Bio of MARTIN, Myron R. (b.1858), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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Vol III, pg 240-243
MYRON R. MARTIN
A splendid example of business enterprise and progressiveness combined with
inventive genius, is found in the record of Myron R. Martin, whose death
occurred in St. Louis Park, on the 12th of May, 1922. Step by step he had
advanced in his business career until he was the head of one of the largest
grinding machine plants in the entire country and his life's labors constituted
a valuable contribution to the world's work. Mr. Martin was born in Hebron,
Jefferson county, Wisconsin, March 12, 1858, a son of Freeman R. and Charity
Miranda Martin, who in 1848 had become residents of Wisconsin, making their way
westward over the Erie canal from Vermont, where several generations of the
Martins had lived. A great-grandfather, Samuel Martin, served with the rank of
captain in the Revolutionary war, being on duty with Colonel Stark and the Green
Mountain boys.
It was about the time when the Civil war was brought to a close that Freeman R.
Martin removed with his family to Union, near Beloit, Wisconsin, and in 1868 the
family home was established in Dane county, that state, not far from Madison.
There Myron R. Martin attended the Albion Academy and later received an offer to
study law in the office of Burr Jones of Madison, now associate justice of the
supreme court of Wisconsin. The inventive genius of the young man, however,
caused him to turn his attention in other directions. From early boyhood he had
displayed marked mechanical skill and ingenuity and when a youth of but sixteen
years had invented a Land corn planter, which was the first rotary drop planter
made. A few years later the invented a duplex windmill and from this drew
royalties for thirty years. He went on the road as a traveling salesman for the
Duplex Manufacturing Company, his terri­tory covering Iowa and southern
Minnesota and during that period was engaged in the sale and in supervising the
erection of the windmills made after his patent. About the time of his marriage
he removed to Brooklyn, Wisconsin, where the plant of the Duplex Manufacturing
Company was then established. In 1893 the company made a further removal to
Superior, Wisconsin, and about that time Mr. Martin accepted the position of
superintendent of the machine shop, remaining with the corporation until 1895,
when he left its employ to turn his attention to the manufacture of bicycles,
which he began under the name of the Superior Cycle Company. It was while thus
engaged that he invented the Martin grinder and in 1899 he made the first
gasoline automobile that ever operated on the streets of Duluth or Superior.
Removing his family to St. Louis Park, Minnesota, in 1902, Mr. Martin here began
the manufacture of grain grinders under the name of the Martin Manufacturing
Com­pany, and in December, 1919, incorporated the business, continuing as
president to the time of his demise. Mr. Martin had made of his bicycle
manufacturing enterprise a successful business and under the name of the
Superior Cycle Company he had made shipments of bicycles to Sweden, as well as
to all parts of the United States. When he opened his grinder plant in St. Louis
Park he bought from T. B. Walker a third of an acre of floor space and today the
company has three times that amount and also operates its own printing plant,
which is one of the largest of the kind in this section, while in the production
of grain grinders the company o'ertops any similar enterprise in the United
States. The business was incorporated in 1919, with Mr. Martin as the
presi­dent, Mrs. Martin as vice president, W. P. Martin as general manager and
D. C. Martin as secretary. After the death of Myron R. Martin a special meeting
was called and Mrs. Martin was chosen president. The company ships to all parts
of the United States and Canada, also to South America and England. It
manufactures a power and a hand machine of mechanical excellence and the
business has steadily grown in volume and importance.
It was in 1890 that Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Emma Pavey of
Pittsburg, Kansas, a daughter of Andrew and Lillie (King) Pavey, the former a
native of Canada and the latter of Nova Scotia. They removed to Wisconsin about
1864 and later to Illinois, while subsequently they went to Iowa. In June, 1890,
they took up their abode in Kansas and in 1904 removed to St. Louis Park,
Hennepin county, Minnesota, where they spent their remaining days, the death of
the father occurring in December, 1912, while his wife survived until November
28, 1921. He devoted his attention to the nursery business throughout his active
career. Mr. and Mrs. Martin became parents of three sons: Wayne P., Dwight C.
and Bercile A. The son, Dwight C., has been justice of the peace in St. Louis
Park for the past three years. He was graduated from the high school and in
early manhood edited a paper at St. Louis Park. He was a candidate for
representative on the republican ticket on one occasion but was defeated. He has
also studied law and his knowledge thereof is of value to him in the conduct of
the business affairs that now claim his attention. The elder son, Wayne P.,
received his education in the public schools and in the University of
Minne­sota, which he attended for two years, while in 1921 he served as mayor of
St. Louis Park. The youngest son, Bercile A., will graduate from Hamline
University in 1923, completing a four years' course in that institution. Mrs.
Martin is a lady of liberal education and broad culture and was a teacher in the
schools of Iowa and Missouri prior to her marriage. The family circle was broken
by the hand of death, when on the 12th of May, 1922, Mr. Martin passed away,
having reached the age of sixty-four years. He was a member of the Civic and
Commerce Club of St. Louis Park and he stood loyally in support of all projects
and plans for the general good. He voted with the republican party, where
national questions were involved but at local elections cast an independent
ballot. He had always been willing to help those in need or trouble and was a
man of most liberal and generous spirit. A laudable ambition and un­daunted
purpose actuated him at every point from the time when he started out in
business and his inventive genius, combined with executive and administrative
ability, gained for him a most creditable position in manufacturing circles in
the Northwest. He contributed a most valuable device to the long list of
inventions that has made America famous and today his family is continuing the
work of manufacturing the grinders which came into existence as the result of
his inventive skill and ingenuity.