John W. Martin Biography

	This biography appears on page 976 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. A photo
	of John W. Martin appears on the facing page.

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JOHN W. MARTIN, one of the representative citizens of Watertown, 
was born at Scales Mound, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, on the 
8th of October, 1856, being a son of Henry and Keturah (Thomas) 
Martin, both of whom were born and reared in England, whence 
they emigrated to the United States at the age of thirty and 
twenty-four years respectively, he becoming one of the 
prosperous and influential farmers of the state of Illinois. 
Henry Martin died at Scales Mound, Illinois, February 15, 1900, 
while Mrs. Martin died April 30, 1894.  
After completing the curriculum of the public schools of 
his native country the subject of this review continued his 
studies in the German-English College at Galena, Illinois, and 
later entered the State Normal School at Plattville, Wisconsin, 
where he ably prepared himself for the pedagogic profession, to 
which he thereafter devoted himself, as a teacher in the public 
schools of Illinois; until August, 1885, when he came to what is 
now the state of South Dakota, locating in Watertown and 
becoming identified with the real-estate and banking business. 
He was one of the organizers and directors of the Dakota Loan 
and Trust Company, of Watertown, and of the Watertown National 
Bank. In 1889 he was elected cashier of the Watertown National 
Bank, in which capacity he served four years, at the expiration 
of which he individually engaged in the real-estate business in 
Watertown, with which important line of enterprise he has  since 
been prominently identified, his transactions having reached a 
wide scope, while upon his books are at all times represented 
the most desirable investments, including farm lands in various 
sections of the state, and also improved and unimproved town and 
city property.  

From the time of attaining his legal majority Mr. Martin has 
been an uncompromising advocate and supporter of the principles 
and policies of the Democratic party, and he has labored 
zealously for the promotion of its cause in South Dakota. He 
served for two years, 1891-92 as mayor of Watertown, giving a 
most able and business-like administration of the municipal 
government, and in 1900 he was one of the presidential electors 
of this state on the Democratic ticket. In 1902 he was honored 
by his party with the nomination for governor of the state, but 
in the ensuing election met defeat, in common with the party 
ticket in general throughout the commonwealth. Since 1900 he has 
been president of the South Dakota Business Men's Association, a 
strong organization and one which exercises most beneficent 
functions in furthering the best interests of the great state. 
Fraternally he is identified with Kampeska Lodge, No. 13, Free 
and Accepted Masons; Watertown Chapter, No. 12, Royal Arch 
Masons, Watertown Commandery, No. 7, Knights Templar; 
Tryschocoton Lodge, No. 17, Knights of Pythias; Watertown Lodge, 
No. 24, Ancient Order of United Workmen; Kampeska Camp, No. 
2031, Modern Woodmen of America, and Lodge No. 838, Benevolent 
and Protective Order of Elks.