Representative De Witt Clinton Badger

De Witt Clinton Badger (August 7, 1858 – May 20, 1926) was an American lawyer, jurist, and Democratic politician who served one term as a U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1903 to 1905 and one term as the 36th mayor of Columbus, Ohio, in the early 20th century. Over the course of his career, he held a series of local, county, judicial, and municipal offices that positioned him as an influential figure in central Ohio public life during a period of significant political and social change.

Badger was born on August 7, 1858, near London, in Madison County, Ohio. He attended the country schools of Madison County, receiving a basic rural education that was typical for the era. Seeking further learning, he enrolled at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, where he continued his studies. As a young man, he began his professional life in education, teaching school from 1875 to 1880, an experience that preceded and likely informed his later legal and political work.

After several years as a teacher, Badger turned to the study of law. He pursued legal training and was admitted to the bar in 1881. Upon his admission, he commenced the practice of law in London, Ohio, where he quickly became involved in local legal affairs. His early legal career in Madison County provided the foundation for his subsequent entry into public office and helped establish his reputation as a capable attorney.

Badger’s first significant public position was as prosecuting attorney of Madison County, a role he held from 1882 to 1885. In this capacity, he was responsible for representing the county in criminal matters and enforcing the laws of Ohio at the local level. His work as prosecuting attorney enhanced his standing in the community and demonstrated his abilities in public service. After his term as prosecutor, he continued his legal practice and, in time, relocated to Columbus, Ohio, where broader professional and political opportunities were available.

In Columbus, Badger’s legal and political career advanced further when he was elected judge of the court of common pleas in 1893. He was reelected to that judicial office in 1897 and served on the bench until 1903. As a common pleas judge, he presided over a wide range of civil and criminal cases, contributing to the administration of justice in one of Ohio’s most important trial courts. He resigned from the judiciary in 1903 after being elected to the United States Congress, marking his transition from the state judicial branch to the federal legislative arena.

Badger was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-eighth Congress and served as a Representative from Ohio from March 4, 1903, to March 3, 1905. During this single term in the U.S. House of Representatives, he participated in the legislative process at a time when the nation was grappling with issues of industrial growth, regulation, and political reform. As a member of the House of Representatives, De Witt Clinton Badger represented the interests of his Ohio constituents and contributed to the democratic process in Washington, D.C. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1904, choosing instead to return to private life and his legal profession.

Following his congressional service, Badger resumed the practice of law in Columbus, Ohio. His engagement in public affairs, however, continued. He was elected the 36th mayor of Columbus and served in that office from January 1, 1906, to 1908. As mayor, he led the municipal government of Ohio’s capital city during a period of urban growth and modernization, overseeing local administration and city policy in the early 20th century. His tenure as mayor further solidified his role as a prominent Democratic leader in the region.

In his personal life, Badger married Sidney Slaughter. The couple had two children, a son named Clinton and a daughter named Minnie. His family life in Columbus paralleled his long involvement in law and politics, and he remained a resident of the city for the remainder of his career and life.

De Witt Clinton Badger died in Columbus, Ohio, on May 20, 1926. He was interred at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, one of the city’s principal burial grounds. His career, spanning work as a teacher, lawyer, county prosecutor, common pleas judge, U.S. Representative, and mayor, reflected a sustained commitment to public service in Ohio at both the local and national levels.