Biography of 	Behrman, Honorable Martin New York City, NY now Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller January 1998

**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************  

Behrman, Hon. Martin, mayor of the City of New Orleans, was born in New York
City, Oct. 14, 1864; son of Henry and Fredreca Behrman.  His parents removed
to New Orleans in the year 1865, when the son was less than 1 year old.  Soon
afterward the father died, the mother surviving only until the boy had
attained his 12th year, at which early period in life the lad was thrown upon
his own resources and began the battle on his own account.  His educational
advantages were thus limited to some attendance at the public schools, and
shortly following the death of his mother, the young man began his business
career as clerk in a retail grocery store.  Some time later, by diligence and
enterprise, he advanced in the scale of employment to a position in a
wholesale grocery house, and finally, at the age of 19, he became a traveling
salesman.  During the succeeding 2 years he sold groceries on the road. 
Meantime the young salesman had extended his acquaintance, and had become
somewhat popular among men of influential connections, and ultimately he was
appointed a deputy assessor of the fifth district of the City of New Orleans. 
He filled this position with conspicuous energy and fidelity 4 years,
following which the deputy was advanced to the position of assessor for the
district.  This station was filled in a like satisfactory manner, and the
assessor next became president of the board of assessors for a term of 4
years.  Following this, in 1892, he became clerk of the city council,
remaining encumbent of this office 4 years.  In April, 1904, Mr. Behrman was
elected state auditor, and entered upon the duties of this important position,
which he filled with his usual ability until the date of resignation to become
mayor of the City of New Orleans, to which trust he was elected in Dec., 1904. 
Mayor Behrman was reelected to succeed himself in 1908, and again in 1912,
being now serving his third term.  He was the last to be elected mayor under
the old convention plan, the first under the primary system, and first under
the commission form of city government.  He was a member of the city school
board from 1892 to 1896, inclusive, and for 8 years was chairman of the
democratic congressional central committee for the 1st congressional district
of Louisiana.  He served as a delegate-at-large from Louisiana to the
democratic national conventions of 1908 and 1912, being chairman of his state
delegation in 1908.  In 1887 Mayor Behrman was married to Miss Julia Collins,
of Cincinnati, O.  The mayor is a member of several fraternal orders, such as
the Knights of Columbus, Knights of Honor, Benevolent & Protective Order of
Elks, the Young Men's Gymnastic club, the French Opera club, the Choctaw club,
Chess, Checkers & Whist, Southern Yacht club, German Benevolent association,
Druids, Woodmen of the World, and other fraternal and social organizations. 
Of fine physique, pleasing personality, genial manner and graceful bearing,
easy of approach, and always ready to lend a hearty and efficient cooperation
in any worthy or commendable enterprise, enjoying a peculiarly secure place in
the confidence of the public and the well-merited esteem of the common people,
it is in no wise difficult to account for Mayor Behrman's steady climb from
near-dependence and obscurity to a position of security and eminence among his
fellowmen, and it is entirely within the range of probabilities that this
broad-minded, conscientious, and able citizen will yet attain even greater
honors at the hands of the people whose interests he has guarded in so
eminently satisfactory a manner.

Source:  Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 41-42. 
Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical
Association.

Note:  Mr. Behrman's photograph is included in the source.