The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-13
Kansas Comment
GEORGE w. MARTIN.

Georeo W. Martin, toe fourteen years
SECRETARY OF the Kaneob state Histori-
cal society. resigned reAfudsy II on ac-
count OF advanced years and long con-
tihued III health. HIS successors g WI
liam e. Connelley.
Mr.. Martin succeeded the late Frank
lin q. Adams. who, with other early
settlers OF Kansas, founded the society.
Mr.. Martin, himself. was one Of the
early settlers OF Kansas territory; ar
irving In 1857. when he was q lad Of 1e.
A native OF Pennsylvania. he was q
Rec state man; although when he ar
rived in Kansas. he settled at Lecomp-
first found work ON the sun, I pro-
slavery newspaper. However. this was
q makeshift. and In 1851 he found an
opportunity for Newspaper Of hiD own
principles at Junction City, then an
outpost OF civuixation. Here he found
ed the weekly Union. and was owner
and editor until 1855. when he moved
to kansas City. KAN, and lost his 1T
tie fortune in a daily venture. In 1889
he was chosen to be secretary Of the
Kansas State Historical society. re-
fore this. Mr.. Martin had served in the
legislature. and for eight years was
state printer
George Martin was q man of intense
convictions and rare moral courage,
ana % remains even In the ebb of life.
He never was known to quit q cause
% long as there was any fight In It, and
he never laid down IL q friend was
hard pressed and needed help. To ac-
complish what he believed to be right,
ne would bolt his party. His great
work was during his incumbency in the
onice OF secretary Of the State Histori-
cal society. In his official reports Of
this society he has left his impress in
the form OF personal recollections of
men and incidents, which will be of
great value to future historians.
He lived Kansas history as no other
OF her adopted sons has done, save tho
late Daniel Webster Wilder other
men were more active In participation
Tor shorter careers perhaps. but there
Kansas for ffty-seven years; and rare
" has there been one 30 enterprisine.
SO resourceful, so courageous, so hon.
est. as George w. Martin. Added to
i TINS ne nad the newspaper instinct He
nad the nose for news and the genius
OF putting 1t down" intelligently. He
was not q borrowed man; never appro-
pr1ated another mans conceit or deed
and exhibited 1t around az his own. A
man OF originality Of, mind. he was his
observer from his youth, he gathered
and retained history, much Of which he
has left in printed page; fragments. II
no more, let it be hoped, In manuscript.
ne was q historian. not q mere COM
pdler. He knew the logic. of events.
and SO his busy mind wrote history:
wrote It until the string broke Even
now. the body old and broken. this
4 busy mind works: but. lacking the
strength to put 1t down." he has given
I way for q younger man to take hold of
the job.
Not an hour Of George Martins life
has been without human interest. How
ever. here Is not the place to write It.
even II there was space. 1t should 70
IN the Kansas newspapers, and, finally,
IN a volume Of the society which he
mas raised to such great dignity and
usefulness. And 1t would be easy for
the historian to write: the subject of
1t having put SO much Of It in form
himself F. L. VANDERBILT in The
Earth. s-.S f5rl -i7s-