William H. Martin Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1186-1187 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	WILLIAM H. MARTIN.—The city of Sioux Falls is signally favored in 
having at the head of its police department so able an executive as 
Chief Martin, who has shown the utmost discrimination and force in the 
discharge of the executive duties of this important branch of the 
municipal government. Mr. Martin is a native of the state of Wisconsin. 
having been born in the town of Ashippun, Dodge county, on the 17th of 
February, 1850, and being a son of John Duncan Martin and Caroline 
(Wilks) Martin, both of whom were born and reared in Dundee, Scotland. 
The future chief received his early educational training in the public 
schools of his native town, and was reared to the sturdy discipline of 
the homestead farm. When but fifteen years of age he gave significant 
evidence of his patriotism and youthful valor by going forth in defense 
of the Union, whose integrity was then jeopardized by armed rebellion. 
He enlisted as a private in Company I, Forty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry, with which he proceeded to the front, where he proved himself 
a faithful young soldier, being mustered out on the 24th of June, 1865, 
and receiving his honorable discharge. He then returned home and soon 
afterward entered upon an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, 
becoming a skilled artisan in the line and continuing to follow his 
trade as a vocation for several years. When twenty-one years of age he 
was elected constable of his native town in which capacity he gained his 
first experience in the handling of malefactors, proving himself a 
capable officer and remaining incumbent of the position for a period of 
six years. In 1876 he removed to Waukesha county, Wisconsin, where he 
was engaged in contracting and building until 1882, when he was 
appointed deputy sheriff of the county, being inducted into this office 
on the 1st of January and serving until 1888, making an excellent 
record. He then came to South Dakota and located in Sioux Falls, where 
he was engaged in building until May 7, 1890, when he was appointed a 
member of the police force of the city, serving two years as patrolman 
and being then, on the 1st of May, 1892, appointed to the position of 
chief of the police department, giving a most able administration of the 
office and being reappointed on the 3d of November, 1895, for a term of 
two years. In 1897-8 he was a guard at the state penitentiary, in this 
city, and on the 2d of May, 1900, there came a distinctive hark of the 
popular appreciation of his ability and former services, in his 
reappointment to the position of chief of the police department, of 
which he has since remained in tenure. In politics the chief is a 
staunch Republican, and fraternally is identified with Unity Lodge, No. 
130, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Sioux Falls Lodge, No. 262, 
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Joe Hooker Post, No. 10, Grand 
Army of the Republic; and Jasper Lodge, No. 9, Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. 

	On the 13th of December, 1876, Mr. Martin was united in marriage 
to Miss Mary A. Best, daughter of John and Margaret Best, of Dousman, 
Wisconsin, and they have one child, Stella M., who remains at the 
parental home, being one of the popular young ladies of the city.