James N. Pidcock

Who was James N. Pidcock?

James Nelson Pidcock was an American Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1885 to 1889. He was a cousin of Alvah A. Clark, who represented the same district from 1877 to 1881.

Born in the Whitehouse Station section of Readington Township, New Jersey, Pidcock attended the district schools and Lebanon Grammar School, Lebanon, New Jersey. He engaged in civil engineering 1850-1857, and engaged in agricultural pursuits and was also a dealer in livestock after 1857. He served as member of the New Jersey Senate from Hunterdon County, New Jersey from 1877 to 1880, and served as delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1884 and 1888.

Pidcock was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Congresses, serving in office from March 4, 1885-March 3, 1889, but was not a candidate for renomination in 1888.

After leaving Congress, he again resumed his agricultural pursuits. Built the Georgia Northern Railroad in southern Georgia, where he owned large timber tracts. He served as president of the board of managers of the New Jersey State Hospital for the Insane 1891-1896.