Representative James Dixon Roman

James Dixon Roman (August 11, 1809 – January 19, 1867) was an American politician and lawyer who served one term in the United States House of Representatives as a member of the Whig Party representing Maryland. He was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he attended the common schools and later a private school at West Nottingham, now Nottingham, Pennsylvania. His early education in both public and private institutions provided the foundation for his later legal and political career.

After his schooling, Roman moved to Cecil County, Maryland, and subsequently began the study of law in Frederick, Maryland. He was admitted to the bar in 1834 and commenced the practice of law in Hagerstown, Maryland. Establishing himself as an attorney in Hagerstown, he became a prominent member of the local bar and entered public life through his growing professional and civic standing.

Roman’s political career in Maryland began at the state level. He served as a member of the Maryland State Senate in 1847, participating in state legislative affairs during a period of increasing national tension over issues such as territorial expansion and slavery. His service in the State Senate helped elevate his profile and led to his election to national office.

Roman was elected as a Whig to the Thirtieth Congress and served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1847, to March 3, 1849. As a member of the Whig Party representing Maryland, he contributed to the legislative process during this significant period in American history, participating in the democratic process and representing the interests of his constituents. During his time in Congress, he served amid debates over the Mexican–American War and the status of new territories, although detailed records of his specific positions are limited. In addition to his congressional service, he was chosen as a presidential elector on the Whig ticket in 1848, reflecting his continued prominence within the party and his role in national electoral politics.

Following the decline of the Whig Party in the 1850s, Roman remained active in public affairs. He served as a presidential elector on the Democratic ticket in 1856, indicating a shift in his party affiliation in response to the changing political landscape of the era. Between and after these political engagements, he resumed and maintained his law practice in Hagerstown, continuing to be a respected figure in the legal and business communities.

In addition to his legal and political work, Roman held a significant role in local finance. He served as president of the Old Hagerstown Bank from 1851 until his death in 1867. Under his long tenure, the bank played an important part in the economic life of Hagerstown and the surrounding region. His leadership in banking complemented his legal practice and underscored his standing as a leading citizen of Washington County, Maryland.

On the eve of the Civil War, Roman took part in efforts to avert national conflict. He was a member of the peace convention held in Washington, D.C., in 1861, a gathering of delegates from various states convened in an attempt to devise means to prevent the impending war. His participation in this convention reflected his engagement with national issues and his concern for preserving the Union through compromise and negotiation, even as the country moved inexorably toward civil war.

Roman’s personal life was closely tied to prominent families of his region. He married Louisa Margaret Kennedy (1809–1878), the daughter of John Kennedy and Margaret (née Wagner) Kennedy. Together they were the parents of three children: Louisa Kennedy Roman, who died young; Sarah “Sallie” Roman (1843–1873), who married Christopher Columbus Baldwin, the Naval Officer of the Port of New York; and James Dixon Roman (1854–1875), who died unmarried shortly after completing his junior year at Harvard University. These family connections extended Roman’s influence into social and professional circles beyond Maryland.

James Dixon Roman died on January 19, 1867, near Hagerstown, Maryland. At the time of his death, he was still serving as president of the Old Hagerstown Bank, marking more than a decade and a half in that position. He was interred in Rose Hill Cemetery in Hagerstown, where his burial reflects his long association with the city in which he built his legal career, pursued public office, and played a leading role in local economic life.