Jefferson P. Kidder

Who was Jefferson P. Kidder?

Jefferson Parish Kidder was an American lawyer and jurist. He served as the non-voting delegate from the Dakota Territory to the United States House of Representatives. Kidder was born in Braintree, Orange County, Vermont, and studied law at Montpelier. He attended Alden Partridge's American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy and graduated in 1834. He was admitted to the bar in 1839 and practiced at Braintree and West Randolph. His son Lyman Kidder was a US Cavalry 2nd lieutenant serving in the 2nd Cavalry under George Armstrong Custer, and was killed in action in what would be dubbed the Kidder massacre. Jefferson Kidder was also the grandfather to noted lawman and Arizona Ranger Jeff Kidder.