John U. Pettit

Who was John U. Pettit?

John Upfold Pettit was a U.S. Representative from Indiana.

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.

Pettit was elected as an Opposition Party candidate to the Thirty-fourth Congress and reelected as a Republican to the Thirty-fifth, and Thirty-sixth Congresses. He served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Post Office Department.

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.

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