Leopold Marks
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Leopold Marks | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the Quitman County district | |
| In office January 1884 – January 1888 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 7, 1851 |
| Died | 1910 (aged 58–59) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Children | 7 |
Leopold Marks (February 7, 1851 – 1910) was a Prussian-born Jewish-American Democratic politician, farmer, and merchant. Marks was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives in the 1884 and 1886 sessions. The city of Marks, Mississippi, is named after him.[1][2]
Leopold Marks was born on February 7, 1851, in the city of Labau, West Prussia, Prussia.[3][4] He was the son of I. Marks, who was a merchant and planter.[3] Marks was Jewish.[1][2][4] Leopold attended the grammar and high schools in his home country.[3] At the age of 17, Marks fled Prussia to escape compulsory army service and landed in New York City in the United States.[3] When he arrived in the US, Marks owned only 18 cents and did not know the English language.[3] In New York, Marks worked until he had a pack of jewelry, which he peddled all the way to Friar Point, Mississippi.[3] Then, Marks bought forest and riverbank land in the present location of Marks, Mississippi.[3] He then opened a store there, which became very large.[3]
Political career
Marks helped create Quitman County, Mississippi, in 1877.[3] He served as its first representative to the Mississippi House of Representatives, from 1884 to 1888.[3][5][6][7][8]
Later life
Marks died in 1910.[4]