Jefferson P. Kidder

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. Kidder was the only Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Vermont until John J. Daley in 1965.

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
(Delegate)
Preceded byMoses K. Armstrong
Succeeded byGranville G. Bennett
18th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
In office
October 1853 – October 13, 1854
GovernorJohn S. Robinson
Preceded byWilliam C. Kittredge
Succeeded byRyland Fletcher
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office
January 6, 1861 – January 2, 1865
Member of the Vermont Senate
In office
1847–1849
Personal details
Born(1815-06-04)June 4, 1815
Braintree, Vermont
DiedOctober 2, 1883(1883-10-02) (aged 68)
St. Paul, Minnesota
Political partyRepublican

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. Among the prospective attorneys who studied law under Kidder's supervision was John W. Rowell, who went on to serve as chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court.[2]

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.

In 1859, Kidder moved to Dakota Territory and became a delegate to Congress from the provisional government at Sioux Falls.[3]

From 1865-1875, he was appointed associate justice of the Supreme Court of Dakota Territory.[3] He later resigned from the job as territory's delegate, he served from March 4, 1875 to March 3, 1879. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1878.

1875, Kidder was reappoint the Supreme Court of Dakota Territory, he served till his death in 1883.[3]

In 1862 and 1863, he was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives.

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

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.[4]

References
  1. Norwich University, 1819-1911; Her History, Her Graduates, Her Roll of Honor, Volume 2, 1911, page 682
  2. Ullery, Jacob G. (1894). "Men of Vermont Illustrated". Brattleboro, VT: Transcript Publishing Company. pp. 343–344.
  3. Deadshot in Deadwood: Pettigrew Visits the Black Hills. Reprint of: The Sunshine State Magazine. Sioux Falls, SD. 2002 [March, 1925]. p. 3.CS1 maint: others (link)
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 174. Retrieved 2019-05-12.
Political offices
Preceded by
William C. Kittredge		 Lieutenant Governor of Vermont
1853–1854		 Succeeded by
Ryland Fletcher
Preceded by
Lorenzo P. Williston		 Justice of the Dakota Territorial Supreme Court
1861–1864		 Succeeded by
Granville G. Bennett
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Moses K. Armstrong		 Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives
from Dakota Territory's at-large congressional district
March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879		 Succeeded by
Granville G. Bennett
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