The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-07

- u VA
Martin. He was born January 4, 1872, in
Virginia, and his parents moved to
Guilford county, N. c., wheh he was
quite a child. He spent his youth and
early manhood in that county and at
New Bern, N. c. HI removed to Will
mington in 1885, and entered the post
office as the clerk of Christopher Dud-
ley, Jr., then postmaster, continuing in
that position till the middle of the year
1887, when he resigned his position to
become ~bookkeeper for the firm Of
Dickinson & Norris, which firm we are
informed, then did the largest business
in the state and perhaps in the south.
He remained with this firm until it's
failure in 1913, when he went into the
naval stores business with the late
Captain Robert G.. Rankin, the style
of the firm being Rankin & Martin.
This relation continued till Captain
Rankin's death near the close of the
civil war. He continued the naval
stores and commission business in his
own name until incapacitated by a
stroke Of paralysis in September, 1887,
since which time he has lived in re-
tirement, e%nfeebled by the effects of the
SlIOhS dIlu IHe weight OIL years. FOR the
past three years he has been confined
to his home, and for about three
months has been in bed.
For fifty years or more, up to 1887,
Mr.. Martin was prominently identified
with the commercial interests Of Will
mington, holding many honored and
prominent positions and entrusted with
many great responsibilities, in all re-
lations Of life retaining the unqualifi-
ed respect Of his fellow citizens. He
was president of the chamber of COM
merce before and since the war, was a
director Of the Bank of Wilmington.
of he Dawson bank, of the First Ma
tiona1 bank of Wilmington, and of the
Wilmington n Weldon railroad, at
different periods in his life. He was one
of the aldermen Of the city and was
acting mayor during most of the time
the yellow fever prevailed here in 1862,
remaining at his post and contributing
his time and abilities to the alienation
of the awful suffering Of our people
in that gloomy epOck in the history Of
the city. He himself a the fever. In
early life he was coroner Of New Han
over county, was a justice Of the peace
and for several terms sat on the bench
of the old county court.
In October, 1897, Mr.. Martin married
Miss Christian Caroline Dudley.
daughter Of Christopher Dudley, and
she has preceded him to the grave.
They had six children, of whom two
sons n two daughters survive. His
sons are Eugene S. Martin, an able
and hOnored member of the Whining
ton bar, and Mr.. w. A. Martin, manu-
facturer Of and dealer in naval stores.
One if his daughters, Miss Emma
Hamblln, married the daring and cele-
brated confederate naval officer, Cap
tain j. n. Maffitt, and his other daugh-
ter, Miss Kate Dudley, married Cap
tain Eugene A. Maffitt, likewise a con-
spicuous and gallant officer in the con-
federate navy and one of the officers of
the celebrated confederate cruiser
Alabama. These two daughters also
survive him.
From a sketch of Mr.. Martin in the
proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Ma
sons, we earn that for over fifty years
Mr. Martin was a member of St.
Johns Lodge No. 1, A. F. & 4. NJ. and
was n of the oldest and best known
Masons in the state. He was made a
Master Mason in St. Johns lodge in
January, 1913, and was always a devot-
ed and ardent student of Masonry.
For some years he has been the oldest
living member of the lodge. There are
perhaps but few men. if any. who have
been longer identified with Masonry in
this state. He has several times Deer
master Of st. Johns lodge, was grand
master Of the Grand Lodge for two
terms from 1S57-5S. n from 1S5S-50
and has also served the grand lodge in
the capacity of chairman of the COM
mittee on correspondence. He has beer
grand high priest and eminent COM
cander Of Wilmington Commandery
No. l, Knights Templar. and has long
been a member and officer of the Grand
of Royal n Select Masters. |
The live Of few craftsmen have been
more conspicuous for devotion to the
cause of Masonry and personally illus |
of its moral education. He has
always had the highest esteem of his
Masons IND when the Grand
met in Wilmington last
they halted in their parade in
Of his house and gave him the |
honor of a grand salute. He was able |
to appear at his window and returned !