Mathew Duncan Ector (February 28, 1822 – October 29, 1879) was an American legislator, jurist, and military leader from Marshall, Texas.
Mathew was born in Putnam County, Georgia to Hugh an Dorothy Ector. The family moved to Greenville, Georgia soon after. He was educated at Centre Colege in Danville, Kentucky before reading for the law in the office of Hiram B. Warner. Ector served a single term in the Georgia state legislature in 1842 before moving to Texas in 1850.
Ector was admitted to the bar in 1851 in Henderson, Texas and began the practice of law. That same year he married Letitia Graham, who died in 1859. In 1856 he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives for Rusk County.
Civil war
When the Civil War broke out, Ector enlisted as a private in the 3rd Texas Cavalry of the Confederate Army. He was soon elected Lieutenant. He served as adjutant to Brigadier General James L. Hogg and saw action in Texas and Arkansas. He was promoted to Colonel and given command of the 14th Texas Cavalry. Then in August of 1862 he was promoted again to Brigadier general and brigade commander. He fought at the Battle of Murfreesboro in Tennessee and Chickamauga in Georgia.
Ectors military career ended on July 27, 1864 in fighting near Atlanta, Georgia. He was severely wounded and his left leg was amputated at the knee. The war ended before his recovery was complete.
Later Career
Matthew returned to Texas, and moved to Marshall in 1868. After serving in severaal local judicial roles, he was elected to the Texas Court of Appels in 1875, serving until his death in Tyler, Texas in 1879. His remains were returned to the Methodist church in Marshall, and he in buried in the Greenwood Cemetery there. Ector County, Texas is named for him.
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