John Upfold PETTIT, Congress, IN (1820-1881)

PETTIT, John Upfold, a Representative from Indiana; born in Fabius, Onondaga County, N.Y., September 11, 1820; received an academic education; attended Hamilton College, Clinton, N.Y., and was graduated from Union College, Schenectady, N.Y., in 1839; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1841 and commenced practice in Wabash, Wabash County, Ind.; American consul to Maranham, Brazil, 1850-1853; elected as an Opposition 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); chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department (Thirty-fourth Congress); member of the state house of representatives in 1865 and served as speaker; judge of the twenty-seventh judicial district of Indiana 1872-1880; died in Wabash, Ind., March 21, 1881; interment in Falls Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present