Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-10
EX-GOVERNOR MARTIN DEAD.

Death OF the Late Governor of Kansas at
His Home in Atchison-Sketch of His
Life.
ArcHIsoS, Kan, Oct. 5.-Ex-Governor
Martin died at $50 O'Clock yesterday
morning. Mayor Wagner has called
meeting of the people for this evening to
make arrangements for the funeral on
Friday.
Ex-Governor Martins death followed
an illness of more than two months. His
disease was a mysterious one, and at no
time were the physicians able to inteili-
gently diagnose it. His death had been
expected for some days e
GEOGRAPHICAL.
Ex-Governor John A Martin was born March
10. 1859 at Brownsville. Fayette County, Pa
When a mere lad he learned the art Of printing
in the off1ce OF the Brownsville Clipper. He
emigrated to Kansas in 1887 and located at
Atchison- In 1858 he purchased what was then
known as the SQuatter Sovereign and changed
its name 10 the Freedoms Champion Later
the name OF the paper was changed TO the Atch-
ison Ch mpion. With the exception of the Troy
Chief it is the Oldest paper in Kansas. Cover
nor Martin was early and late a staunch
Free State man, and was first and last an ar
dent Republican. He entered early into pub
lie life, and he was elected to the State Senate
from the district composed Of Atchison and
Brown Counties before he was twenty-one years
old. He was secretary of the Wyandotts Con-
stitutional convention, and served as dele
gate to the Territorial convention at Lawrence
in 1862. He was also a delegate to the Ma
tional convention at Ciicago which nomi-
mated Lincoln for his first term. He was
seer tary of the Stare Railroad convention,
which met a. Topeka in 1860 to devise rail-
way system for the State. During the summer
of 1861 he assisted in organizing the Eighth
Kansas infantry, of which he was appointed
Lieutenant Colonel The regiment served on
the Missouri border during the fall and winter
OF 1851. Early in 1862 he was appointed Pro
vost-Marshal OF Leavenworth, and in March o:
the same year his regiment was ordered TO
Corinth, Miss, with Lieutenant-Colonel Martin
in command. A few weeks after arriving at
Corinth the regiment, with the division to
which it was attached, was ordered to join
General Buell. in Tennessee, and thereafter,
during the whole war; it served in the army OF
the Cumberland. Lieutenant Colonel Martin
was promoted to Colonel on November l,
1852 and was provost marshal of Nashville,
Tenn, from December. 1862, to June 1863.
The regiment which he commanded took
part in the battles at Perryville and Ian
caster, in Kentucky; in the campaign
against Tullahoma and Chattanooga; the
| storming of Mission Ridge; the campaign from
| Chattanooga to Atlanta and the subsequent
! commanded the Third brigade First division
| OF the Twentieth army corps, on the second
| day OF the battle Of Chickamauga and during
! the siege # Chattanooga At the close OF the
war he returned to Atchson and resumed con
| troll of the Champion. The first number Of the
| Daily Champion was issued March %, 1855
| He represented Kansas as delegate
| to the National Republican conventions
| of 1860, 1868, 1872, and 1880. He
was member for many years Of the Republican
| National Committee. was elected Commander
in. Chief of the State encampment, G. A. r.
was member of the United States Centennial
| Commission; was one OF the incorpOrators oi
| the Kansas Magazine and OF the State Historic
al Society. Ee was elected mayor of Atchisor
in 1865, and was elected by the two houses o.
J Congress one OF the board Of managers of the Ma
/ tional Soldiers Hone in 1873. In 1884 he va;
| elected Governor Of the State OF Kansas anc
reelected in 1885, His wife, who survives him
was the daughter OF DR.. William L. Challis, o
! Atchison, and the result Of this union was foul
| children. Ex- Governor Martin leaves hand
| some estate the value OF which is estimated al
! from $4,000 to S1O0,0O0.