Jefferson P. Kidder

Jefferson Parish Kidder (June 4, 1815 - October 2, 1883) was a Delegate from the Dakota Territory to the United States House of Representatives. He was born in Braintree, Orange County, Vermont and studied law at Montpelier. He was admitted to the bar in 1839 and practiced at Braintree and West Randolph. He was a member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1843, and served as State’s attorney, as a member of the State Senate, Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1856.

Kidder moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he joined the Republican Party. He was a member of the state House of Representatives of Minnesota, then moved to Vermillion, Dakota, having been appointed as an associate justice of the territorial Supreme Court. In 1875 he resigned, having been elected to Congress. He served from March 4, 1875 - March 3, 1879. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1878, then was reappointed a justice of the territorial Supreme Court, where he served until his death in St. Paul.