San Mateo County CA Archives Biographies.....Martin, W. J. January 15, 1856 - 
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Author: Author: S. J. Clarke (1928)


W. J. MARTIN

   One of the most widely known and highly respected citizens of San Mateo
county is W. J. Martin, who after many years of active participation in
important business affairs, is now retired, living in his comfortable and
attractive home in South San Francisco. To him more than to any other person was
due the early development of this section of the county and for many years he
was one of the most conspicuous and influential factors in its progress and
improvement. Mr. Martin was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of
January, 1856, and in his early youth accompanied his family on their removal to
Galesburg, Illinois, where he spent his boyhood days. After completing the
course in the public schools, he entered Knox College, at Galesburg, from which
he was graduated, and later was graduated in law and real estate at the
University of Iowa. Locating in Omaha, Nebraska, he engaged in the real estate
business, which he followed there until 1886, when he came to California. For
awhile he engaged in newspaper work in San Jose and then went to San Francisco,
where he became associated with Carnall & Hopkins in the real estate business,
being particularly active in the development of the Lakeside subdivision.  In
1890, with a keen and accurate vision of the future development of the bay
district, he located in what became South San Francisco, and erected the second
house in the town in November, 1891. In April, 1892, he was appointed land agent
for the South San Francisco Land & Improvement Company and began a campaign for
the industrial development of this locality, being influential and effective in
inducing factory after factory to locate here. His efforts during those early
years of the development of this city formed the basis for the splendid progress
which has since characterized it and the community owes him a debt which it can
never pay. He erected and owns a large number of buildings here, including the
Metropolitan Hotel, and he became heavily interested in commercial and
industrial enterprises, being at one time a director in seventeen corporations,
but in recent years he has gradually retired from active participation in
business affairs and is now enjoying a well earned rest. It is a far cry from
the conditions in the days when he initiated his work here, when his real estate
office was but a small unpretentious shack, to the present populous and
prosperous city which largely stands as a monument to his efforts.

   On the 19th of December, 1883, at Galesburg, Illinois, Mr. Martin was married
to Marianne Greenleaf, a native of that state, and they now have three children:
David Greenleaf, of San Francisco; John J., of Burlingame; and Grace M., who
married Thomas V. Barton, of Chico, California, and has a son, William James.

   Mr. Martin is a Mason, has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish
Rite, and belongs to Islam Temple, A. A. 0. N. M. S., of San Francisco. His
record is one of earnest and long-continued effort, for he never stopped short
of the accomplishment of his purpose or the attainment of his objective in
business and the results which he attained in important affairs entitles him to
be classed among the representative residents of San Mateo county. A man of keen
and alert intellect, of strong character and gracious personality, he impresses
all who come in contact with him as well worthy of confidence and regard and his
friends are legion.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY
OF
SAN MATEO
COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO, ILL. 
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1928

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