Jefferson P. Kidder

Jefferson P. Kidder
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Dakota Territory's at-large district
In office March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879
Preceded by	Moses K. Armstrong
Succeeded by	Granville G. Bennett
18th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
In office October 1853 – October 13, 1854
Governor	John S. Robinson
Preceded by	William C. Kittredge
Succeeded by	Ryland Fletcher
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office 1859 1863
Member of the Vermont Senate
In office 1847–1849
Personal details
Born	June 4, 1815 Braintree, Vermont
Died	October 2, 1883 (aged 68) St. Paul, Minnesota
Political party	Republican

Jefferson Parish Kidder (June 4, 1815 – October 2, 1883) was an American lawyer and jurist. He served as the non-voting delegate from the Dakota Territory to the United States House of Representatives.

Early life

Kidder was born in Braintree, Vermont on June 4, 1815. He attended the Orange County Grammar School in Randolph, and graduated from Alden Partridge's American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy (Norwich University) in 1834.^[1] He studied law in Montpelier, was admitted to the bar in 1839 and practiced in Braintree and West Randolph.

Career

He was a member of the Vermont Constitutional Convention in 1843. He served as State's Attorney for Orange County (1842-1847), a member of the Vermont State Senate (1847-1849), the 17th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont (1852-1853), and a delegate to the 1856 Democratic National Convention.

In 1848 he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from the University of Vermont.

In 1857 Kidder moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he joined the Republican Party. He was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1859 and 1863.

In 1865 he moved to Vermillion, Dakota Territory, when Abraham Lincoln appointed him an associate justice of the territorial Supreme Court.

In 1875 he resigned from the court, having been elected the territory's delegate to the U.S. Congress. He served from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1879. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1878.

After leaving Congress Kidder was reappointed to the territorial Supreme Court, where he served until his death.

Death and burial

Kidder died in St. Paul on October 2, 1883. He was buried in St. Paul's Oakland Cemetery.

Family

His son Lyman Kidder was a US Cavalry 2nd lieutenant serving in the 2nd Cavalry under George Armstrong Custer, and was killed in action in what would be dubbed the Kidder massacre.

Jefferson Kidder was also the grandfather to noted lawman and Arizona Ranger Jeff Kidder.

Legacy

Kidder County, North Dakota is named for him.^[2]

References

1. Norwich University, 1819-1911; Her History, Her Graduates, Her Roll of Honor, Volume 2, 1911, page 682
2. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 174.

External links

• United States Congress. "Jefferson P. Kidder (id: K000164)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.