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John Test

John Test (c. 1831–1885) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1883 until his death. He is remembered for his brief congressional career and his role in the legal and political affairs of Indiana during the late 19th century.

1831
Born
Approximate year of birth in Indiana
1885
Died
Year of death in office
1883–1885
Congressional term
Served in U.S. House of Representatives
1

Early life and education

John Test was born in 1831 in Indiana, likely in the southeastern part of the state. He pursued classical studies and graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 1854, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1855 and commenced practice in Mount Vernon, Indiana.1

2

Political career

Test served as prosecuting attorney for the circuit court from 1858 to 1862. He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1864. He was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-eighth Congress in 1882, serving from March 4, 1883, until his death. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1884.1

3

Death and legacy

Test died in Washington, D.C., on February 5, 1885, before the expiration of his term. He was interred in Bellefontaine Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Indiana. His brief service left little legislative record, but he is noted for his local legal career and his role as a Democratic representative from a predominantly Republican district.1

4

Lesser-known aspects

John Test is often confused with his father, also named John Test, who was a U.S. Representative from Indiana in the 1820s. The elder Test served in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Congresses. This familial connection is a point of historical interest, as both father and son served in the same congressional seat decades apart.2

Test's death in office occurred during a period when several members of Congress died in the same session, leading to a special election to fill his seat. His successor, George W. Cooper, was elected to finish the term.1

Glossary

U.S. Representative
A member of the United States House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress.
Prosecuting attorney
A lawyer who represents the government in criminal cases, also known as a district attorney.

This article is about the 19th-century politician John Test (1831–1885). For his father, see John Test (1782–1847).

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