Groves M. Brazier

BRAZIER, GROVES M. (1815-1864) Groves M. Brazier, member of the North Carolina and Texas House of Representatives, was born in North Carolina around 1815. He was a merchant and speculated in land dealings. He also served one term (1850 - 1851) in the North Carolina State House. The 1850 Census lists him with a wife, Elizabeth M. Cross, who was 35 years old, and with six children, William H., Susan C., Elizabeth J., Isabella C., Malissa, and Charity L. Later census records indicate the couple had another daughter, Mary Francis.

According to a letter written by his son, William, during the Civil War, the Braziers moved to Texas in February 1854, and settled in Central East Texas. Brazier, on May 5, 1857, assumed the position of postmaster for the small Trinity County community of Piney Point, but lost his job after the post office closed that next year.

Brazier and his family then moved to Crocket, Houston County, where he worked as an attorney. In 1863, he was elected to represent the Ninth District of Texas in the House of Representatives.

The Tenth Legislature first met in Austin on November 2, 1863. Brazier took his seat and was assigned to three committees - Engrossed Bills, Judiciary, and Retrenchment and Reform. After the Regular Session ended on December 16, he returned to Crocket, but was called back to Austin twice more for special called sessions.

Before he left for Austin for the second called session, Brazier was reportedly ill, but continued on to the capital and with his legislative work, once he arrived. Brazier died in Austin on October 27, 1864.

With no family to claim his body and return him to Crocket, the State of Texas buried him in the Texas State Cemetery the next day.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: 1850 Chatham County, North Carolina Census; Land Records, Chatham County, North Carolina; Legislative Biographical Index, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Office of Archives and History; "Senate and House Journals of the Tenth Legislature, Second Called Session of the State of Texas, October 19, 1864 - November 15, 1864,"; Notice of Death, The Weekly State Gazette, November 9, 1864, Austin, Texas.