William Harrison Martin

William Harrison "Howdy" Martin (September 2, 1822 – February 5, 1898) was a Texas State Senator, U.S. Representative from Texas and veteran of the Confederate States Army who served under Robert E. Lee.

This article is about the Texas politician. For the American cryptologist and defector to the Soviet Union, see Martin and Mitchell Defection. For other uses, see William Martin.
William Harrison "Howdy" Martin
United States Congressman
Texas 2nd Congressional District
In office
November 4, 1887 – March 3, 1891
Preceded byJohn Henninger Reagan
Succeeded byJohn Benjamin Long
District Attorney
Kaufman, Smith
Henderson, Anderson counties
In office
unknown dates – (between Congress and State Senate)
Senator
Texas Senate, District 22
In office
1853–1858
Preceded byJohn O. Meusebach
Succeeded byFrancis Marion Martin
Personal details
Born(1822-09-02)September 2, 1822
Twiggs County, Georgia
DiedFebruary 5, 1898(1898-02-05) (aged 75)
Hill County, Texas
Resting placeHillsboro Cemetery
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Martha Elizabeth Gallemore
ChildrenSix children
ResidenceHillsboro, Texas
Alma materTroy State College
ProfessionAttorney
Military service
AllegianceConfederate States Army
Branch/serviceHood's Texas Brigade
Battles/warsEastern Theater of the American Civil War

Biography

William Harrison Martin was born(see talk page) to Robert[1] and Charlotte Martin,[2] in Twiggs County, Georgia on September 2, 1822. He married Martha Elizabeth Gallemore on February 12, 1867, in Navarro County, Texas. The couple had six children. Martha[3] was born in Twiggs County, Georgia on June 22, 1846.

Martin attended the common schools in Alabama. He studied law at Troy State College, and was admitted to the bar. In 1850, he moved to Texas and engaged in the practice of law in [2] Henderson County.

Military service

Harrison enlisted in the Confederate States Army in 1861,[4] with the Company K, 4th Infantry, Hood's Texas Brigade[5] in the Texas Confederate Regiments during the Civil War. His regiment fought in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. The brigade served throughout the war in Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and in James Longstreet's First Corps. In April 1864, Martin was promoted to the rank of Major.

Nobody is sure how he got the nickname of "Howdy," but one war-time legend has it that he saw Robert E. Lee, stood up in his stirrups and yelled, "Howdy!"[6]

Public service

He served as a member of the Texas State Senate 1853–1857[2] representing Freestone, Limestone, Henderson and Navarro counties.

After the war, Martin returned to Texas, continuing his law practice in Athens.

Martin was elected district attorney[2] for Kaufman, Smith, Henderson and Anderson counties.

On February 12, 1887, he was elected as a Democrat to the 50th United States Congress to fill the vacancy of John H. Reagan who was chosen to serve in the United States Senate . Martin was reelected[2] to the 51st United States Congress and served from November 4, 1887, to March 3, 1891. After which, he resumed his law practice.

Death

William Harrison Martin died at his home near Hillsboro, Texas, February 5, 1898. He is interred[7] in Hillsboro Cemetery.

References
  1. "William Harrison Martin genealogy". LDS Compact Disc #70 Pin #950191: LDS Family Search.org. Missing or empty |url= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. Walkup, David: William Harrison Martin from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 18 June 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  3. "Martha Elizabeth Gallemore genealogy". LDS Compact Disc #70 Pin #950192: LDS Family Search.org. Missing or empty |url= (help)CS1 maint: location (link)
  4. "Texas Confederate Regiments". Texas in the Civil War. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  5. Hood's Texas Brigade from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 18 June 2010. Texas State Historical Association
  6. Guttery, Ben R (2008). Representing Texas: A Comprehensive History of U.S. and Confederate Senators and Representatives from Texas. BookSurge Publishing. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-4196-7884-4.
  7. "William H. Martin-Hillsboro City Cemetery". Find A Grave. Retrieved 18 June 2010.

Sources

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Vacant		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 2nd congressional district
November 4, 1887 - March 3, 1891		 Succeeded by
John B. Long
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