Tennessee Chesmond Brister (1896-1976)

Portrait from the Alexandria Weekly Town Talk, January 8, 1944.

    A leading figure in the political and business life of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, Tennessee Chesmond "T.C." Brister was a veteran of WWI who, following his service in France, relocated to Pineville, where he was affiliated with a hardware business for nearly forty years. He entered politics in 1940 with his election to the Louisiana House of Representatives, serving three nonconsecutive terms. In addition to his legislative service, Brister was an aspirant for a state senate seat in 1944 but was defeated. A resident of Louisiana for a good majority of his life, "T.C." Brister was born on May 28, 1896, in Winn Parish, the son of Allen Cicero (1872-1956) and Mary Adams Brister (1869-1944). 

  Recorded by most sources under the initials "T.C.", Brister's full name was discovered via the archives of the United States Veterans Administration's master index, which lists his full name as Tennessee Chesmond Brister. Removing with his family to Mount Lebanon, Louisiana during infancy, Brister resided there until 1906, whereafter he resided and attended school in Grant Parish. A graduate of the parish high school in 1915, Brister moved with his family to Pineville, Rapides parish sometime later and during the First World War was stationed in France with the U.S. Army Signal Corps.

  Honorably discharged in May 1919, Brister returned to Louisiana where he was employed with the Gulf Refining Co. as an agent. His work took him to Brookhaven, Mississippi, and during the 1920s was affiliated with a wholesale oil business at Westpoint. He also worked as a traveling salesman. He married in Mississippi in April 1934 to Mary Louise Blum (1906-1990), to whom he was wed for over forty years. The couple's union produced three daughters, Kathleen (1939-2020), Marleen Marie, and Margaret Louise. 

  Residing in Pineville in the late 1920s, T.C. Brister would join his brother Commodore Webster Brister in the Pineville Hardware Co., serving as its secretary and treasurer. By 1938 the business had grown to such an extent it necessitated removal to a larger building, located in Alexandria. Now serving as company manager, Brister and the store were profiled in the February 2, 1938 edition of the Alexandria Weekly Town Talk, which detailed the store's inventory. In addition to nails, barbed wire fencing, tools, and agricultural implements, the store also carried paints, stoves, and "harness and saddlery." 

  With his name firmly established in Alexandria's business community, Brister entered politics in 1939 when he announced his candidacy for the Louisiana House of Representatives. Running free of political influence, Brister decried the "crookedness, graft, and waste of public funds" in his state, and in a lengthy announcement laid out the principles of his campaign, including:

• Favoring 12 months pay for school teachers and a school teacher's tenure law.
• Favoring repeal of the state sales tax and favoring a tax on Carbon Black and other state minerals.
• The return of power to local sheriffs, mayors, and assessors
• Favoring an old age pension of $30.00 a month to every man or woman over age 60.
• Favoring organized labor, a decent wage, and an eight-hour workday
• Favoring a $3.00 car license
• Coming out against a state and parish-wide No Fence law.

A Brister campaign notice from 1939.

  Running in a field of twenty legislative candidates, Brister faced an uphill battle. On primary election day in January 1940, he emerged victorious. He went on to win the April general election, and after taking his seat was named as vice chairman of the committee on public buildings and sat on the committee on registration and election laws. 

  Towards the end of his first term, Brister announced his candidacy for the state senate, and in a write-up on his candidacy noted his successes during the previous house term, remarking:

"I was one of the co-authors of the bill that would have given eight hour working days and an increase in pay to the unpaid at our state institutions."

  On primary election day in January 1944, T.C. Brister polled second to incumbent senator Grove Stafford, who led by over 1,200 votes. Though he lost that election, Brister went on to win a second term in the state house in February 1948, polling 12,876 votes. During the 1948-52 session, he served on the committees on Appropriations, Contingent Expenses, the Penitentiary, and Printing, and wasn't a candidate for reelection. 

