Morgan Lewis Martin Explained

Morgan L. Martin
State:Wisconsin
State Senate:Wisconsin
District:2nd
Term Start:January 4, 1858
Term End:January 2, 1860
Predecessor:Perry H. Smith
Successor:Edward Decker
State Assembly1:Wisconsin
District1:Brown 1st
Term Start1:January 5, 1874
Term End1:January 4, 1875
Predecessor1:Joseph S. Curtis
Successor1:Thomas R. Hudd
State Assembly2:Wisconsin
District2:Brown - Door - Kewaunee
Term Start2:January 1, 1855
Term End2:January 7, 1856
Predecessor2:Francis X. Desnoyers
Successor2:John Day
Office3:Delegate to the
U.S. House of Representatives
from the Wisconsin Territory's
at-large district
Term Start3:March 4, 1845
Term End3:March 3, 1847
Predecessor3:Henry Dodge
Successor3:John H. Tweedy
Office4:President of the Council of the Wisconsin Territory
Term Start4:March 18, 1843
Term End4:December 4, 1843
Predecessor4:Moses M. Strong
Successor4:Marshall Strong
Party:Democratic
Birth Name:Morgan Lewis Martin
Birth Date:31 March 1805
Birth Place:Martinsburg, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.
Education:Hamilton College, New York (BA)
Children:6
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Army
Union Army
Serviceyears:1861–1865
Rank:Major, USA
Battles:American Civil War

Morgan Lewis Martin (March 31, 1805December 10, 1887) was a delegate to the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin Territory during the 29th United States Congress (1845 - 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.

Early life and 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]

Wisconsin political career

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 as a non-voting member to represent the Wisconsin Territory in the Twenty-ninth Congress, with 6,803 votes to 5,787 for Whig James Collins and 790 for Edward D. Holton of the Liberty Party.[3] He would serve from March 4, 1845, to March 3, 1847.

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.[4]

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, with the rank of major.[2] In 1875, he became county judge (probate judge) of Brown County, 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.[5]

Legacy

Martin has a school named after him in Green Bay, Morgan L. Martin Elementary School.[6] 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 and References

  1. News: Death of Judge Martin . The Weekly Wisconsin. December 17, 1887. 8. Newspapers.com. April 14, 2015 .
  2. News: Fox-Wisconsin Waterway Ruined Developer . The Post-Crescent. December 19, 1959. 6. Newspapers.com. April 14, 2015 .
  3. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90408200/ "Vote for Delegate"
  4. https://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/LRZ6UQ3SNASLD9C . The Wisconsin Blue Book, 1960 . Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau . Toepel . M. G. . Kuehn . Hazel L. . 1960 . Wisconsin's former governors, 1848-1959 . 73 . June 15, 2019.
  5. Web site: Martin, Morgan Lewis 1805-1887 . . 3 August 2012 . July 3, 2022 .
  6. http://www.greenbay.k12.wi.us/hist/images/martin.jpg Origin of Name of Martin Elementary School