Biography of the Texan

Excerpt from 'Biographies of the Texan'

Elkanah Brush

"BRUSH, Elkanah, pioneer soldier and Congresman, was born in New York, in 1796, and came to Texas and established himself as one of the leaders of the Refugio Colony before General Cos ever landed his men at El Copano, in the Refugio Municipality, September 20, 1835. The General Council, on November 26, 1835, appointed Brush one of a committee of three to raise the militia in his municipality. With Captain Philip Dimmit's Company, he was at Goliad part of the time between October 10, 1835, and January 16, 1836. As a private in Captain William G. Cook's "Greys," he remained in the Texas army until September 30, 1836. At Goliad, on December 20, 1835, Brush was one of the signers of the original Declaration of Independence. Elected from Refugio County to the House of the First Congress of the Republic, 1836-37, he contested the election of William E. Walker for the Second Congress and lost. In 1850, Brush moved to Fort Bend County, where on September 3, he was listed as a farmer and stock-raiser. Nothing is known of his later life nor of his death.-- See Huson, Refugio Colony and Texas Independence, 4, 10,.12, 13, 15; Wharton, History of Fort Bend County, 115-6; House of Journals of the First and Second Congresses; Comptrollers Military Service Records; Census 1850, Agricultural Schedule."

Back to Elkanah Brush

Home