Francis B. De Witt

Francis Byron De Witt (March 11, 1849 – March 21, 1929) was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.

Francis B. De Witt
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 5th district
In office March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897
Preceded by	Dennis D. Donovan
Succeeded by	David Meekison
Personal details
Born	March 11, 1849 Jackson County, Indiana
Died	March 21, 1929 (aged 80) Standish, Michigan
Resting place	Live Oak Cemetery, Paulding, Ohio
Political party	Republican
Alma mater	National Normal University Ohio Wesleyan University
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	Union Army
Unit	46th Ohio Infantry 121st Ohio Infantry
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Born in Jackson County, Indiana, De Witt moved with his parents in 1854 to a farm in Delaware County, Ohio. During the Civil War enlisted in the Forty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at the age of twelve. Mustered out for temporary disability and reenlisted in 1862 in the One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. Prisoner of war in Salisbury, Danville, and Libby Prisons. He attended the common schools and high school in Galena, Ohio, National Normal School, Lebanon, Ohio, and Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio. He moved to Paulding, Ohio, in 1872 and taught school. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1875 and practiced his profession in Paulding until 1891, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He served as member of the State house of representatives 1892-1895.

De Witt was elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1896. He resumed agricultural pursuits near Paulding, Ohio. He moved to Standish, Michigan, in 1903 and resumed the practice of law. He served as register of deeds. He served as member of the Michigan House of Representatives 1920-1922.

De Witt was elected prosecuting attorney of Arenac County, Michigan, in 1926. He was reelected in 1928 and served until his death in Standish, Michigan, on March 21, 1929. He was interred in Live Oak Cemetery, Paulding, Ohio.

Sources

• United States Congress. "Francis B. De Witt (id: D000286)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

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