Thomas Hurley Brents

Thomas Hurley Brents (December 24, 1840 - October 23, 1916) was a Delegate from the Territory of Washington.

Born near Florence, Illinois, Brents attended the common schools, Portland (Oreg.) Academy, Baptist Seminary, Oregon City, Oreg., and McMinnville (Oreg.) College.He was in the Justice of the Peace in 1862.He engaged in the general mercantile business at Canyon City, Oreg. from 1863 to 1866. Postmaster of Canyon City in 1863 and 1864.He served as clerk of Grant County, Oreg. from 1864 to 1866.He served as delegate to the Union-Republican convention of Oregon in 1866.He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1866.He studied law.He was admitted to the bar in 1866 and commenced practice in San Francisco, California, in 1867.He moved to Walla Walla, Washington, in 1870. City attorney of Walla Walla in 1871 and 1872. Presided over the Republican Territorial convention at Vancouver in 1874.

Brents was elected as a Republican to the Forty-sixth, Forty-seventh, and Forty-eighth Congresses (March 4, 1879-March 3, 1885).He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1884.He resumed the practice of law.He served as judge of the superior court of Walla Walla 1896-1913.He died in Walla Walla, Washington, October 23, 1916.He was interred in Blue Mountain Cemetery.

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