Martin Dies Sr.

For his son, also a congressman, who was sometimes known as Martin Dies Sr., see Martin Dies Jr.

Martin Dies (March 13, 1870 – July 13, 1922) was a Texas politician and a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives. His son Martin Dies Jr. was also a member of the United States House of Representatives. His grandson, also known as Martin Dies Jr., was a Texas state senator, secretary of state, and jurist.

Martin Dies Sr.
The Washington Times, May 23, 1912
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 2nd district
In office March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1919
Preceded by	Samuel Bronson Cooper
Succeeded by	John C. Box
Personal details
Born	Martin Dies (1870-03-13)March 13, 1870 Jackson Parish, Louisiana
Died	July 13, 1922(1922-07-13) (aged 52) Kerrville, Texas
Resting place	Glenwood Cemetery, Houston, Texas
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Mary Olive Cline (m. 1888-1910, div.) Florence Nelva Miller (m. 1910-1922, his death)
Children	4 (including Martin Dies Jr.)
Parent(s)	David Wesley Dies and Sarah Jane Pyburn
Education	University of Texas School of Law
Profession	Attorney

Dies was born in Jackson Parish, Louisiana, and moved with his parents to Freestone County, Texas, in 1876. He graduated from the law department of the University of Texas at Austin and was admitted to the bar in 1893, practicing in Woodville, Texas.

He edited a newspaper in Freestone County, was county marshal and later county judge of Tyler County, Texas in 1894. During the Spanish-American War, Dies was a member of the Beaumont Light Guards, a National Guard unit which was called to federal service as Company D, 3rd Texas Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

Dies served as district attorney of the first judicial district of Texas from 1898 to 1900. He moved to Beaumont, Texas in 1902 and was employed as counsel for the Gulf Refining Co.

In 1908, Dies was a successful Democratic candidate for the U.S. House. He was reelected four times and served March 4, 1909 to March 3, 1919 (The 61st to 65th Congresses). He served as chairman of the Committee on Railways and Canals in the 63rd and 64th Congresses.

After leaving Congress, Dies retired to his ranch on Turkey Creek in Tyler County, Texas. He moved to Kerrville, Texas in 1921. Dies died in Kerrville on July 13, 1922, at the age of 52 in a hospital a few days after an emergency operation for acute appendicitis. He was interred at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

Sources

• DIES, Martin in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

External links

• Martin Dies from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Martin Dies Sr. at Find a Grave