Rio Blanco County CO Archives Biographies.....Martin, Samuel September 8, 1836 - ?
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Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 14, 2006, 7:43 am

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     Coming to Colorado about thirty-one years ago, Samuel Martin has passed

more than half his life in this state, and during that time he has been of

material service in its development and improvement in a number of occupations

in different places, cultivating the soil, helping to keep the peace as a civil

officer, sawing lumber for buildings and other structures, and in numerous other

ways.  He brought to his destiny here a frame enfeebled by exposure and

accident, and an experience of life in several states and employments in peace

and war, and a natural aptitude to see and seize opportunities and make the most

of them.  He was born on September 8, 1836, in Sussexshire, England, and is the

son of John and Hannah (Perry) Martin, also English by nativity.  The mother

died in her native land and the father in Ohio in 1853.  On his arrival in this

country the father lived for awhile in the state of New York, then moved to Ohio

where he passed the rest of his days.  He was a farmer in England and a builder

and contractor in America.  In politics he supported the Republican party.  Four

of the six children born in the family are living, James and Sophie in England,

William and Samuel in Colorado.  Owing to the early death of his parents the

subject received a meager education.  He came to America in 1850 and, losing his

health while working in the East, sought its recovery in the West, removing to

Buchanan county, Iowa, where he learned to be a sawyer of lumber.  He became

interested in the Indians and, desiring to learn their language and modes of

life, went among them in northwestern Iowa and in Minnesota.  After sharing

their wild life several months, he returned to civilization at McGregor on the

Mississippi, and followed his trade as a sawyer in the pines.  Here he remained

until 1856, then moved to New Madrid, Missouri, and in that region he was

engaged in hunting and trapping until June 26, 1860.  Game was abundant and he

found his occupation very profitable.  While so occupied he was a passenger on

the river steamer "Ben Lewis" when she was blown up near Cairo, and was so

seriously injured that he was laid up two years.  At the beginning of the Civil

war he offered himself as a volunteer in the Union army, but on account of his

physical condition was not accepted.  He was, however, accepted as a scout and

in this service was once captured by the Confederates.  After the close of the

war he returned to New Madrid and was appointed deputy sheriff.  He remained

there until 1873 variously employed, then came to Colorado and settled at

Boulder, which at that time was a small place with but few inhabitants.  Here he

farmed until 1876, when he was appointed under sheriff, and after two years'

service in that office was appointed marshal for Boulder county for one year. 

From 1880 to 1884 he farmed on leased land, and in the year last named moved to

the White river valley and bought a portion of his present home on Coal creek,

five miles northeast of Meeker.  He has purchased additional land until he has

two hundred and forty acres and the tract is supplied with sufficient water to

enable him to cultivate two hundred acres.  He raises hay and cattle in large

quantities and some grain and vegetables.  In political allegiance he belongs to

the Democratic party, and he supports its principles with ardor, not now and

then, but all the time and every day.  He served as county commissioner in 1901,

1902 and 1903, and his work in the office was highly esteemed, as he is himself.

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

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