John Upfold Pettit (September 11, 1820 – March 21, 1881) was an American lawyer and politician who served three terms as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1855 to 1861.

John U. Pettit
43rd Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives
In office
November 9, 1864 – November 7, 1866
Preceded bySamuel H. Buskirk
Succeeded byDavid C. Branham
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives
from the ? district
In office
November 9, 1864 – November 7, 1866
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 11th district
In office
March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1861
Preceded byAndrew J. Harlan
Succeeded byJohn P. C. Shanks
Personal details
Born(1820-09-11)September 11, 1820
Fabius, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 21, 1881(1881-03-21) (aged 60)
Wabash, Indiana, U.S
Political partyRepublican (March 4, 1857–1881)
Other political
affiliations
Indiana People's Party (1854–March 3, 1857)

Biography

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Born in Fabius, New York, Pettit attended Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, and was graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1839. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1841 and commenced practice in Wabash, Indiana. Pettit served as American consul to Maranham, Brazil, from 1850 to 1853.

Congress

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Pettit was elected as an Indiana People's Party candidate to the Thirty-fourth Congress and reelected as a Republican to the Thirty-fifth, and Thirty-sixth Congresses (March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1861). He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department (Thirty-fourth Congress).

Later career and death

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He served as a member of the state house of representatives in 1865 and was elected speaker. Later, Pettit served as judge of the twenty-seventh judicial district of Indiana (1872–1880).

He died in Wabash, Indiana, March 21, 1881, and was interred in Falls Cemetery.

References

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  • United States Congress. "John U. Pettit (id: P000278)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 11th congressional district

1855–1861
Succeeded by