John W. Martin Biography


	This biography appears on pages 703-704 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JOHN W. MARTIN.

	Watertown owes more perhaps to the efforts of John W. Martin than 
to any other citizen. His work has been most effective in promoting the 
development and upbuilding of the city as he seems to see far into the 
possibilities and to work advantageously for public progress. Illinois 
claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred in Scales Mound, 
October 9, 1856, his parents being Henry and Keturah (Thomas) Martin, 
both of whom were natives of England. They came to the United States 
about 1845, when in young manhood and young womanhood, and the father 
was engaged in farming and also in lead mining Mr. Martin passing away 
in 1900, while his wife died in 1894.  

	John W. Martin was reared under the parental roof and 
supplemented his public-school education by study in the German-English 
College at Galena, Illianois and in the State Normal school at 
Platteville, Wisconsin. Following the completion of his school life he 
took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for two years. He 
afterward engaged in farming and in August, 1885, arrived in South 
Dakota, settling in Watertown. He today conducts a real-estate and 
investment business and is a prominent, active and influential business 
man. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Dakota 
Loan & Trust Company and also of the Watertown National Bank. He was 
elected a member of the board of directors of both corporations as well 
as the secretary of the first named and he also served for two years as 
cashier of the bank. He was one of four who organized the Dakota Mutual 
Insurance Company and has since been active in its conduct and has 
contributed much to the remarkable growth and success of the business. 
He is now vice president of the company and is in charge of its loans 
and real-estate department. Again he found scope for his industry and 
enterprise- his dominant qualities- in the organization of the 
Watertown Commercial Club, of which he is now one of the directors, 
active in promoting the work of that organization, which has been an 
effective factor in broadening the business connections of the city and 
furthering the interests of Watertown. along many lines of general and 
civic improvement. He is likewise the vice president of the First 
National Bank and indeed has been for a number of years one of the 
foremost men in the business and financial life of Watertown He is now 
heavily interested in South Dakota real estate and as a real-estate and 
investment broker has an extensive clientage.  

	The same spirit of activity characterizes his political 
connections. He is a democrat and has been one of the foremost men of 
his party in the northeastern section of the state. He served for ten 
years as a member of the democratic state central committee, was 
chairman in the year 1904 and in 1912 was chairman of the democratic 
state executive committee. In 1908 he was made a presidential elector 
and he has twice been nominated on the democratic ticket for the state 
legislature, while in 1902 he was the candidate of his party for 
governor of South Dakota. That his fellow townsmen have the utmost 
confidence in his business ability and his loyalty to the public good 
is indicated by the feet that they have seven times elected him to 
serve as their mayor, during which period he gave the city a most 
businesslike administration resulting in public benefit along many 
lines.  

	In 1909 Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Mrs. Nellie L. Budd, 
formerly Miss Hattie Hobart, of Washington, D. C. They hold membership 
in the Congregational church and are very prominent socially. Mr. 
Martin holds membership with Kampeska Lodge, No. 13, A. E,. & A. M.; 
Watertown Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M.; Watertown Commandery, No. 7, K. 
T.; and El Riad Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Sioux Falls. He also 
belongs to Watertown Lodge, No. 838, B. P. O. E.; to Trishocton Lodge, 
No. 7, K. P.; to the Ancient Order of United Workmen; and to the Modern 
Woodmen of America, and he is likewise a member of the Watertown 
Country Club. In all things he displays an initiative spirit that is an 
element essential to success. He is not afraid to mark out new paths 
and where his judgment indicates he does not hesitate to pursue a 
course that seems to promise success. That his sagacity is keen, his 
enterprise unfaltering and his progressiveness shrewd is indicated in 
the high position which he now occupies and the success which has 
attended his efforts.