Dewitt Clinton Giddings

Dewitt Clinton Giddings (July 18, 1827 – August 19, 1903) served three non-consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives as a representative from Texas.

Dewitt Clinton Giddings
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 5th district
In office
March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879
Preceded byJohn Hancock
Succeeded byGeorge Washington Jones
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 3rd district
In office
May 13, 1872 – March 3, 1875
Preceded byWilliam Thomas Clark
Succeeded byJames W. Throckmorton
Personal details
Born(1827-07-18)July 18, 1827
Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 19, 1903(1903-08-19) (aged 76)
Brenham, Texas, U.S.
Resting placePrairie Lea Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Malinda C. Lusk
Children5
ProfessionLawyer
Military service
AllegianceConfederate States Army
Branch/service21st Texas Cavalry
RankLieutenant Colonel
Battles/warsAmerican Civil War
  • Arkansas Campaign
  • Louisiana Campaign
  • John S. Marmaduke's Missouri Raid

Early life

Dewitt Clinton Giddings was born July 18, 1827, in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of eight children of James and Lucy (Demming) Giddings. In addition to his brother, Jabez Demming Giddings, other of Giddings' brothers relocated from Pennsylvania to Texas. George Giddings and John James Giddings were successful operators of the San Antonio, Texas to Santa Fe, New Mexico Mail Line.

Giddings worked teaching school part-time to finance his education as a civil engineer[1] and later was employed as a railroad engineer.

He began his legal studies in Honesdale, Pennsylvania in 1850.

When word reached home that Giddings' older brother, Giles, died of wounds received at the battle of San Jacinto, another brother, Jabez Demming Giddings, traveled to Texas to Claim Giles' land bounty. Giddings joined his brother in Brenham, Texas in 1852 and in 1853 was admitted to the Texas bar. He was his brother's junior partner in a law practice in Brenham.

Military service

During the American Civil War Giddings served as Lieutenant Colonel of the 21st Texas Cavalry Regiment in the Confederate States Army.[2]

Public service

Giddings first served in the Forty-second Congress[3] after a controversial election in which he defeated William T. Clark by 135 votes.[4] Suspected voting irregularities gave the House seat to Clark initially, but Giddings successfully contested the election and took his seat in Congress. Giddings was reelected to the Forty-third Congress (May 13, 1872 – March 4, 1875) and to the Forty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1877 – March 4, 1879).

Personal life

In 1860, he married Malinda C Lusk, daughter of Texas soldier and politician Samuel C. Lusk.[5] The couple had five children, three of which survived to adulthood, De Witt, May Belle and Lilian.[1]

Death

On August 19, 1903, De Witt Clinton Giddings succumbed to heart disease and died in Brenham, Texas.[6] He is buried along with his wife in Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham.

References
  1. Guttery, Ben (2008). Representing Texas: a Comprehensive History of U.S. and Confederate Senators and Representatives from Texas. BookSurge Publishing. p. 67. ISBN 978-1-4196-7884-4.
  2. DeWitt Clinton Giddings at Find a Grave
  3. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "DeWitt Clinton public service". Retrieved 2 July 2010.
  4. Neu, CT: The Giddings-Clark election contest from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2 July 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  5. Hailey, James: Samuel Lusk from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2 July 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  6. Christian, Carole E: DeWitt C Giddings from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2 July 2010. Texas State Historical Association
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
William T. Clark		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 3rd congressional district
May 13, 1872 – March 3, 1875		 Succeeded by
James W. Throckmorton
Preceded by
John Hancock		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 5th congressional district
March 4, 1877 – March 3, 1879		 Succeeded by
George W. Jones
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