Talladega businessman and politician Thomas Scales Plowman (1843-1919) served in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. After the war ended, he established a mercantile business and was also involved in agriculture. He became involved in local politics and then sought national office in the U.S. Congress in 1894 and 1896, but both campaigns were marred by charges of election fraud. He won office in 1896, but served less than a year before having his election overturned.
