Dennis D. Donovan (January 31, 1859 – April 21, 1941) was a 19th-century American lawyer, educator, businessman, and politician who was a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

from

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

for two terms, from 1891 to 1895.

Biography

Born near Texas, Ohio, Donovan attended the common schools, and Northern Indiana Normal School,

Valparaiso, Indiana Valparaiso ( ), colloquially Valpo, is a city in and the county seat of Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 34,151 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. History The site of present-day Valparaiso ...

. He taught school. He engaged in the mercantile and timber business. He studied law at

Valparaiso University School of Law The Valparaiso University Law School was the law school of Valparaiso University, a private university in Valparaiso, Indiana. Founded in 1879, the school was accredited by the American Bar Association in 1929 and admitted to the Association ...

. He was graduated from the law department of

Georgetown University Georgetown University is a private university, private Jesuit research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic higher education, Ca ...

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, in 1895. He was

admitted to the bar An admission to practice law is acquired when a lawyer receives a license to practice law. In jurisdictions with two types of lawyer, as with barristers and solicitors, barristers must gain admission to the bar whereas for solicitors there are dist ...

the same year and commenced practice in

Deshler, Ohio Deshler is a village in Henry County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,588 at the 2020 census. History Deshler was platted in 1873, and named for John G. Deshler, the original owner of the town site. A post office has been in operati ...

Early political career

He was appointed postmaster of Deshler by President Cleveland on July 21, 1885, and served until January 27, 1888. He was mayor of Deshler for two terms. He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1887 and 1889.

Congress

Donovan was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

to the Fifty-second and Fifty-third Congresses (March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1895). He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1894 to the Fifty-fourth Congress.

Later career

He resumed the practice of law in

. He moved to

Napoleon, Ohio Napoleon is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Ohio, United States, along the Maumee River southwest of Toledo. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 8,862. History The area around the town was once known as "t ...

, in 1897 and continued the practice of law. He was an unsuccessful candidate for nomination as Governor of Ohio in 1898.

Death and burial

He died in

, on April 21, 1941. He was interred in St. Augustine Cemetery.

Family

He married Ginevra Waltimire of Deshler, Ohio in 1891. He was a member of B.P.O.E. and

Knights of Columbus The Knights of Columbus (K of C) is a global Catholic Church, Catholic Fraternal and service organizations, fraternal service order founded by Michael J. McGivney, Blessed Michael J. McGivney. Membership is limited to practicing Catholic men. ...

. Ginevra outlived him, dying on July 1, 1974, aged 110.

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Donovan, Dennis D. 1859 births 1941 deaths Georgetown University Law Center alumni People from Henry County, Ohio Democratic Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives Ohio lawyers Mayors of places in Ohio Valparaiso University alumni People from Napoleon, Ohio People from Deshler, Ohio Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives 19th-century members of the Ohio General Assembly