  Following his term Brister was a candidate for the Pineville school board in May 1952 and for the next fourteen years devoted "his time to his Pineville hardware and sporting goods business." He would sell his business in 1966 and in the following year reemerged on the political scene, announcing his candidacy for a third term in the house of representatives. In a June 1967 campaign notice, Brister highlighted his previous terms, remarking:

"The office of representative is becoming more and more important and time demanding...If you see fit to select me as one of your four representatives I will give that office full time. I will not engage in any other employment during my term of office. I will be at your service seven days a week for the next four years. Having previous service in the legislature, I will have the know-how to get things done for our district."

From the Weekly Town Talk, December 6, 1967.

   Brister won his third house term in February 1968, polling 11,850 votes, and in April 1968 was profiled in an extensive write-up in the Alexandria Town Talk. Noting that "education and highways are the biggest problems facing the legislature on a statewide level", Brister made further note of the state needing four-lane highways, and his hopes the Louisiana State University at Alexandria would someday become a four-year college "complete with dormitories." On politics, Brister announced himself as a firm backer of Alabama Governor George Wallace (then running for president) but noted that Hubert Humphrey would be the likely Democratic presidential nominee.

  T.C. Brister's third term concluded in 1972 and for the remainder of his life resided in Pineville. A member of the Fist Baptist Church of Pineville, Brister held memberships in the Solomon Lodge No. 221 and Keystone Chapter No. 44 of Free and Accepted Masons, the Trinity Commandry No.8, Knights Templer, as well as the VFW and American Legion. T.C. Brister died on November 26, 1976, at the Rapides General Hospital, aged 80. He was survived by his wife and children and was interred at the Greenwood Cemetery in Alexandria.

From the Alexandria Town Talk, April 7, 1968.

Freas Leslie Hess (1896-1959)

From the History of Somerville, New Jersey, 1909-84.

  A standout figure in the history of Somerset County, New Jersey, World War I veteran Freas Leslie Hess served a decade as mayor of Somerville and midway through his terms won a seat in the state assembly. He later was elected by his fellow representatives as speaker of the house for the 1945 session and also served as majority leader. Hess continued his political ascent in 1948, when he was elected to the state senate, and continued in that office until 1951. The son of James Gearhart (1865-1939) and Eleanor Amelia (Stevens) Hess (1866-1937), Freas Leslie Hess was born in Thorndale, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania on March 11, 1896.

  During his youth, Hess was a student in the Sonestown, Pennsylvania school district and graduated from the local high school in 1913. He entered the workforce in the early 1910s when he joined the Garlock Packing Company of Palmyra, New York, and in 1916 took employment with the Johns-Manville Corporation, then located in Manville in Somerset County, New Jersey. He continued affiliation with that company until his death, being superintendent of packings at the time of his passing. 

  Shortly after joining Johns-Manville Freas Hess was called to military duty, enlisting in the U.S. Army. He took rank among the 311th Infantry Reg., 78th Division, with which he would serve in France. Hess later attended Officer's Candidate School while in Europe and was commissioned a second lieutenant. He served until the close of WWI and was discharged in May 1919. Freas L. Hess married Wilhelmina Taylor (1890-1977) in April 1920, to who he was wed until his death. The couple had three children, Freas Leslie Jr. (1921-2001), and twins John Edwin (1929-2018) and Jean Elizabeth (1929-1997).

  Returning to his position at Johns-Manville, Freas Hess was active in the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Y.M.C.A. In the 1920s, and in 1924 chaired the church's Pioneer Club banquet, which saw famed clergyman Samuel Parkes Cadman as a featured speaker. Hess took an active role in the Somerville Male Chorus, serving as its vice-president, and was active in several civic and fraternal groups, including the Somerville Exchange Club, the Harold Halstead VFW Post, the Boy Scouts, the Solomon's Lodge No. 46 of Free and Accepted Masons, and the Keystone Chapter No. 25 of Royal Arch Masons. A devoted baseball fan, Hess is remarked as having played semi-pro baseball during his early life.

