Father: John Brewster, M.D. (1795-1860;
Mother: Louisa Downs (1798-1856)
05/11/1838 - Father, John, died in Canton, Cherokee Co., GA
10/23/1850 - Clerk, Division 15, Cherokee Co., GA (lived with the George W. Cook family - indexed in the 1850 U.S. Census as F. T. Brewster)
1852-1853 - Attended 1st course of medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA (from: Canton, Cherokee Co., GA; preceptor: Dr. Blake Dempsey Brewster, Talbot Co., GA)
1854 - "The Georgia Legislature gave the right to practice [medicine] to several men without examination and regardless of training. T. F. Brewster, only 19 and underage, was called a minor. A check of the records show that he was allowed to practice at that time because he had already served an apprenticeship under a relative and was then a student on leave at Jefferson Medical College." Medical Record of Georgia, p. 250.
1856 - M.D. degree, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA (from: Cataula, Harris Co., GA; thesis: "The Heart")
08/17/1856 - Mother, Louisa, died in Canton, Cherokee Co., GA
12/11/1856 - Married, Margaret R. Beal (1839-1894), Harris Co., GA
06/21/1860 - Practiced medicine, 696th Georgia Military District, Harris Co., GA (lived with his wife, M.R., and one child named R. F. Beal - indexed in the 1860 U.S. Census as "P. F. Brewster")
06/05/1861 - In a letter written from Cataula, Harris Co., GA, to Hon. L. P. Walker, Confederate Sec. of War, Richmond, VA, "Mr. John T. Buchanan (in behalf of whose discharge from the Army I wrote to you a few weeks ago), is serving in the 1st Regt., Co F- His parents were glad to discover from your letter a symptom that he would be discharged."
05/12/1862 - Enlisted, Provisional Army of the Confederate States, Columbus, GA
05/16/1862 - Appointed as 1st Lt., from GA
05/31/1862 - As a Lt., Confederate States Army, paid $50 to a quartermaster for a pair of boots, Savannah, GA
07/31/1862 - 1st Lt., Co. H, 54th GA Infantry, Savannah, GA
08/31/1862 - 1st Lt., Co. H, 54th GA Infantry, Camp Beaulieu (near Savannah, GA)
09/30/1862 - Absent with leave
10/31/1862 - Absent with leave (10 days) since October 24th
11/30/1862 - 1st Lt., Co. H, 54th GA Infantry, Camp Beaulieu, GA
12/31/1862 - Absent with leave (26 days) since Dec. 26th
06/26/1863 - On furlough
11/04/1863 - As 1st Lt., Co. H, 54th GA Infantry, subject to a court martial [S.O. 112/2 & 112/15 Dept. of S.C., Ga. & Fla. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard]
11/21/1863 - As 1st Lt., Co. H, 54th GA Infantry, "in arrest in Savannah"
12/13/1863 - Dismissed from Confederate Army service by General Court Martial (G. O. 112/2/15)
[Note: While stationed at Beaulieu, near Savannah, GA, 1st Lt. T. F. Brewster was accused by his superior officer, Colonel Charlton H. Way of "wanting to quit service for fear of a bullet and love of a dollar." Brewster called him a liar and was arrested. There was a trial in Charleston in late 1863 and Brewster was charged with mutinous and insubordinate conduct and stripped of his commission. [Medical Record of
Georgia, p. 250.]
