David Miller DeWitt

David Miller De Witt (November 25, 1837 – June 23, 1912) was an American lawyer and politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1873 to 1875.

Early life and family

Born in Paterson, New Jersey, he was the son of Moses Edwards and Lydia Ann (Miller) DeWitt. His father was from Rosendale, New York and his mother from Hunterdon County, New Jersey. His father was a merchant who had moved to New Jersey around 1823 or 1824. His first wife, whom he married October 4, 1826 in Paterson, New Jersey, was Margaret Salome Goetschius (1791-1833), who was also an Ulster County native and was his third cousin. They had two children, Charles DuBois DeWitt and Catherine DeWitt.

His father married a second time, to Lydia, on September 8, 1835 in Clinton, New Jersey. Lydia was the daughter of David and Elizabeth (Welsh) Miller, and younger sister of United States Congressman from New Jersey Jacob W. Miller. David was the oldest of the children born to Moses and Lydia, with his younger full siblings being William Cantine DeWitt, John Henry DeWitt, Thomas DeWitt and Elizabeth DeWitt.

De Witt moved to New York in 1845 with his parents, who settled in Brooklyn. As a youth, De Witt attended the public schools of Brooklyn, a select school at Saugerties, and the local academy at Kingston.

Schooling and Law career

He was graduated from Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1858, where he studied law.

De Witt was admitted to the bar in 1858 and commenced practice in Kingston, New York.

Principal of New Paltz Academy (later a State normal school) in 1861 and 1862.