Richard F. Pettigrew

Richard Franklin Pettigrew (July 23, 1848 – October 5, 1926) was an American lawyer, surveyor, and land developer. He represented the Dakota Territory in the U.S. Congress and, after the Dakotas were admitted as States, he was the first U.S. Senator from South Dakota.

Early life
Pettigrew was born on July 23, 1848 to Andrew Pettigrew Jr. and Hannah B. Sawtelle in Ludlow, Windsor County, Vermont. He was the sixth of nine total children born his family home. Among his siblings Pettigrew had Hannah M., Alma Jane, Henrietta Adelaide, Luella Belle, Justin A., Frederick (Fred) Wallace, Elizabeth Medora, and Harlan Page. By 1853, when Pettigrew was 6 years old, he and his family moved to the Free State of Wisconsin and Andrew Jr. sold his store to the Emerson & Richards Partnership.

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When the family settled in Wisconsin they moved to Rock County, near the town of Union. Pettigrew then went on to attend Evansville Academy. In 1866 Pettigrew traveled to Beloit to enroll in Beloit college. By the end of 1868, Pettigrew entered law school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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Territorial politics
In 1869, Pettigrew moved to the Dakota Territory to work alongside a United States deputy surveyor. He settled in Sioux Falls, establishing a law practice in the city and engaging in surveying and real estate. He was a member of the territorial House of Representatives and served on the Dakota Territorial council. Elected as a Republican to the U.S. House, he served as the territory's non-voting delegate to Congress from March 4, 1881 to March 3, 1883. His term ended following his unsuccessful candidacy for the House in 1882, but after his term expired he returned to serve on the territorial council from 1885 to 1889.

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Senate career
When South Dakota was admitted as a state, Pettigrew was elected by the state legislature as South Dakota's first Senator to the United States Senate. He served from November 2, 1889 to March 4, 1907.

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Later life & death
After his time in the Senate, Pettigrew first practiced law in New York City, but soon returned to Sioux Falls and was active in politics and business until his death in that city. He was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in Sioux Falls.

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