   Following his removal to Somerville Freas Hess took an active role in local Republican circles, and made his first foray into politics in 1928 when he was a candidate for the Somerville borough council. He won the election that November and served a three-year term. Towards the end of his term, Hess agreed to serve another year on the council to fill a vacancy, due to the resignation of Robert L. Adams, then mayor-elect of Somerville. Hess was reappointed to the council in January 1932 but refused to be a candidate for renomination that fall.

  In April 1933 Hess announced his candidacy for mayor of Somerville. Hoping to garner the Republican nomination, Hess proved successful, and in the May primary was virtually assured the election, handily defeating his only serious challenger, councilman Fremont Masker. No Democratic candidates entered the mayoral primary, and that November Freas Hess was elected unopposed.

From the Bridgewater Courier-News, April 14, 1933.

   Sworn into office in January 1934, Hess swiftly made appointments to various borough offices, and "pledged an administration that will do its full part in bringing about a complete economic recovery", stating:

"As to the future we feel, that good times are slowly and surely returning, and the time is not that far distant when everyone will have a chance to earn a fair and honest wage. We have learned during the past year or two that in these days of reconstruction, in order to be successful we must first get our house in order, pay our bills, and set up our business on a sound and economical basis. This we can certainly apply to the management of our borough and to this end we as your governing body pledge our best efforts." 

   All told Hess served five consecutive terms as mayor (1934-1944), and during his terms was a member of the administrative board of the New Jersey League of Municipalities, and in 1938 was president of the Somerset County Association of Mayors and Township Committee Chairmen. Midway through his mayoralty Hess was bolstered by his fellow Republicans as a potential candidate for the state assembly. After several months of consideration, Hess threw his hat in the ring in August 1938, remarking:

"To represent Somerset County in the state assembly would be an honor and an opportunity for broader public service. Because such an opportunity appeals to me and with a feeling that it is my duty to accept the call of the many voters who have expressed their confidence in me, I have consented to become a candidate for the Republican nomination." 

From the Bridgewater Courier-News, August 9, 1938.

  In September 1938 Hess defeated Frederick R. Wyckoff in the Republican primary, and that November bested Democrat Harvey S. Smalley Sr. by a "majority of 4,900." He took his seat in January 1939 and during the 1939-41 session was named to the committees on Corporations and Labor Industry, and the joint Sinking Fund Committee. Additionally, he would chair the joint committee on Buildings and Grounds. Hess continued to pull political double duty, serving as mayor of Somerville while an incumbent assemblyman. He was re-elected to the state assembly in 1940, and concluded his decade-long tenure as mayor in January 1944, being succeeded by Howard S. Lyon. 

  Hess's second assembly term saw him continue service on the committees on Corporations, and Labor and Industries. He also sat on the committee on Municipalities and was chairman of the committee on the Revision of the State Constitution. He would win a third term in 1942, and after his fourth assembly win in 1944 was elected by his fellow assemblymen as speaker of the house for the 1945 session. Described by the Bridgewater Courier News as "the quiet gentleman from Somerset County", Hess announced his main goal as speaker was to "put across the program of efficiency and governmental reform initiated last year by Gov. Walter E. Edge." During this term, Hess served as president of the Somerville Republican Municipal League from 1945-46.

  Freas Hess was elected to one further term in the assembly in 1946, and served on the committee on Unemployment Compensation, and chaired the Committee on Military Affairs. In February 1947 he announced his bid for the state senate, hoping to succeed incumbent H. Rivington Pyne, and in June won the Republican nomination. In the days following his win, the Bridgewater Courier noted Hess's familiarity "with the problems of labor and industry in his position of superintendent of packing in the Manville factory of Johnson-Manville."

From the Bridgewater Courier, October 30, 1947.

