Representatives from November 5, 1849, to July 21, 1850, again from November 3, 1851, to November 7, 1853, and finally from November 5, 1855, to February 4, 1856. In order of his three terms, he represented the 35th district, the 39th district, and the 49th district.[5] He was the Texas Attorney General in 1864 and 1865.[6]

While in the House, Tarver was chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, and was a member of the Committees on Claims and Accounts; on Division of the Supreme Court; on Internal Improvements; on Judicial Districts; on Public Debt; on Rules; and on Slaves and Slavery.[5]

Tarver married Louisa James Morriss, with whom he had at least three children. He died on April 22, 1879, aged 76, in Brenham, and was buried at the Brenham Masonic Cemetery beside his wife.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Campbell, Randolph B. "Benjamin Edward Tarver: Lawyer and Public Official in Texas". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
  2. ↑ Southern Historical Research Magazine. Worth S. Ray. 1937. p. 24.
  3. ↑ "Barry Gillespie & B. E. Tarver". Telegraph and Texas Register. 1 March 1847. p. 8. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
  4. ↑ "Barry Gillespie & B. E. Tarver". Telegraph and Texas Register. 15 July 1846. p. 6. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
  5. 1 2 "Member profile for Benjamin Edward Tarver - Texas Legislative Reference Library". lrl.texas.gov. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
  6. ↑ "Official Vote of Dallas County". The Dallas Weekly Herald. 13 August 1864. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
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