HON. EDWARD M. MARTIN

HON. EDWARD M. MARTIN.--This gentleman was born in Muscatine, State of Iowa, in the year 1845. Seven years later the family removed to California, crossing the plains by ox teams, and finally arriving in this city Sept. 24, 1852, after a tedious trip, but fortunately without serious mishap. Mr. Martin was educated first in the public schools of this city, and afterwards preceded to take an academic course at Napa College, but he was compelled to abandon this before graduation, owing to a lack of funds to complete both it and his illegal studies, upon which he had determined. Accordingly he became a student in the office of Messrs. Coffroth & Spaulding, the eminent attorneys for former days in this city. On October 21, 1867, he was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of this State, immediately hung out his shingle and began the successful practice of law in this city. Mr. Martin has always taken an active interest in politics, --as a worker, however, rather than as an office-seeker,-- and the stanch Republican of broad and liberal views. For a time he held the position of court commissioner, and is now and has been for several years a member of the Board of Education. He and is an active worker in all good causes that came to promote the general good, and has thus naturally taken a prominent part in social and beneficiary orders. He is a Past Noble Grand of Capital Lodge, No. 87, I. O. O. F., a Past Chief Patriarch of Pacific Encampment, No. 2, First Past Commander of the Patriarch's Militant, Canton 1, Sacramento, is a Past Sachem of Owosso Lodge, Imp. O. R. M., No. 39, and is also a member of good standing of the A. O. U. W., and of the Knights of Honor. Mr. Martin comes of a long-lived family, his father, Mr. George W. Martin, the well-known builder and contractor of this city, being still a hale and hearty business man, although of advanced age of seventy-two years. In another place will be found a sketch of the latter's life. Three brothers and a sister reside at Moscow, Idaho Territory, while two younger half-brothers live with their father in Sacramento. Mr. Martin was married to Miss Emily E. Jones, sister of Hon. C. T. Jones, of this city, reference to whom is made elsewhere. She died about four years ago. Of their three children but one, a son named Albert Baker, is now living. Such in brief is a sketch of the life of one who holds a position of no little importance in the legal profession of Sacramento. He is a public-spirited citizen of this place, of which he has been a resident since boyhood, and it is not the less to his credit that his present position of prominence has not come to him by chance for fortune, but is the result of great natural ability coupled with indefatigable diligence and a close attention to business.

An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. By Hon. Win. J Davis. Lewis Publishing Company 1890. Page 267-268.

Submitted by: Nancy Pratt Melton.