  The general election in November saw Hess defeat Democratic nominee Anthony Kearns, polling 14,673 votes to 7,305. Sworn in January 1948, early in his tenure Hess introduced Senate Bill 205, which aimed to create the Borough of Raritan in Somerset County. In his last year of service, he chaired the New Jersey Air Pollution Commission, which sought an appropriation of $35,000 for the state health department to combat air pollution. He continued to represent Somerset County in the senate until his defeat for renomination in April 1951, losing the Republican primary to Malcolm Forbes.

  After leaving state government Freas Hess remained a leading citizen in his region, serving as a trustee of the Somerset Hospital, chairman of the Somerset County Officials Association (1938-1955), and until 1954 was director of Somerville Civilian Defense. He would serve as chairman of the Somerville-Raritan Sewage Authority until his death and was a member of the municipality committee of the New Jersey Taxpayer's Association. In May 1955, after three decades of public service to Somerville, Hess was named Man of the Year by the borough Chamber of Commerce and was feted with a reception at the Far Hills Inn in Somerville. 

  The last weeks of Hess's life were marred by ill health, and after a brief illness died at the Somerset Hospital on November 7, 1959, aged 63. Days following his death he was memorialized in the Bridgewater Courier News as having:

"Contributed much time and effort to various civic organizations, municipal and statewide governmental groups. Freas Hess had the ability of assuming responsibility and producing. He long will be remembered for his service to his home town, his state, and his fellow citizens."

  Hess was survived by his wife of nearly forty years, Wilhelmina, and their three children. Following her death in 1977 Wilhelmina Taylor Hess was interred alongside her husband at the New Somerville Cemetery.  

From the Central New Jersey Home News, November 8, 1959.

Addington Bollinger Campbell Jr. (1896-1983)

From the Camden Courier-Post, May 12, 1949.

  Lifelong New Jersey resident Addington Bollinger Campbell Jr. was long a leading Democrat in Cumberland County, serving several years as county Democratic committee chairman and in 1928 was named to the New Jersey State Democratic Committee. Following his service, he was affiliated with the Internal Revenue Service as chief of the field division and assistant collector, and in 1949 was named by President Truman as U.S. Collector of Internal Revenue for New Jersey's 1st district. The son of leading Cumberland County oyster shipper Addington Bollinger Campbell Sr. (1866-1930) and the former Mary Emma Joslin (1874-1960), Addington Bollinger Campbell Jr. was born on August 29, 1896, in Newport, New Jersey.

  A student at schools local to Bridgton, Campbell graduated from Bridgton High School and later enrolled at the Banks Business College in Philadephia. A naval veteran of World War I, Campbell captained a sub-chaser during his service, and as the commander of Submarine Patrol 204, was responsible for removing a mine cutter that had landed on a beach in Delaware Bay in late 1918. Following his service, he married in Newport in 1920 to Myrtle Lore Lake (1892-1975), to who he was wed for over fifty years. The couple had at least one son, Duncan Lake Campbell (born ca. 1925). 

   In the years after his marriage Campbell was affiliated with his father's oyster shipping business, and in the 1930s owned an oyster-catching vessel based out of Philadelphia. He entered the political field in 1922 with his candidacy for the New Jersey State Assembly. In October of that year, he was a featured speaker at a Democratic mass meeting held in Vineland, and though defeated in the November election, he was again the Democratic nominee in November 1927.

From the Vineland Evening Journal, October 18, 1922.

  Though defeated in his runs for the assembly, Campbell experienced success in local politics beginning with his service as chairman of the Cumberland County Democratic Committee in 1924. He served several years in that post, and in 1928 advanced to a seat on the New Jersey State Democratic Executive Committee, where he sat until 1935. In August 1933 he began a long affiliation with the Internal Revenue Service when he was appointed as chief of field deputies at the IRS office in Camden. 

  After two years as chief of field deputies, Campbell succeeded to the post of assistant collector of internal revenue for New Jersey's 1st district. Serving under collector Harry Maloney, Campbell's tenure extended until April 11, 1949, when Maloney died. Campbell acted as interim collector until May when President Truman nominated him to succeed Maloney. Campbell was later confirmed by the U.S. Senate and was sworn into office in July 1949.  

