Mell G. Underwood

Mell G. Underwood
in 1923
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 11th district
In office March 4, 1923 – April 10, 1936
Preceded by	Edwin D. Ricketts
Succeeded by	Peter Francis Hammond
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
In office February 12, 1936 – December 31, 1965
Appointed by	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Preceded by	Benson W. Hough
Succeeded by	Joseph Peter Kinneary
Personal details
Born	(1892-01-30)January 30, 1892 Rose Farm, Ohio
Died	New Lexington, Ohio
Resting place	Maplewood Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Moritz College of Law

Mell Gilbert Underwood (January 30, 1892 – March 8, 1972) was a United States Representative from Ohio and a United States federal judge.

Born at Rose Farm in rural Morgan County, Ohio, Underwood attended the public schools. He was graduated from the New Lexington High School in 1911. He taught in the public schools of New Lexington for several years. Underwood studied law at the Ohio State University at Columbus, and then read law to be admitted to the bar in 1915. He entered private practice in New Lexington, Ohio from 1915 to 1923. He was a prosecuting attorney of Perry County, Ohio from 1917 to 1921.

Federal government service

Underwood was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for election in 1920 to the Sixty-seventh Congress. Eventually elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-eighth Congress and the six succeeding Congresses, he served from March 4, 1923, to April 10, 1936. He was chairman of the Committee on Invalid Pensions (Seventy-second through Seventy-fourth Congresses).

On January 27, 1936, Underwood was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio vacated by Benson W. Hough. Underwood was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 4, 1936, and received his commission on February 12, 1936. He served as chief judge from 1953 to 1962, assuming senior status on December 31, 1965. Underwood served in that capacity until his death.

He died on his farm near New Lexington, Ohio, and was buried nearby in Maplewood Cemetery.

References

• United States Congressional Biography Guide
• Mell G. Underwood at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Edwin D. Ricketts	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 11th congressional district March 4, 1923 – April 10, 1936	Succeeded by Peter F. Hammond
Legal offices
Preceded by Benson W. Hough	Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio 1936–1965	Succeeded by Joseph Peter Kinneary