“The U.S. House of Representatives - Portraits of Congressmen” (detail), Once a Week newspaper, 1891” Collection U.S. House of Representatives

MARTIN, William Harrison, a Representative from Texas; born near Eufaula, Barbour County, Ala., May 23, 1823; attended the common schools; studied law in Troy, Ala., and was admitted to the bar; moved to Texas in 1850 and engaged in the practice of law; member of the State senate 1853-1857; during the Civil War raised a company for the Confederate Army in 1861 and was mustered into the Fourth Texas Regiment; assigned to Lee’s army and participated in all the battles of that army until its surrender in April 1865; returned to Texas and engaged in the practice of law at Athens; elected district attorney in 1872; elected as a Democrat to the Fiftieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John H. Reagan; reelected to the Fifty-first Congress and served from November 4, 1887, to March 3, 1891; resumed the practice of law in Athens, Tex.; died at his home near Hillsboro, Tex., February 3, 1898; interment in Hillsboro Cemetery.