The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-07
Frankfort Man Seeking
Atomic Energy Secret
Never Discouraged.
READY FOR NEW START
Failure After Eleven Years
Effort Would Not Mean
the End.
BY RAY BRIGHTON,
Times Staff Correspondent

FRANKFORT, Ind, May TT
never get discouraged. have tried
for eleven years to solve the secret
Of releasing atomic energy. If the
machine I will soon assemble does
not solve it, I shall build another.
I think an inventors success comes
from concentration, says Howard
Martin, 25-year-old farmer-in-
ventor.
Six years ago residents of Frank
fort and surrounding community
heard rumors that farmer boy
was making an automobile run
without an engine making wind
mill pump when there was no breeze
and lighting his fathers house with
out the aid of outside electrical
connections.
The rumors we're verified by
neighbors whose reputation and
standing in the community was be-
yond question Curiosity prevailed
for some time, then Martin was
forgotten.
Curiosity Ends; Work Goes On
Howard Martin though, contin-
ued to buy coils of wire, books, bat
teries, tools and other articles at
Frankfort stores.
In 1928 there were rumors of
visits to the inventor from engi-
neers from the east visiting the
Martin home at night and secluding
themselves in a Frankfort hotel
during the day. Curiosity reigned
again.
Recently 7 visited the Martin
home The inventors father greet
ed me with a smile, but firm in
formation that Howard could not
talk of his discoveries or inventions.
Contracts were limited at, so had
to content myself with delving into
the early boyhood of this youth
who with his inventions may revo-
lutionize the world.
Born in Illinois
Born at Paxton, ILL.,, the lad came
to Clinton county with his parents
while a small boy. The Martins
lived first at Avery, d crossroads four
miles east of Frankfort.
One day Howard was playing
near trolley line. In his hand he
had a compass and he discovered
the trolley wire had magnetic
power which effected the hand of
the compass. This was his first
discovery relating to the laws of
Later the family moved to a farm
five miles south of Frankfort where
they still reside. Howard attended
Frankfort high school and was
graduated in 1923. His classmates
recall him as being a bashful youth
who took small part in affairs Of
school outside the classroom. In
and art his teachers classed
him as a poor student, but in man
ual training, science and mathe-
mates, he excelled. The hardest
problems were readily solved by
him.
Masters Intricate Theories
After he was graduated from high
school, Howard went into seclusion
at his fathers farm and proceeded
to further his experiments. He
studied chemistry, trigonometry and
other forms of mathematics. He
studied all the books obtainable on
the subjects that interested him.
Finally the local supply became ex-
so the inventor sent to New
York and other points in search OF
reading matter At the present time
he has books from all over the
world on science and electricity. He
can recite laws governing electrical
current that would puzzle prominent
sientists.
Now Howard is assembling ma
chine that, if it works, will solve the
problem of creating electricity from
atoms.
He has been away from home
Only two times for more than six
He works in the fields
during the day time with his father
and brother. While he is blowing
he thinks Of what he hopes to ac-
complish.
Towards mother and father en-
him in his experiments and
both are as confident as their son
that some day and some how he
will discover the secret that has
puzzled inventors like Edison and