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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IAPALOAL] !! Emmetsburg Democrat; Palo Alto, IA; Dec 1895
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003 15:00:10 -0600


Emmetsburg Democrat
Emmetsburg, Palo Alto, Iowa
1895 Christmas Souvenir

Conspicuous among the gifted and intellectual citizens of northern
Iowa, is J.L. Martin. He was born in Blackville, New Brunswick, October 7,
1837. His father was a farmer and educational opportunities of his time were
rather limited. In attending school, he was forced to got through a forest
for a distance of three miles. At the age of eleven he came to the United
States with his parents, who settled in Wisconsin. There he taught school
for several years. In 1864 he enlisted in Company C, Forty-first Wisconsin
Volunteers. He served four months and was mustered out. The next year he
enlisted in Company E, Fifty-second Wisconsin Volunteers. He came to Palo
Alto county in 1865 and organized and named Freedom township. Several years
later he was chosen county superintendent and he was county recorder from
1872 to 1874. After that he assumed the management of J.J. Wilson & Cos.
lumbering interests in this city and held the position for ten years. In
1888 he organized the Emmetsburg Lumber Co. and remained at the head of it
for several years. He had an interest in furnishing the material for the
Palo Alto county court house in 1880 and also for the Catholic church, St.
Mary's Academy, Congregational church and M.E. church, the latter of which
he took the contract to build in 1884.
Mr. Martin was married at Kansas City, Mo., September 11, 1882, to Miss
Maggie A. Barry. Two lovely children - Mary Edna and William Leonard-blessed
the union. Mrs. Martin died April 23, 1891. Mr. Martin is a man of splendid
literary taste and is the author of a creditable history of Palo Alto
county. He is one of the most earnest temperance advocates of Iowa and his
rank as a citizen is the highest. As an orator, he is gifted and eloquent
and is one of the most entertaining speakers in this section of the state.
There is no citizen whose aspirations, whose purposes and whose actions have
done more to dignify the citizenship of the community than those of J.L.
Martin.


Cathy Joynt Labath
Palo Alto Co, IA USGenWeb Project
http://www.celticcousins.net/paloalto/index.htm


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