Member Biography

Peter Mitchel Osterhout 

Member
Sessions Office Position District Party
1869       11 Republican
1870       11 Republican
1871       11 Republican

Biography

05/21/1810 - 05/13/1890


Peter Mitchell Osterhout (R11) Bradford, Susquehanna, Wyoming Counties 1869-1871

Early Life:

Peter Mitchell Osterhout, born, May 21, 1810, Easton, Luzerne County (now Wyoming County), Pennsylvania; Montrose Academy; gubernatorial appointee, enrollment officer, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Civil War; business clerk; merchant; appointed, justice of the peace, 1835-1838; postmaster, United States Postal Service, Tunkhannock, 1841; elected, prothonotary and clerk of courts, Wyoming County, 1845-1852; admitted, Wyoming County bar, 1851; lawyer,1851-1890; elected, delegate, Whig National Convention,1850; elected, delegate, Republican National Conventions, 1856, 1860, 1872; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1865-1866; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1869-1871; died, May 13, 1890 (aged 79), at home, Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania; interment, Gravel Hill Cemetery, Tunkhannock, Wyoming County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Appointed, justice of the peace, 1835-1838.

postmaster, United States Postal Service, Tunkhannock, 1841.

Elected, prothonotary and clerk of courts, Wyoming County, 1845-1852.

Elected, delegate, Whig National Convention,1850.

Elected, delegate, Republican National Conventions, 1856, 1860, 1872.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1865-1866 terms; not a candidate for reelection, 1867.

Elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 11th district, Bradford, Susquehanna, Wyoming Counties, 1869-1871; committee assignments Judiciary, Mines and Mining Roads and Bridges; not a candidate for reelection to the Senate.

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=7703&body=H

Cited:

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1871) Smull, J.A., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 428, 430, 436-438.

Pittston Gazette - May 16, 1890

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149237793/peter-mitchell-osterhout