Los Angeles County
Biographies
JAMES RUFUS MARTIN
MARTIN, JAMES RUFUS, Banking (member of the firm of Torrance, Marshall & Company), Los Angeles, California, was born in Buffalo, New York, November 28, 1875, the son of William Allen Martin and Isabella (Walls) Martin. He married Pauline Elizabeth Cornwell at Los Angeles on July 2, 1901, and to them there has been born a daughter, Margaret Cornwell Martin.
Mr. Martin, who has attained a position among the successful business men of the Southwest, has spent the greater part of his life in Southern California, having removed to Los Angeles when he was eleven years of age. Prior to his removal there he had attended the public schools of Buffalo, but following the death of his parents, left his native city. He continued his studies in the public schools of Los Angeles and attended the High School there, but left in 1895 to earn a livelihood.
Entering the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company in Los Angeles, Mr. Martin took up the study of telegraphy and after working in Los Angeles for a time was transferred to one of the company’s stations on the Colorado Desert. Despite the loneliness of the post, Mr. Martin stuck to it for about three years and in addition to his railroad duties, was engaged in the general merchandise business, in which he met with success.
His faithfulness to the company’s interests caused Mr. Martin to be promoted, in 1899, to the position of Freight and Ticket Agent for the Southern Pacific Company at its station in Pasadena, California. This is one of the important offices of the company in Southern California and Mr. Martin remained in charge of the two departments for about three years, or until 1902, when he abandoned the railroad business and entered the employ of Adams, Phillips & Co., one of the leading private banking firms of the West, with its principal office, Los Angeles.
Mr. Martin began his career with the firm as a bond salesman and handled securities for the house for about one year, becoming at that time a member of the firm. He has been an active factor in the brokerage business from that time to the present (1913).
Since Mr. Martin became a member of the firm it has undergone several changes of name, but through all these changes he has continued in an active capacity. In August, 1907, the house became known as J. H. Adams & Company, and under this name operated for approximately five years. In July, 1912, upon the retirement of Mr. Adams, the firm was reorganized and has since been known as Torrance, Marshall & Company.
This firm has grown to be one of the most important financial houses of the country and has played an important part in the promotion of new industries and the general development of the Southwest, devoting particular attention to the advancement of Southern California enterprises. With the backing of this company numerous projects, industrial and otherwise have been financed, and made possible of success. It has operated largely in government, municipal, school and public service corporation bonds, and has been instrumental in giving to various sections of Southern California modern utilities which have greatly aided in the general growth of those communities. The company has been especially active in the financing of irrigation, light, power and land development corporations.
The group of men comprising the firm are among the most enterprising in the city and Mr. Martin is credited with being one of its most active members.
Mr. Martin obtains his recreation in golf and other outdoor exercises. He is a member of the Los Angeles Country Club, Annandale Country Club, Midwick Country Club of Pasadena, the California Club of Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles Athletic Club, the leading club of its kind in the West.
Transcribed 7-5-10
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Press
Reference Library, Western Edition Notables of the West, Vol. I, Page 485, International News Service, New York, Chicago, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta.
1913.
© 2010 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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