Representative Martin K. Whelan View All Years

This photograph is provided for official informational purposes only. The image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, or otherwise used without prior written authorization from the Iowa General Assembly. Requests for permission to use this image must be submitted to the Chief Clerk of the House for House members or the Secretary of the Senate for Senate members.

Martin K. Whelan

Emmet County

It is not often that a candidate for office has no opposition either for the nomination or election. Such was the case with the Hon. M. K. Whelan, of Estherville, member of the House from the district composed of Emmet, Dickinson, and Osceola counties. At the county convention of Emmet county, in which he resides, a resolution was unanimously adopted instructing him to select his own delegates to the district convention. When that body met at Sibley there was no opposition to him and he was nominated by a unanimous vote. The parties in opposition to the Republicans made no nomination for the office of Representative, so he was elected without any effort. Mr. Whelan was born in Ireland in 1856. His boyhood was spent in his native country, and his education was gained there. On coming to Iowa he settled for a short time in Davis county, then moved to Emmet county, where he has lived for the last nineteen years. During that time he has been engaged in a variety of pursuits, teaching school, clerking, proprietor of a hardware store, and for eleven years sheriff of Emmet county. Since quitting that office he has been in the real estate business. In politics he has always been an active Republican, serving as county chairman seven years and as a member of the state central committee from the Tenth Congressional district four years. He is pretty well up in Masonic circles, being a charter member of North Star lodge, No. 447, A. F. and A. M., and a charter member of Esdraelon commandery. No. 52, Knights Templar. In the latter he has held the positions of senior warden, captain general, generalissimo and eminent commander. Mr. Whelan was married a number of years ago to Miss Mary E. Tilton.

House District 81