1829 he was elected and voted for Jackson; in 1831, he was elected Senator in Congress and served till 1836 when, under instructions, he resigned. His party came again into power, and 1841 he was again elected Senator and re-elected in 1847 and served till 4th March, 1854. He lived in high party times, and his political life was chequered with alternate success and defeat. Yet he bore the one with dignity and moderation, and the other with calmness and resignation.
In 1837 he received the electoral vote of South Carolina for President. On the death of Gen. Harrison (1841) and the accession of Mr. Tyler to the Presidency, he was elected as presiding officer in the Senate, and through the term of Mr. Tyler's administration held this dignified position.
He now retired from the busy theatre of politics in which he had been so prominent an actor, to his country home at Red Mountain. His latter days were clouded by sorrow at the loss of a favorite son in battle. He died at home on Sept. 14th, 1861.
He married Miss Cain of Orange.
Thomas H. Benton, (born 1782, died 1858,) was born near Hillsboro, N. C., at Hart's Mills, March 14th, 1782. He was educated at the University, but never graduated. He studied law under St. George Tucker at William and Mary College, Va. He entered the United States Army, but soon resigned his commission as Lieutenant Colonel; and in 1811 settled in Nashville, Tenn., where he commenced the practice of law. After a short time he emigrated to St. Louis, Missouri, and became connected with the press. He soon arose to position and influence, and in 1820 was elected to the Senate of the United States. To the Senate he was repeatedly re-elected for "thirty years," and there was no public measure from 1821 to 1851 in which he did not take an active part; every subject he discussed was exhausted by his research and powers of investigation. He was a decided democrat, and the chief supporter of Jackson and Van Buren in the Senate. His long term of service caused others, who wished his place, to supplant him, by strong efforts they were finally successful. He was, however, returned to 33rd Congress (1853-55) as a member of the House. He then retired from public service and devoted the balance of his life to the compilation of his Register of Debates. He died at Washington City April 10th, 1858.
General Geo. B. Anderson, (born April 12, 1831, died Oct. 16, 1862,) was the son of William E. Anderson, born near Hillsboro. His mother was Eliza, daughter of Geo. Burgwyn, of New Hanover.
His education was conducted by William Bingham, and at the Caldwell Institute, until 1848, when he was, on the recommendation of Hon. A. W. Venable, appointed a cadet at the United States Military Academy, where he graduated in 1852. He was then appointed Lieutenant of Dragoons. After spending six months in the Cavalry School, at Carlisle, he was appointed assistant to Lt. Parke of the Engineers and ordered to locate the route for a railroad to California. This duty performed, he joined his regiment in Texas, and marched over to Fort Riley, Kansas, where the troops were constantly engaged in arresting predatory parties, headed by Lane and Ossawatomie Brown, or Missouri mobs. When the war of 1861 began he resigned his commission in the United States Army, and hastened to North Carolina to share the fortunes of his native State. He was the first officer of the old army who tendered his sword and services to North Carolina. He was appointed on May 18, 1861, by Gov. Ellis, colonel to the 4th Reg't, N. C. troops; John A. Young, of Charlotte, was the Lt. Col., and Bryan Grimes, of Pitt, Major. The Regiment after being organized at Garysburg,
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