| William Harrison "Howdy" Martin | |
|---|---|
| United States Congressman Texas 2nd Congressional District |
|
| In office 1887–1891 |
|
| Preceded by | John Henninger Reagan |
| Succeeded by | John 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 by | John O. Meusebach |
| Succeeded by | Francis Marion Martin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 2, 1822 Twiggs County, Georgia |
| Died | February 5, 1898 (aged 75) Hill County, Texas |
| Resting place | Hillsboro Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Martha Elizabeth Gallemore |
| Children | Six children |
| Residence | Hillsboro, Texas |
| Alma mater | Troy State College |
| Profession | Attorney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Confederate States Army |
| Service/branch | Hood's Texas Brigade |
| Battles/wars | Eastern Theater of the American Civil War |
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.
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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. He moved to Texas in 1850 and engaged in the practice of law in [2]Henderson County.
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]
He served as member of the Texas State Senate 1853-1857[2] representing Freestone, Limestone, Henderson and Navarro counties.
After the war, Martin returned to Texas and engaged in the practice of law 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 caused after John H. Reagan 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. He resumed the practice of law in Athens, Texas.
William Harrison Martin died at his home near Hillsboro, Texas, February 5, 1898. He is interred[7] in Hillsboro Cemetery.