Morgan Lewis Martin

Morgan Lewis Martin (March 31, 1805 – December 10, 1887) was a delegate to the United States Congress from Wisconsin Territory from 1845 to 1847. He also served as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and Wisconsin State Assembly, and served as a County Judge in Brown County, Wisconsin.

The Honorable Morgan L. Martin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin Territory's at-large district
In office March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1847
Preceded by	Henry Dodge
Succeeded by	John H. Tweedy
County Judge for Brown County
In office January 1, 1876 – December 10, 1887
Preceded by	David Agry
Succeeded by	Howard J. Huntington
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 2nd district
In office January 13, 1858 – January 11, 1860
Preceded by	Perry H. Smith
Succeeded by	Edward Decker
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Brown 1st district
In office January 14, 1874 – January 13, 1875
Preceded by	Joseph S. Curtis
Succeeded by	Thomas R. Hudd
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Brown, Door, and Kewaunee district
In office January 10, 1855 – January 9, 1856
Preceded by	Francis X. Desnoyers
Succeeded by	John Day
President of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory
In office March 18, 1843 – December 4, 1843
Preceded by	Moses M. Strong
Succeeded by	Marshall M. Strong
Member of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory for Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Marquette, Portage, Sheboygan, and Winnebago counties
In office December 5, 1843 – January 6, 1845
Preceded by	Position Established
Succeeded by	Randall Wilcox
Member of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory for Brown, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Portage, and Sheboygan counties
In office December 6, 1841 – December 5, 1843 Serving with Charles C. P. Arndt
Preceded by	Position Established
Succeeded by	Position Abolished
Member of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory for Brown, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, and Sheboygan counties
In office December 7, 1840 – December 6, 1841 Serving with Charles C. P. Arndt
Preceded by	Position Established
Succeeded by	Position Abolished
Member of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory for Brown County
In office November 26, 1838 – December 7, 1840 Serving with Alexander J. Irwin (1839) Charles C. P. Arndt (1840)
Preceded by	John P. Arndt
Succeeded by	Position Abolished
Personal details
Born	Morgan Lewis Martin March 31, 1805 Martinsburg, New York
Died	December 10, 1887 (aged 82) Green Bay, Wisconsin
Resting place	Woodlawn Cemetery Green Bay, Wisconsin
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth (Smith) Martin (m. 1837; died 1902)
Children	Leonard Martin ^(b. 1838; died 1890) Anne Elizabeth Martin ^(b. 1846; died 1862) Melancton Martin ^(b. 1847; died 1849) Sarah Greene Martin ^(b. 1850; died 1939) Morgan Lewis Martin, Jr. ^(b. 1852; died 1935) Deborah Beaumont Martin ^(b. 1854; died 1931)
Mother	Sally (Granger) Martin
Father	Walter Martin
Profession	lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1861–1865
Rank	Major
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Career

He was born in Martinsburg, New York,[1][2] and graduated from Hamilton College in 1824.[1][2] Martin then moved to Detroit, Michigan, in 1826, and studied law, and became an attorney. In May 1827, Martin moved to what is now Green Bay, Wisconsin,[1][2] on the advice of his cousin, James Duane Doty, to practice law. He formed a partnership with Solomon Juneau and owned much of the land that later became Milwaukee, but sold his share in 1836.[2]

Territorial government

Martin served in the Michigan Territorial Council from 1831 to 1835. At the time, the land that would become Wisconsin was a part of the Michigan Territory. He served in the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature from 1838 to 1844, and served as President of the Territorial Council in 1843. He also served as President at the second Wisconsin Constitutional Convention.

Martin was elected on the Democratic Party ticket to the Twenty-ninth Congress as a non-voting member to represent the Wisconsin Territory, serving from March 4, 1845, to March 3, 1847.

Wisconsin political career

Martin was a candidate for Governor at the 1848 Wisconsin Democratic Party Convention prior to the state's first gubernatorial election. At the time, the party was split between a faction representing the lead-mining regions of the state, supporting Hiram Barber, and a faction of the eastern counties, supporting Martin. The deadlock between the two factions resulted in a compromise pick—Nelson Dewey.[3]

Martin served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1855 and 1872, and served in the Wisconsin State Senate from 1858 to 1859.

Later years

During the Civil War he served as an army paymaster, attaining the rank of major.[2] In 1875, he became Brown County court judge, serving until his death.[1] Martin was also involved in the banking and railroad business. He died in Green Bay, Wisconsin[1] where he had lived and practiced law, and was buried there.[4]

Legacy

Martin has a school named after him in Green Bay, Morgan L. Martin Elementary School.[5] His home, known as Hazelwood, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A Westside neighborhood in Milwaukee is also named after him.

Notes

1. "Death of Judge Martin". The Weekly Wisconsin. December 17, 1887. p. 8. Retrieved April 14, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Fox-Wisconsin Waterway Ruined Developer". The Post-Crescent. December 19, 1959. p. 6. Retrieved April 14, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1960). "Wisconsin's former governors, 1848-1959". The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1960 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 73. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
4. Martin, Morgan Lewis 1805 - 1887
5. Origin of Name of Martin Elementary School

External links

• United States Congress. "Morgan Lewis Martin (id: M000196)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Morgan Lewis Martin at Find a Grave