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's 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.
When word reached home that Giddings's older brother, Giles, died of wounds received at the battle of San Jacinto, another brother, Jabez Demming Giddings, traveled to Texas to Claim Giles's 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.
Giddings first served in the Forty-second Congress[2] after a controversial election in which he defeated William T. Clark by 135 votes.[3] 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 lifeedit
In 1860, he married Malinda C Lusk, daughter of Texas soldier and politician Samuel C. Lusk.[4] The couple had five children, three of which survived to adulthood, De Witt, May Belle and Lilian.[1]
Deathedit
On August 19, 1903, De Witt Clinton Giddings succumbed to heart disease and died in Brenham, Texas.[5] He is buried along with his wife in Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham.
Referencesedit
^ abGuttery, Ben (2008). Representing Texas: a Comprehensive History of U.S. and Confederate Senators and Representatives from Texas. BookSurge Publishing. p. 67. ISBN978-1-4196-7884-4.
^Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "DeWitt Clinton public service". Retrieved 2 July 2010.
^ Neu, CT: The Giddings-Clark election contest from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2 July 2010. Texas State Historical Association
^ Hailey, James: Samuel Lusk from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2 July 2010. Texas State Historical Association
^ Christian, Carole E: DeWitt C Giddings from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2 July 2010. Texas State Historical Association
giddings, dewitt, clinton, giddings, july, 1827, august, 1903, served, three, consecutive, terms, united, states, house, representatives, representative, from, texas, member, house, representatives, from, texasin, office, march, 1877, march, 1879preceded, byjo. 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 D C GiddingsMember of the U S House of Representatives from TexasIn office March 4 1877 March 3 1879Preceded byJohn HancockSucceeded byGeorge Washington JonesConstituency5th districtIn office May 13 1872 March 3 1875Preceded byWilliam Thomas ClarkSucceeded byJames W ThrockmortonConstituency3rd districtPersonal detailsBornDewitt Clinton Giddings 1827 07 18 July 18 1827Susquehanna County Pennsylvania U S DiedAugust 19 1903 1903 08 19 aged 76 Brenham Texas U S Resting placePrairie Lea CemeteryPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseMalinda C LuskChildren5ProfessionLawyerMilitary serviceAllegianceConfederate States ArmyBranch service21st Texas CavalryRankLieutenant ColonelBattles warsAmerican Civil War Arkansas Campaign Louisiana Campaign John S Marmaduke s Missouri Raid Contents 1 Early life 2 Military service 3 Public service 4 Personal life 5 Death 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editDewitt 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 s 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 s older brother Giles died of wounds received at the battle of San Jacinto another brother Jabez Demming Giddings traveled to Texas to Claim Giles s 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 editDuring the American Civil War Giddings served as Lieutenant Colonel of the 21st Texas Cavalry Regiment in the Confederate States Army Public service editGiddings first served in the Forty second Congress 2 after a controversial election in which he defeated William T Clark by 135 votes 3 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 editIn 1860 he married Malinda C Lusk daughter of Texas soldier and politician Samuel C Lusk 4 The couple had five children three of which survived to adulthood De Witt May Belle and Lilian 1 Death editOn August 19 1903 De Witt Clinton Giddings succumbed to heart disease and died in Brenham Texas 5 He is buried along with his wife in Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham References edit a b 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 Kestenbaum Lawrence DeWitt Clinton public service Retrieved 2 July 2010 Neu CT The Giddings Clark election contest from the Handbook of Texas Online Retrieved 2 July 2010 Texas State Historical Association Hailey James Samuel Lusk from the Handbook of Texas Online Retrieved 2 July 2010 Texas State Historical Association Christian Carole E DeWitt C Giddings from the Handbook of Texas Online Retrieved 2 July 2010 Texas State Historical AssociationExternal links editD C Giddings at Find a Grave U S House of Representatives Preceded byWilliam T Clark Member of the U S House of Representatives from Texas s 3rd congressional districtMay 13 1872 March 3 1875 Succeeded byJames W Throckmorton Preceded byJohn Hancock Member of the U S House of Representatives from Texas s 5th congressional districtMarch 4 1877 March 3 1879 Succeeded byGeorge W Jones Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title D C Giddings amp oldid 1216416083, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
