Robert Martin Lusk (1851–1913) was a lawyer, politician and judge in Texas and California."City Officials Pay Tribute," ''Los Angeles Times,'' February 26, 1913, image 18
/ref> Lusk was born in

Bradley County, Tennessee Bradley County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of the 2020 census, the population was 108,620, making it the thirteenth most populous county in Tennessee. Its county seat is Cleveland. It is na ...

, in 1851. He attended Hiwassee College and was graduated from the law department at

Cumberland University Cumberland University is a private university in Lebanon, Tennessee. It was founded in 1842. The campus's current historic buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1896. History 1842-1861 The university was founded by the Cumberlan ...

, both in Tennessee. He practiced law in

Dalton, Georgia Dalton is a city and the county seat of Whitfield County, Georgia, United States. It is also the principal city of the Dalton Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Murray and Whitfield counties. As of the 2010 census, the ci ...

, and in

Bonham, Texas Bonham is a city and the county seat of Fannin County, Texas. The population was 10,408 at the 2020 census. James Bonham (the city's namesake) sought the aid of James Fannin (the county's namesake) at the Battle of the Alamo. Bonham is part of t ...

, where he was elected mayor and was then prosecuting attorney for the county. In 1885 he was elected to the

Texas State Legislature The Texas Legislature is the state legislature of the US state of Texas. It is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The state legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin. It is a powerful ...

. He was a superior court judge in Texas in 1888–89."Councilman Lusk Passes Away at Home," ''Los Angeles Express,'' February 21, 1913, image 1, and "Councilman R.M.Lusk Passes Over Beyond," same newspaper, image 4
/ref> Lusk moved to Los Angeles in 1902 and joined a reform movement in the city. In the first nonpartisan campaign under a new

city charter A city charter or town charter (generically, municipal charter) is a legal document ('' charter'') establishing a municipality such as a city or town. The concept developed in Europe during the Middle Ages. Traditionally the granting of a charte ...

, he was a candidate for tax collector. In 1905 he was appointed to the council to fill the unexpired term of John D. Works, who was running for the U.S. Senate. Lusk was then elected to a four-year term. He died in his Los Angeles home at 147 North Soto Street on February 21, 1913, and a funeral service was held two days later at Boyle Heights Presbyterian Church, conducted by the Rev. L.C. Kirkes, pastor. Interment was at Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles."Deaths," ''Los Angeles Times,'' February 22, 1913, image 16
/ref> He was survived by his wife, three daughters, Ruth, Mrs. C.A. Mills and Mrs. Frank Miller; and two sons, Henry and Paul.

References

Superior court judges in the United States Members of the Texas House of Representatives Texas lawyers Presidents of the Los Angeles City Council People from Bradley County, Tennessee Hiwassee College alumni Cumberland University alumni 1851 births 1913 deaths Burials at Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles People from Boyle Heights, Los Angeles {{California-politician-stub