SIEKER, LAMARTINE PEMBERTON (1848~1914) Lamartine Pemberton Sieker, Civil War veteran and quartermaster of the Texas Rangers, son of Dr. Edward A. Sieker, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 8, 1848. Lamartine Sieker had two interests in life: a liking to conduct his affairs in a military manner and a desire to work for the Texas Rangers. One ranger captain characterized Sieker as an "honest gentleman" and "fearless officer," who was a "disciplinarian" and a believer in "good order."
After attending more than one school, including a military academy, Sieker served in the Confederate army during the Civil War. He enlisted in Capt. W. W. Parker's Company of Virginia Light Artillery in the forces of Gen. Robert E. Lee from the summer of 1863 to early 1865. Although still in his teens, Sieker stood out in a military engagement in his red flannel shirt. His patriotic sense of duty made him volunteer for special duty and fight with courage and distinction.
After the war, Sieker served as a clerk and in 1873 migrated to Texas. By now, tall, thin, with a mustache and protruding ears, he carried himself with a regal bearing and dignified expression. Ranger records show that Sieker joined Company D of the Frontier Battalion on May 25, 1874. In this company he rose through the ranks to become lieutenant in 1881 and then captain on September 1, 1882. As a ranger officer Sieker directed operations against Indians and investigated murder cases and other crimes committed by Texan desperadoes.
After three years, Sieker served the Frontier Battalion, renamed the Ranger Force after a legal dispute in 1901, as quartermaster from 1885 to 1893 and from 1899 to 1905. Sieker's military background and interests made him fit well in the ranger's chain of command from the adjutant general and battalion quartermaster in Austin to the companies in the field. In his role as quartermaster, Sieker stressed administrative efficiency and frugality. He also instructed John A. Brooks, John R. Hughes, William J. "Bill" McDonald, and John H. Rogers in making out ration returns, vouchers, and monthly reports.
Besides his ranger service Sieker served as assistant adjutant general from 1889 to 1895, took an active role in affairs of the United Confederate veterans and became an officer in the Texas National Guard. He retired in 1895 and tried his hand at ranching. In 1905 he operated a hotel in Brazoria. Sieker married Nannie L. Dill on September 12, 1887. His three brothers, Edward, Frank (killed in action), and Thomas, also served with distinction in Company D of the Frontier Battalion. While on a business trip to Houston, Sieker died on November 13, 1914, and was originally buried in the Glenwood cemetery.
He was reinterred in the Texas State Cemetery August 10, 1928.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Daniel Webster Roberts, Rangers and Sovereignty (San Antonio, 1914; rpt., Austin: State House Press, 1987). Robert W. Stephens, Texas Ranger Sketches (Dallas, 1972). Walter Prescott Webb, The Texas Rangers (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1935; rpt., Austin: University of Texas Press, 1982). Walter Prescott Webb Papers, Barker Texas History Center, University of Texas at Austin.
Harold J. Weiss, Jr.
"SIEKER, LAMARTINE PEMBERTON." The Handbook of Texas Online. [Accessed Fri Sep 7 13:53:07 US/Central 2001 ].
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