   Overseeing a district that comprised ten New Jersey counties, Campbell announced in September 1949 that his office would be "cracking down on delinquent taxpayers in the South New Jersey district", and aimed to collect $2,000,000 from 6,000 delinquent taxpayers. Campbell would further state that:

"Businessmen who ignore demands for payment risk having their bank accounts impounded by the government. If their cash or other liquid assets do not cover the delinquency, the law provides their businessess may be disposed of at forced sales to raise the money."

From the Camden Courier-Post, July 1, 1949.

  Campbell was reappointed as internal revenue collector for the 1st district in November 1952, and in August of the previous year announced the opening of an IRS branch office in Bridgton, that would be staffed by ten deputy collectors and two office assistants. Campbell later assumed the title of district collector and served until announcing his retirement in May 1955, being succeeded by Chris L. Gross.

  Following retirement Addington B. Campbell continued residence in Port Norris, New Jersey, and in June 1975 suffered the death of his wife of over fifty years, Myrtle. A prominent club man in his region, Campbell held memberships in the Olivet Lodge No. 607 of Free and Accepted Masons, the Rajah Temple of Philadelphia, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Lodge Council Chapter Consistory of Scranton, and the Nabb-Leslie American Legion Post No. 82 of Millville.

  After decades of prominence in New Jersey public affairs, Addington B. Campbell Jr. died at the Millville Hospital on October 28, 1983, aged 87. He was survived by his son Duncan and was interred alongside his wife at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Cedarville, New Jersey.

From the Millville Daily, October 29, 1983.

Zearl Verlin Hallcock (1896-1976)

From the Red Oak Express, June 13, 1962.

   A longtime farmer in Mongomery County, Iowa, Zearl Verlin Hallcock served several terms as mayor of Elliott in the 1950s and 60s. A resident of Iowa until shortly before his death, Hallcock was born in Pilot Grove on October 24, 1896, the son of John H. (1870-1962) and Lelia Hallcock (1876-1953). Little information exists on his early life or education, except note of his residence in Pilot Grove with his family. Hallcock married in Pottawattamie County on January 9, 1918, to Loraine Kirby (1901-1975), to who he was wed for over fifty years. The couple had three children, Bernadene (1924-2008), Billy (1928-2011), and Thomas (birthdate unknown). 

  A farmer for the majority of his life, Hallcock first farmed in Pilot Grove and in 1936 took over the operation of the 80-acre Vannorstrand farm, which was purchased by his father. Following its purchase, the Hallcock family's total farming acreage extended to 440 acres in Montgomery County. Hallcock removed to Elliott, Iowa in 1946, where he continued farming, and by 1962 had the "managership of three family-owned farms" in the vicinity. Additionally, Hallcock worked as an auctioneer both before and after his removal to Elliott. 

  Following his settlement in Elliott, Zearl Hallcock was a member of the local Methodist church, the Elliott Businessmen's Club, and the Elliott Activity Club. In 1947 he served as chairman of a two-day Elliott community celebration and entered town politics in March 1950 with his election as mayor. Curiously, there were no announced candidates for mayor of Elliott that year and Hallcock's election was due to "a write-in vote of 41." He served two consecutive terms, 1950-54, and in November 1957 was returned to the mayoral chair. By 1962 Hallcock had logged five terms as Elliott's mayor, and in October 1963 announced that he wouldn't be a candidate for a sixth term.

From the Red Oak Express, October 14, 1963.

  In 1965 Zearl Hallcock entered into the Elliott mayoral race and that November defeated incumbent Robert E. Allen. He left office in January 1968, and in October 1975 suffered the death of his wife of fifty-seven years, Loraine. Hallcock survived his wife by several months, dying in Brighton, Colorado on April 22, 1976, aged 79. He was survived by his three children and was interred alongside his wife at the Hillside Cemetery in Elliott.

