Francis R. Lassiter

Francis Rives Lassiter (February 18, 1866 – October 31, 1909) was a U.S. representative from Virginia, great-nephew of Francis E. Rives.

Early life and education Francie Rives Lassiter was born in Petersburg, Virginia on February 18, 1866, one of the twin sons of Dr. Daniel W. Lassiter (1827-1903, formerly of Northampton County, North Carolina whose mother was a Quaker and who was educated at the University of Virginia and The University of Pennsylvania). During the Siege of Petersburg, on February 8, 1865, he married former Anna Rives Heath (1835-1888), daughter of merchant Hartwell Peebles Heath of Prince George County, Virginia and granddaughter of former congressman Francis E. Rives. All her brothers founght for the Confederacy and Dr. John Francis Heath died in the conflict. His twin brother, William Lassiter, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1889 and became a career United States Army officer, rising to the rank of Captain in the Spanish American War, served as inspector-general in the Philippines, and attained the rank of major general. Their younger brother Charles T. Lassiter, studied at the University of Goettingen before graduation from the University of Virginia and also became a lawyer (this man's law partner) and politician, whose major accomplishment was a road construction law passed in 1906.

Electoral history

1900; Lassiter was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 98.65% of the vote in a special election, defeating Independent James Seldon Cowdon; he was re-elected with 60.06% of the vote in the general election, defeating Republican C.E. Wilson. 1906; Lassiter was re-elected unopposed. 1908; Lassiter was re-elected unopposed.