Lewis J. Martin

Lewis J. Martin (February 22, 1844 – May 5, 1913) was an American lawyer, jurist, and Democratic Party politician who briefly represented New Jersey’s 6th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives in 1913. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, and he participated in the democratic process by representing the interests of his New Jersey constituents during one term in office.

Martin was born near Deckertown, now known as Sussex, in Sussex County, New Jersey, on February 22, 1844. He attended the common schools in the area, receiving a basic formal education typical of rural New Jersey in the mid-nineteenth century. After his schooling, he pursued the study of law, preparing for a professional career in the legal field.

Martin was admitted to the bar in 1867 and commenced the practice of law in Branchville, New Jersey. Early in his career he became involved in county administration, serving as chief clerk in the office of the county clerk of Sussex County in 1868 and 1869. In 1869 he also held the office of county clerk of Sussex County, gaining experience in public records, local governance, and the legal framework of county government.

Building on his legal and administrative background, Martin entered state politics as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, in which he served from 1879 to 1881. He then moved into the judiciary, serving as a judge of the Sussex County Court from 1881 to 1896. Over these fifteen years on the county bench, he presided over a wide range of local civil and criminal matters, solidifying his reputation as a leading legal figure in the region.

Martin continued to hold multiple public roles in Sussex County and at the state level. He served as attorney to the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Sussex County from 1896 to 1911, advising the county’s governing body on legal and administrative issues. Concurrently, he was a member of the town committee from 1896 to 1907, participating in municipal governance. At the state level, he was elected to the New Jersey Senate and served from 1898 to 1903, contributing to statewide legislation and policy during a period of economic and political change in New Jersey.

In 1911, Martin returned to the judiciary when he was appointed county judge by Governor Woodrow Wilson. He held this judicial position until his death, reflecting the confidence placed in his legal judgment and public service. His long tenure in both legislative and judicial offices made him a prominent Democratic figure in Sussex County and in New Jersey politics more broadly.

Martin was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-third Congress, representing New Jersey’s 6th congressional district. He took his seat in the United States House of Representatives on March 4, 1913. His tenure in Congress was brief, as he served only from March 4, 1913, until his death later that year. During this period, he contributed to the legislative process at the national level, aligning with the Democratic Party during the early months of the Woodrow Wilson administration.

Lewis J. Martin died in office in Washington, D.C., on May 5, 1913. His death placed him among the members of the United States Congress who died in office in the first half of the twentieth century. He was interred in Newton Cemetery in Newton, New Jersey, closing a career that had spanned local, county, state, and national service over several decades.