12/19/1863 - In a letter written from Head Quarters Military District of Georgia, Savannah, GA, to Gen. Thomas Jordan, Chief of Staff, "General, I have the honor of submitting to the Comdg General the case of T. F. Brewster, feeling some doubt as to the exact force of the application enclosed therein. T. F. Brewster was 1st Lieut. of Co. H, 54th Ga. Regt. and was dismissed [from] the service by Genl. Court Martial: his Brigade Commander, Brig. Genl. [R. E.] Colston, has been directed to enforce the provisions of Genl. Orders No. 24 A. & I. G. O. current series, and Brewster is now held subject to the order of the Enrolling Officer. A short time since charges were preferred against Brewster, subsequent to his dismissal from the Army; he put in a plea to the jurisdiction of the Court; no official information has reached this office that the plea was sustained, though it is understood the Court has taken up another case. Under these circumstances I feel some doubt as to the propriety, or obligation resting upon me, of yielding to Brewster's application. I beg the Comdg. Genl. will inform me whether or not Brewster should be sent before the Medical Board under all the circumstances of the case. Very Respy, Your Obdt. Servt, H. W. Mercer, Brig. Genl. Comdg"
12/20/1863 - Enlisted as Pvt., Co. H, 54th GA Infantry, Beaulieu, GA (near Savannah, GA) for three years
01/08/1864 - In a letter written from Beaulieu, near Savannah, GA, to Hon. P. Ingraham, " I am as you are no doubt aware, owner of the corn and flour mill previously owned by Major Robertson. The interest of a large section of Harris and Muscogee Counties demand that these mills be kept in successful operation and in good repair. The man who I had employed to supervise them when I enlisted service about 2 years ago died last year and it is now impossible for me to procure the services of a man qualified for the business who is not liable to military service. The favor I wish... please call at the War Department and state these facts together with what you know in regard to this matter and get from the Secretary of War an order detailing me to supervising the mills. I may be mistaken but I think that you can obtain the detail without any further certificates. Signed T. F. Brewster, Private."
"Response-- Make application to Co. H, Captain C. R. Russell, 54th [Georgia] Regiment." [Note: This letter was probably written to Porter Ingram, who represented Georgia in the Confederate Congress in 1864,
Richmond, VA.]
01/31/1864 - Pvt., Co H, 54th GA Infantry
02/26/1864 - Detailed as a Hospital Steward by order of Gen. J. F. Gilmer
02/27/1864 - As Pvt., Co. H, 54th GA Infantry, detailed for 60 days [S.O. 7/8 Military District of Georgia - Gen. H. W. Mercer
11/27/1864 - As Acting Asst. Surgeon, Walker Hospital, Columbus, GA, "appointed on board to examine all convalescents on duty in this Hospital and return to duty all such as are fit for field service"
03/16/1869 - Member, U. S. House of Representatives, from Georgia
1874 - Practiced medicine, Columbus, GA
06/14/1880 - Practiced medicine, Cataula, Harris Co, GA (lived with his wife, "Margarette" - indexed in the 1880 U.S. Census as "Tomlinson F. Bruster")
1886,1890 - Practiced medicine, Cataula, Harris Co., GA
1891 - Insurance agent, Atlanta, GA, while boarding at 15 Wheat
08/23/1892 - Granted U.S. #481258 Patent with Joseph Littleton Dennis for a bindery pasting machine.
1893 - Practiced medicine, Cataula, Harris Co., GA
1893 - Practiced medicine, 33 1/2 Whitehall, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA, while boarding at Grant House
05/27/1894 - Wife, Margaret, died in Milledgeville, GA (buried: Hamilton Cemetery, Harris Co., GA)
1894 - Superintendent, Grady Hospital, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA [Note: Dr. Grady also maintained his residence in Grady Hospital.]
1896 - Practiced medicine, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA
06/14/1900 - Superintendent, Grady Hospital, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA (lived with his adopted daughter, Rosa, in Grady Hospital - indexed in the 1900 U.S. Census as Thomas F. Brewster")
1900,1901,1902 - Superintendent, Grady Hospital, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA, with residential address the same
1903,1904 - Superintendent, Grady Hospital, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA, with residential address of 101 Butler, Atlanta
1908 - Declined reelection as Superintendent, Grady Hospital, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA, because of failing health
1909 - Lived, 416 Capitol Ave., Atlanta, GA
04/18/1910 - Boarder and widower, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA (lived with the J. A. Manning family and daughter "Luna" - indexed in the 1910 U.S. Census as T. F. Brewster)
- Member, Georgia State Legislature
- Elder, Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, GA
05/01/1910 - Died in Grady Hospital, Atlanta, Fulton Co., GA, of nephritis (buried: Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, GA)

William Bowers, Michael Angelo, and Julia Ather, the creator of this memorial, provided input to this biography.

This biographical sketch is from:
Hambrecht, F.T. & Koste, J.L., Biographical
register of physicians who served the
Confederacy in a medical capacity.
11/22/2018. Updated 12/24/2018.
Unpublished database.