“The U.S. House of Representatives - Portraits of Congressmen” (detail), Once a Week newspaper, 1890, Collection of U.S. House of Representatives

DIBBLE, Samuel, a Representative from South Carolina; born in Charleston, S.C., September 16, 1837; pursued an academic course in Bethel, Conn., and Charleston, S.C.; attended the College of Charleston for two years, and was graduated from Wofford College, Spartanburg, S.C., in 1856; engaged in teaching 1856-1858; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1859 and commenced practice in Orangeburg, S.C.; served in the Confederate Army throughout the Civil War; resumed the practice of law in Orangeburg, S.C.; also edited the Orangeburg News; member of the State house of representatives in 1877 and 1878; trustee of the University of South Carolina at Columbia in 1878; member of the Board of School Commissioners of Orangeburg County; delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1880; presented credentials as a Democratic Member-elect to the Forty-seventh Congress to fill a vacancy thought to exist by reason of the death (pending a contest) of Michael P. O’Connor, and served from June 9, 1881, to May 31, 1882, when the seat was awarded to Edmund W.M. Mackey under the original election; elected to the Forty-eighth and to the three succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1883-March 3, 1891); chairman, Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds (Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Congresses); declined to be a candidate for reelection in 1890; engaged in banking and other business interests in Orangeburg, Orangeburg County, S.C.; died near Baltimore, Md., September 16, 1913; interment in Sunny Side Cemetery, Orangeburg, S.C.