Benjamin F. Leiter Explained

Benjamin Franklin Leiter
State:Ohio
District:18th
Party:Republican
Term Start:March 4, 1855
Term End:March 3, 1859
Preceded:George Bliss
Succeeded:Sidney Edgerton
State House2:Ohio
District2:Stark County
Term Start2:December 4, 1848
Term End2:December 1, 1850
Preceded2:John S. Cock
Succeeded2:Samuel Krider
Order3:13th
Office3:Mayor of Canton
Term Start3:1852
Term End3:1853
Preceded3:J.G. Lester
Succeeded3:John Lahm
Order4:15th
Office4:Mayor of Canton
Term Start4:1854
Term End4:1855
Preceded4:John Lahm
Succeeded4:Peter Chance
Birth Date:13 October 1813
Birth Place:Leitersburg, Maryland
Death Place:Canton, Ohio
Restingplace:West Lawn Cemetery
Spouse:Catherine Burger
Children:seven

Benjamin Franklin Leiter (October 13, 1813  - June 17, 1866) was a nineteenth-century politician, lawyer, teacher and justice of the peace from Ohio. He served two terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1855 to 1859.

Biography

Born in Leitersburg, Maryland, Leiter received a limited schooling as a child. He taught school in Maryland from 1830 to 1834 before moving to Ohio where he continued teaching from 1834 to 1842. He studied law at the office of David A. Starkweather.[1] He was admitted to the bar in 1842, commencing practice in Canton, Ohio. Leiter was a justice of the peace and mayor of Canton for ten years.[2] He was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives in 1848 and 1849, serving as Speaker of the House in the latter year. Leiter was elected an Oppositionist and later Republican to the United States House of Representatives in 1854, serving from 1855 to 1859. He died in Canton, Ohio, on June 17, 1866, and was interred in Canton in West Lawn Cemetery.

In 1836, Leiter married Catherine Burger of Canton. They had seven children.[1] [3] He was a Lutheran.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Old Landmarks of Canton and Stark County, Ohio . John . Danner . 1904 . 261–263 . B F Brown . Logansport, Indiana . 79257924 .
  2. http://cantonohio.gov/mayor/?pg=345 list of mayors, cantonohio.gov
  3. Book: Bell, Herbert C. . History of Leitersburg district, Washington County, Md: including its land tenure... . 1898 . self . 187 .