The Oskaloosa herald., 1909-09-23

of what has been done
since he left the property.
L. M Martin was born at Point
Pleasant, virginia. HIS people came
10 Iowa when he was one year OF age,
settling on farm near Pella. There
Colonel Martin gained insight into the
business by work on the
Pella Blade. Later he went to Prai-
RE City for three years and learned
telegraphy. He was then transferred
In May 1878, to Comstock, in Wapello
oounty, on the line of the old Des
MONIES Valley road, wnere he was
agent He remained there only dur
ing the summer, being transferred tex
Beacon, near Oskaloosa, in the fall OF
the year. He was made ASSISTANT
agent at that place and filled the du-
ties of telegraph operator also. He
remained at Beacon until November
1874, when he was transferred to Pella
as telegraph operator and clerk. There
he remained for nearly three years
and was then removed to Des Moines
as chief clerk of the old Des Moines
Valley company's office in this city.
1t Is remembered that in 1877 the
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific rail-
road leased me Keokuk road. Mr.
Martin was ationce made agent OF the
Des Moines and Keokuk division, po
sition which he held until October,
1882. He then resigned and accept
ed the position of general agent at
Boone of the st. Louie, Des Moines
Northern railroad, of which c. F. Meek
was then the general superintendent.
Mr.. Meek was made superintendent OF
the Wabash early in 1883 and then
induced Mr.. Martin to return to Des
Moines. where he filled the double
position of freight and ticket agent
of both lines until October, 1887, when
he became superintendent and general
freight agent of the st. Louis, Des
Moines & Northern and also CONNER
cial agent for the Wabash, controlling
and managing the freight business OF
| the latter road throughout the state.
| In October, 1889, the St Louis, Des
| Moines & Northern railroad was sold
| to the Des Moines & Northern, OF
which company and road Mr.. Martin
became the general manager. The
road under his management was broad.
ened to a standard gauge, and 1t was
due to his efforts, principally, that an
amicable agreement was entered into
between his own road and the Mil
waukee system, by which the roads
handled traffic conformity and which
led eventually to the absorption OF
the line by the Milwaukee. 1t was not
long after the Widening of the gauge
of the Des Moines & Northern thai
Colonel Martin began negotiations
with the Des Moines & Northwestern
Railroad company looking toward
consolidation of the two lines The
latter was still narrow gauge. TIT
managers, seeing the enormous benefits
accruing because of tile widened gaug'
of the Des Moines q Northern and thu
effective working, of the traffic agree
ment with the Milwaukee, looked oil
the scheme, with favor. In January
1892, the roads were consolidated as
the Des Moines, Northern & western
railroad, Colonel Martin being made
general manager of the property
When it became the property of thu
Milwaukee Colonel Martin resigned t.
. become the general manager OF tn
Iowa Central property, which at tina
time needed attention of a strong ant
capable head. Mr.. Martin followe'
the administration of L. McNeill. HI
\ came to the property in July, 1884
q and for five years gave the road ant
it's connections his best effort. Th'
road progressed in a wonderful wa,
= under his management. Its propert,
, worth and it's business increased un
der his administration and his resigna
, ton was accepted regretfully in Ser
D TENDER, 1899, at which time he re
a moved to Des Moines. ~. ....
:. He had been in close touch with tn
n organization of the Democratic part
O of his state and his advice was fire
G quently sought in the councils of part
! management. He first came into prom
n inence as democratic leader IN tn
:. campaign of Horace Boies for govel
n nor of Iowa and he was appointed a
4 aide, upon the staff of governor wit
, title of Colonel He was sent as delt
v gate-at-large to the National Demo
!. cratic convention in 1900 and he wa
;. later connected with the ADMINISTERS
ton of the Democratic National Con
mittee at indianapolis and made
I telling campaign in the interests
sound money and the gold standard,
q Colonel Martin was married In 1877
and three children blessed the unloI
!, George NJ. Martin, eldest son, OF O'
i kaloosa, is a general passenger agen
of the Iowa Central; Frank H. MARTYR
, of Chicago and Mrs. Louise Ste
n ems, of Chicago. Upon the deaf
!. OF his wife at Des Moines in 1902, tn
!. home at Des Moines was broken u
and Col Martin went to Chicago :
reside. He is survived by his chil'
n rem, two sisters, Misses Lois mi
|. Sallie Martin, at the old home In Dc
J. Moines and brother Reuben MaEnl
nj Mr.. Martin was prominent maso
o and has been connected with nuiae
p GUS other civic and fraternal organiz'
q tons. He was very active man
a through his life with a capacity fc