Obit - Martin, James Albert, Rifle, Garfield Co, Colorado

Donated by: Andrew Cockroft <Andy440@mwt.net>
May 31, 2000


The Rifle Telegram

Al Martin Died Tuesday, October 9, 1934;
     One of State's Pioneers

     Another of the pioneers of western 
Colorado took the last trail over the 
mountains when "Al" Martin passed 
away quietly in his sleep early
Tuesday morning at his home on the 
Government road.  Death was caused
by a heart ailment.
     Funeral services will be held Sun-
day afternoon at 2 o'clock at the 
Sayre mortuary with burial in the Rose
Hill Cemetery.
     James Albert Martin was born May
1, 1858 in Pittsburgh, Pa., on farm
land now occupied by the Carnegie
steel works.  His parents had come
previously from Scotland and settled
in the United States.
     Orphaned by the death of his fa-
ther when 3 years of age, Mr. Mar-
tin largely made his own way 
through life.  Deciding to follow the
flow of population west, he came to
Colorado in 1878 and got his first
job here punching cows in the plains
country near Kiowa.
     Later he moved to Breckenridge
and through Middle Park and the
Gore range into this locality, taking
up a homestead on the Thornburg 
battleground.  While there he, with
a party of others were surrounded
by Ute Indians, had his horse shot
from under him and lived on unsalt-
ed venison six days before help came.
     For many years he freighted in
the necessary supplies for the rapid-
ly growing Meeker country, first
from Rawlins, Wyo., then from Rifle,
when the Rio Grande Western rail-
road penetrated that far down the
Colorado river.
     During the latter part of his life
he was interested in farming and
stock raising and operated ranch
properties on Piceance creek, White
river, and the Government road.
     He was married October 8, 1900
and died on the day following his
34th wedding anniversary.
     Mr. Martin was one of that hardy
group of pioneers who wrested west-
ern Colorado from the wilderness and
his passing leaves another gap in 
their rapidly thinning ranks.
     Besides his wife, Mrs. Marie Mar-
tin, Mr. Martin is survived by a
brother, William J. Martin of Kim-
ball, S.D.; a half brother, Dave
Young; half sister, Mrs. Margaret
King, both of Oakland, Calif. and
other relatives.
     His father was Samuel Martin and
his mother Henrietta Bennett.   Mrs. Bennett 
had come to America from Scotland in 1849 
when just sixteen years old.   Her parent's 
were John and Ann (Kennedy) Bennett.     
 
===================================================
Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project
(http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive
Project

USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any
format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons.
Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain
the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative
of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof
of this consent.  The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb 
Archives to store the file permanently for free access.