David S. Kaufman

David Spangler Kaufman (December 18, 1813 – January 31, 1851) was an attorney, politician and diplomat, serving as U.S. Representative from Texas.[1] When the Republic of Texas was independent, he served in both houses of its legislature, and as Chargé d'Affaires of Texas to the United States.

David S. Kaufman
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 1st district
In office
March 30, 1846 – January 31, 1851
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byRichardson A. Scurry
Republic of Texas Chargé d'affaires to the United States
In office
1845–1846
Republic of Texas Senator
In office
1843–1845
5th Speaker of the House
(Republic of Texas)
In office
1840–1841
Preceded byJohn M. Hansford
Succeeded byKenneth L. Anderson
Member of the Republic of Texas House of Representatives from Nacogdoches County
In office
1838–1841
Preceded byThomas Jefferson Rusk
Personal details
Born
David Spangler Kaufman

(1813-12-13)December 13, 1813
Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJanuary 31, 1851(1851-01-31) (aged 37)
Washington, D.C.
Resting placeTexas State Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Jane Baxter Richardson
ChildrenAnna
Daniel
David Jr.
Sam Houston
Alma materPrinceton College
ProfessionAttorney
Military service
AllegianceRepublic of Texas Army
RankAide to
Gen. Thomas J. Rusk
Battles/warsBattle of the Neches

Early life and education

David Spangler Kaufman was born in Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, the son of Mary (Spangler) and Abraham Landis Kaufman. He was of German ancestry, and his paternal great-grandfather was a Mennonite minister. (Kaufman is sometimes incorrectly described as Jewish).[2] Kaufman pursued classical studies and was graduated from The College of New Jersey in 1833.[3]

Kaufman moved to Natchez, Mississippi, where he studied law with John A. Quitman from New York state.[3] Kaufman was admitted to the bar in Natchez. He commenced practice in Natchitoches, Louisiana in 1835. Attracted to the developing country in the Southwest, Kaufman moved in 1837 to Nacogdoches, Republic of Texas.[3]

Military service

Kaufman served in the military against the Cherokee people in the Texas-Indian Wars. He was wounded at the Battle of the Neches in 1839. These Cherokee had migrated to Texas from their territory in the American Southeast, to avoid being removed to Indian Territory. But the Texas president wanted to push them out of the republic.

Political career

He served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives 1838–1843. He served in the Texas Senate 1843–1845. He was appointed Chargé d'Affaires of Texas to the United States in 1845.[4]

Upon the admission of Texas as a State into the Union, Kaufman was elected as a Democrat to the Twenty-ninth Congress. He was reelected to the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses, serving from March 30, 1846, until 1851. He served as chairman of the Committee on Rules (Thirty-first Congress).

Death

Kaufman died from a heart attack[4] in Washington, D.C., on January 31, 1851. Kaufman was originally interred in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC. In 1932 his remains were moved and he was reinterred in the Texas State Cemetery at Austin.[5]

Fraternal memberships

Legacy and honors

Kaufman is the namesake of Kaufman County, Texas,[8] and its seat, Kaufman.

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References
  1. "KAUFMAN, DAVID SPANGLER".
  2. Kaufman-Kauffman: the house of Oley; Kaufman, Texas was named for David Spangler Kaufman, the son of Abraham and Mary (Spangler) Kaufman. Abraham was the son of John and Christianna (Landis) Kaufman; John was the son of Frederick Kaufman, a Mennonite minister. Frederick was the immigrant Kaufman ancestor, arriving in Philadelphia on 21 September 1742, at a time of strong German immigration to the colony.
  3. Ornish, Natalie: David Spangler Kaufman from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 8 July 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  4. Guttery, Ben R (2008). Representing Texas: A Comprehensive History of U.S. and Confederate Senators and Representatives from Texas. BookSurge Publishing. p. 93. ISBN 978-1-4196-7884-4.
  5. "David Spangler Kaufman final resting place". Texas State Cemetery. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  6. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "DSKaufman-The Political Graveyard". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  7. Gambrell, Herbert: The Philosophical Society of Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 8 July 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  8. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 172.

See also

Sources

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.

U.S. House of Representatives
New district Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 1st congressional district
March 30, 1846 – January 31, 1851		 Succeeded by
Richardson A. Scurry
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