Chamber	District	Dates of Service	Legislatures	Party	City/County	Counties in District
S	12	Mar 19, 1874 - Apr 18, 1876	14th ⁽¹⁾ ⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾	Democrat	Galveston / Galveston	Brazoria, Galveston, Matagorda
H	12	Jan 14, 1873 - Jan 13, 1874	13th ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁵⁾ ⁽⁶⁾	Democrat	Galveston / Galveston	Brazoria, Galveston, Matagorda
H	35	Nov 2, 1857 - Nov 7, 1859	7th ⁽⁷⁾		Galveston / Galveston	Galveston

(1) Entire Senate went up for reelection due to Senatorial redistricting. Ordinance adopted by Constitutional Convention of the State of Texas, 1875. Remained in effect from its passage until first reapportionment after 1880 Census. University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History. Apportionment Laws of Texas, 1836-1950, 1950.
(2) Thomas M. Joseph, sworn 3/19/1874, succeeded Benjamin C. Franklin, member-elect, died 12/25/1873. Members of the Texas Congress 1836-1845; Members of the Texas Legislature 1846-2004, 2005.
(3) "Because of the adoption of the new constitution [of 1876], any member of the 14th Legislature who wished to continue to serve had to run for reelection," p. 220. The Texas Senate: Volume II, Civil War to the Eve of Reform, 1861-1889, 1999.
(4) "Our Legislative Ticket . . .", Tuesday supplement, 11/12/1872, p. 1. "We feel confident now that the Hon. Thomas M. Joseph, the Hon. Alexander Rossy, and the Hon. John Adriance are elected to the Legislature by at least two hundred majority."
"Legislators Elected," 11/14/1872, p. 2. "Those marked with a star are Radicals, the others Liberals: Twelfth District - Thomas M. Joseph, Alexander Rossy, and John Adriance (no stars)." Galveston Daily News.
(5) "The Election for Representatives," Wednesday evening, 11/13/1872, p. 3. Shows election results for representative from Galveston, Brazoria and Matagorda counties, "as appears from the official returns": T.J. Joseph, 2,822 votes; Alex Rossy, 2,814 votes, J Adriance, 2,818. Galveston Tri-Weekly Civilian.
(6) Representative apportionment - Constitution of 1869, Article III, § 39. Representative District 12: 1 Senator, 3 Representatives. Texas Constitutions Digitization Project (Tarlton Law Library, The University of Texas at Austin), 2009.
(7) Democrat. Civilian and Gazette. Weekly. (Galveston, Texas), 9/8/1857, p. 2, crediting Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Biographical Notes and Resources top

Biographical Sketches

JOSEPH, THOMAS MILLER (1823-1905). Handbook of Texas Online.
Obituary, Judge Thomas M. Joseph, Galveston Tribune, 6/10/1905, p. 8, crediting Rosenberg Library. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).
Thomas M. Joseph, Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas, 1880, p. 85. Portal to Texas History (University of North Texas Libraries).

Other Resources

Thos. M. Joseph, birthplace Hartford, Connecticut, death date 3/10/1905 in Galveston County, Texas, age 82 years. FamilySearch Texas Deaths, 1890-1976.
Thomas M. Joseph, birth date 2/11/1823, death date 3/10/1905, burial in Trinity Episcopal Cemetery, Galveston, Galveston County. Includes text of historical marker. Find a Grave.

Photographs

Photograph. T.M. Joseph, 14th Legislature, State Preservation Board
Photograph. T.M. Joseph, 13th Legislature, DeGolyer Library, SMU, Lawrence T. Jones III Collection.
Photograph. T.M. Joseph, 13th Legislature, State Preservation Board

Composite Photographs on Display in the Capitol

13th session composite photo of Senate and House members (Ground floor elevator vestibule, east wall. GW.V3). State Preservation Board.
14th session composite photo of Senate and House members (Ground floor elevator vestibule, east wall. GW.V3). State Preservation Board.
13th session composite photo of Senate and House members (Ground floor elevator vestibule, east wall. GW.V3). State Preservation Board.
Pictorial Monogram of the State Government of Texas 1873 (DeGolyer Library, SMU, Lawrence T. Jones III Collection). DeGolyer Library, SMU, Lawrence T. Jones III Collection..

Committee Information top

14th R.S. - 1874 Sanitary Legislation
13th R.S. - 1873 Apportionment Bayland's Orphan Home on Galveston Bay, Select (Chair) Commerce and Manufactures (Chair) Constitutional Amendments Impeachment Managers, Judge William Chambers, 1st Judicial District Internal Improvements Judiciary No. 1 Redistricting State Asylums Superintendent of Public Schools Towns and City Corporations
7th R.S. - 1857 Education Internal Improvements Judicial Districts Judiciary Penitentiary

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