Risden Tyler Bennett (June 18, 1840 – July 21, 1913) was a Democratic

U.S. Congressman The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

between 1883 and 1887. He was also an attorney and judge.

Early life

Bennett was born in

Wadesboro, North Carolina Wadesboro is a town in Anson County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 5,049 at the 2020 census. The town was originally found in 1783 as New Town but changed by the North Carolina General Assembly to Wadesboro in 1787 to honor Co ...

. He was the twelfth and youngest child of Catherine Harris and Nevil Bennett, a farmer and primitive Baptist minister. His father died when Bennett was twelve–years–old. He attended common schools and the Gouldsfork Academy. He graduated from the Anson Institute in Wadesboro. He enrolled in the sophomore class of

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...

when he was sixteen years old, but soon left over hazing and headed West where he saw the

Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch in straight-line distance from the northernmost part of western Canada, to New Mexico in ...

and lived with Native Americans. However, his guardian George W. Little required him to come back East. In 1859, he attended

Davidson College Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. It was established in 1837 by the Concord Presbytery and named after Revolutionary War general William Lee Davidson, who was killed at the nearby Battle of Cowan� ...

. In the winter of 1858-9, he enrolled in the law school at

Cumberland University Cumberland University is a private university in Lebanon, Tennessee. It was founded in 1842. The campus's current historic buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1896. History 1842-1861 The university was founded by the Cumberland ...

, where he was a member of the Fraternity of Delta Psi (

St. Anthony Hall St. Anthony Hall or the Fraternity of Delta Psi is an American fraternity and literary society. Its first chapter was founded at Columbia University on , the Calendar of saints, feast day of Anthony the Great, Saint Anthony the Great. The frater ...

). He graduated in 1859. On April 30, 1861, he enlisted in the

Confederate Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

as a private in the Anson Guards. He rose to the rank of

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

of the 14th North Carolina on July 5, 1862. He was wounded three times, including at the

Battle of Gettysburg The Battle of Gettysburg () was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In the battle, Union Major General George Meade's Army of the Po ...

in July 1863. He was captured at

Winchester, Virginia Winchester is the most north western independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is the county seat of Frederick County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Winchester wit ...

and was a prisoner on parole until February 28, 1864.

Career

Bennett became an attorney at law in the Court of Common Pleas in

Anson County, North Carolina Anson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,055. Its county seat is Wadesboro. History The county was formed in 1750 from Bladen County. It was named for George Anson, Ba ...

in January 1860. After the Civil War, he joined a law practice with Judge

Thomas Samuel Ashe Thomas Samuel Ashe (July 21, 1812 – February 4, 1887) was a slave owner, member of the Confederate Congress, and U.S. Congressman from North Carolina. Early years Born in Hawfields, Orange County, North Carolina, he attended Bingham's Aca ...

. He was also the county solicitor of

from 1866 and 1867. In 1870, he was nominated for Congress but declined the nomination because of poor health. In 1871, he was elected to the

North Carolina House of Representatives The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the North Ca ...

, serving from 1872 to 1874. He declined to run for reelection. In 1875, he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, serving as chairman of the Judicial Department. He was appointed to fill a vacancy on the

North Carolina Superior Court The Superior Court is North Carolina's general jurisdiction trial court. It was established in 1777 and is North Carolina's oldest court. Jurisdiction and administration The Superior Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in North Caroli ...

in 1880, serving for two years until he resigned to serve in Congress. In 1882, he was elected to the

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature of the federal government of the United States. It is bicameral, composed of a lower body, the House of Representatives, and an upper body, the Senate. It meets in the U.S. Capitol in Washing ...

in a unique at-large (statewide) election. He was re-elected in 1884. During his second term, Bennett chaired the committee on expenditures in the

Department of State The United States Department of State (DOS), or State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other nati ...

. However, he declined to run for reelection. After leaving Congress, Bennett practiced law in

. He was also an orator and wrote articles for the Charlotte and Wadesboro newspapers.

Personal life

Bennett married Kate Shepperd on August 26, 1863, while he was at home recovering from his wounds during the Civil War. They had two sons who died in infancy and three daughters, Mary, Effie, and Kate. Although raised a Baptist, he was baptized by a

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

chaplain during the Civil War. Later in life, he joined the Episcopal Church. He donated a collection of a thousand books to start a library in Wadesboro. While at the Constitutional Convention in 1875, Bennett suffered from

sciatica Sciatica is pain going down the leg from the lower back. This pain may go down the back, outside, or front of the leg. Onset is often sudden following activities like heavy lifting, though gradual onset may also occur. The pain is often described ...

and had to be carried to the Capital on a cot daily, as he was unable to sit up. In 1913, He died at his home in Wadesboro from

pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...

at the age of 73. He is buried in his family cemetery in

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bennett, Risden Tyler 1840 births 1913 deaths People from Wadesboro, North Carolina Democratic Party members of the North Carolina House of Representatives Confederate States Army officers People of North Carolina in the American Civil War Cumberland University alumni North Carolina lawyers North Carolina state court judges Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American lawyers Davidson College alumni University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni St. Anthony Hall Deaths from pneumonia in North Carolina