Dewitt Clinton Giddings
Encyclopedia
Dewitt Clinton Giddings (1827–1903) served three non-consecutive terms in the United States House of Representatives
as a representative from Texas
.
. 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
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.
in the 21st Texas Cavalry in the Confederate States Army
.
by 135 votes. 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 3, 1875) and to the Forty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1877 - March 3, 1879).
. He is buried along with his wife in Prairie Lea, Texas
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
as a representative from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Early life
Dewitt Clinton Giddings was born July 18, 1827, in Susquehanna County, PennsylvaniaSusquehanna County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 42,238 people, 16,529 households, and 11,785 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 21,829 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
. 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
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
to Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
Mail Line.
Giddings worked teaching school part-time to finance his education as a civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and later was employed as a railroad engineer
Railroad engineer
A railroad engineer, locomotive engineer, train operator, train driver or engine driver is a person who drives a train on a railroad...
.
He began his legal studies in Honesdale, Pennsylvania
Honesdale, Pennsylvania
Honesdale is a borough in and the county seat of Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located northeast of Scranton. The population was 4,874 at the 2000 census....
in 1850.
When word reached home that Giddings' older brother, Giles, died of wounds received at the battle of San Jacinto
Battle of San Jacinto
The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen...
, another brother, Jabez Demming Giddings traveled to Texas to Claim Giles' land bounty. Giddings joined his brother in Brenham, Texas
Brenham, Texas
Brenham is a city in east-central Texas in Washington County, Texas, United States, with a population of 16,147 according to the 2009 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
in 1852 and in 1853 was admitted to the Texas bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
. He was his brother's junior partner in a law practice in Brenham.
Military service
Giddings served as a Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the 21st Texas Cavalry in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
.
Public service
Giddings first served in the Forty-second Congress after a controversial election in which he defeated William T. ClarkWilliam Thomas Clark
William Thomas Clark was an American soldier and politician, serving as a general in the Union army during the American Civil War and as a postbellum U.S. Congressman.-Birth and early years:...
by 135 votes. 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 3, 1875) and to the Forty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1877 - March 3, 1879).
Personal life
In 1860, he married Malinda C Lusk, daughter of Texas soldier and politician Samuel C. Lusk. The couple had five children, three of which survived to adulthood, De Witt, May Belle and Lilian.Death
On August 19, 1903, De Witt Clinton Giddings succumbed to heart disease and died in Brenham, TexasBrenham, Texas
Brenham is a city in east-central Texas in Washington County, Texas, United States, with a population of 16,147 according to the 2009 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
. He is buried along with his wife in Prairie Lea, Texas
Prairie Lea, Texas
Prairie Lea is an unincorporated community in Caldwell County, Texas, United States. According to the Handbook of Texas, the community had an estimated population of 255 in 2000. It is part of the Austin–Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area....
.