Olnton Dickman Miller (1896-1981)

From the 1953 Arizona General Assembly class portrait.

   Prominent in Arizona agricultural affairs as well as politics, the oddly named Olnton Dickman Miller was a native of Illinois, but would find distinction in "The Grand Canyon State", being a one-term member of the Arizona State Senate and a candidate for Governor in the 1956 primary.

  The son of John McAnelley (a lawyer and professor) and Adeline Dickman Miller, Olnton Dickman "O.D." Miller was born on February 6, 1896 in North Harvey, Illinois. John McAnelly Miller was a past president of the Ruskin College in Missouri, later relocating to Florida to establish not only the town of Ruskin but also a short-lived college (also named Ruskin College) in 1910. With his son's birth in early 1896, John McA. Miller decided to bestow upon him a highly unusual name, and the backstory behind this name is mentioned in the 1958 History of Arizona, which notes:

"As an educator, George McA. Miller had a profound respect for the great men in our nation's history; and he also wanted to give his son an original name. He therefore combined the last three letters of Lincoln's and of Washington's names to form Olnton".

    Although bestowed this interesting name due to his father's passion for history, Miller himself was nonplussed, later stating that "I've never used it--just my initials." "O.D." Miller spent his formative years in Illinois, moving with his family to Florida in 1907 where his father founded the community of Ruskin. O.D. Miller would go on to attend the nearby Ruskin College, where he studied agriculture, and while still a young man began work as a "scientific assistant for marketing" at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. His work at this department saw him be reassigned to Nebraska in the early 1920s, being a local representative for the USDA's Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates and later moved to Phoenix, Arizona to continue agricultural work. O.D. Miller married in Lansing, Michigan on July 23, 1923, to Frances "Frankie" H. McDonald (1890-1967) and later had one son, Donald L. Miller.
   Following his removal to Arizona Miller became the directing head of the Barker-Miller Distributing Co., and as this company's director was also a member of the Arizona Co-operative Produce Association. Through his business interests Olnton Miller would become one of Arizona's premier growers of produce and produce distribution, and in 1929 was instrumental in authoring the state's Fruit and Vegetable Standardization Act, "which legalized standards and grades for agricultural products in the state."
   Throughout the 1930s and 40s, Olnton Miller continued to be involved in various aspects of state agriculture, being a co-owner of the Phoenix-based Miller-Johns produce shipping company and vice president of the Western Grower's Protective Association. In 1938 he ran an unsuccessful candidacy for the Arizona House of Representatives as a Democrat, and in 1952 re-entered the political spectrum when he was elected to represent Maricopa County in the Arizona State Senate. Serving in the legislative session of 1953-55, Miller left the senate after one term and in 1956 announced his candidacy for Governor of Arizona. Running as one of three Republican candidates that year, Miller had a bit of explaining to do when it was found that he had run as a Democrat in the race for state representative eighteen years prior. In his speech to the Yavapai Republican Women's Club, Miller stated that he:

 "Campaigned as a member of that party because he felt it improved his chances of being elected, and of being able, as a member of the legislature, to present his ideas on the operations of state government."
    
   Miller later explained that after his 1938 loss, he had registered as a Republican and had been a member of that party ever since. Miller's gubernatorial candidacy eventually came to naught, but he achieved some measure of redemption when in 1959 he began an eight-year tenure on the Arizona State University Board of Regents.

       Miller (second from left) during his time on the Board of Regents,  from the 1960 Desert Yearbook.

   Olnton D. Miller resigned from the Board of Regents in 1967 at age 71 and in June 1972 was honored by the Arizona State University with an Honorary Degree. He died nine years later on December 12, 1981, and was preceded in death by his wife Frances, who had died in 1967. Both were interred at a cemetery "near Phoenix, Arizona", and are also memorialized with a cenotaph at the Ruskin Cemetery in Ruskin, Florida, the burial location of a number of Miller's family.