U.S. Congressman, Washington Territorial Governor. LaFayette "Fayette" McMullen was a 19th century American politician. Born one of eight siblings & the son of John McMullen and Mary Wysong, he and his brothers attended private schools. Working in his family's business as a teenager, he started his career as a stage coach driver. His service included hauling passengers, mail once a week, and goods, trading along the way. His journey consisted of traveling 30 miles one way in a day's time, turning around and returning the 30 miles the next day. In 1832 he was elected and served as a member of the Virginia state house of delegates before serving from 1839 until 1849 in the Virginia State Senate. Serving as a Democrat, he served from 1849 to 1857 as a United States House of Representative from Virginia for the 13th District. From 1851 to 1855, he served on the committee regulating the finances of the United States Navy. From 1855 to 1857 he served on the committee regulating the finances of public buildings. He served as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in 1852. In 1857 he was appointed by President James Buchanan as the second governor of Washington Territory, serving until 1859. During the American Civil War, he was elected as a Democrat to the Confederate House of Representative in 1863, serving from 1864 until the war's end in 1865. He had been defeated for election to the first Confederate House of Representatives, as he opposed secession but supported the Confederacy. After the war, he turned to agricultural endeavors, operated a store and served as a director of the Bank of Marion, which he founded. He also established a newspaper in Marion he called "The Patriot." He was one of the first trustees of Marion Female College. Although he had a temper, he was a natural leader. While looking for a horse thief, a physical altercation occurred and he cut the alleged thief's throat when the thief pulled a gun. The stolen horse was returned. Unsuccessfully, he was a candidate for the Governor of Virginia in 1878. He married Mary Ann Wood on September 17, 1826. Their marriage was never happy and a divorce was granted in 1858 by the Territorial Legislature of Washington. The couple were childless. In July of 1858, he married a 29-year younger bride, Mary Jane Wood, a native of New York, at the First Presbyterian Church in Olympia, Washington. He and his second wife had a daughter Mary Fayetta McMullen, born June 6, 1871.

U.S. Congressman, Washington Territorial Governor. LaFayette "Fayette" McMullen was a 19th century American politician. Born one of eight siblings & the son of John McMullen and Mary Wysong, he and his brothers attended private schools. Working in his family's business as a teenager, he started his career as a stage coach driver. His service included hauling passengers, mail once a week, and goods, trading along the way. His journey consisted of traveling 30 miles one way in a day's time, turning around and returning the 30 miles the next day. In 1832 he was elected and served as a member of the Virginia state house of delegates before serving from 1839 until 1849 in the Virginia State Senate. Serving as a Democrat, he served from 1849 to 1857 as a United States House of Representative from Virginia for the 13th District. From 1851 to 1855, he served on the committee regulating the finances of the United States Navy. From 1855 to 1857 he served on the committee regulating the finances of public buildings. He served as a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in 1852. In 1857 he was appointed by President James Buchanan as the second governor of Washington Territory, serving until 1859. During the American Civil War, he was elected as a Democrat to the Confederate House of Representative in 1863, serving from 1864 until the war's end in 1865. He had been defeated for election to the first Confederate House of Representatives, as he opposed secession but supported the Confederacy. After the war, he turned to agricultural endeavors, operated a store and served as a director of the Bank of Marion, which he founded. He also established a newspaper in Marion he called "The Patriot." He was one of the first trustees of Marion Female College. Although he had a temper, he was a natural leader. While looking for a horse thief, a physical altercation occurred and he cut the alleged thief's throat when the thief pulled a gun. The stolen horse was returned. Unsuccessfully, he was a candidate for the Governor of Virginia in 1878. He married Mary Ann Wood on September 17, 1826. Their marriage was never happy and a divorce was granted in 1858 by the Territorial Legislature of Washington. The couple were childless. In July of 1858, he married a 29-year younger bride, Mary Jane Wood, a native of New York, at the First Presbyterian Church in Olympia, Washington. He and his second wife had a daughter Mary Fayetta McMullen, born June 6, 1871.

Bio by: Linda Davis