Arthur Martin was
born in Detroit, Michigan September 11, 1853. Sometime during
the year of 1855 his parents, Michael and Fredericka Martin,
relocated to an area Southeast of St. Paul, Minnesota. That area
is now known as Battle Creek Park. The location of their
property was between Upper Afton Road and Lower Afton Road to
the east of state highway 61. They owned several parcels of land
in this area, which would be later sold, about 1922 to a family
that eventually donated their holding to the city/county for the
park development that exists today.
It has been told
through family folklore that Arthur, as a youngster, served as
an apprentice coppersmith. His father died when Arthur was 4
years old and his mother, Fredericka remarried Louis Nickow, a
family friend and business partner of Michael, sometime in 1860.
Not much else in known about Arthur's younger years.
Arthur married
Anna Norton sometime in 1875 and of that marriage 2 children
were born, a son William and daughter Jennie. Anna passed away
in 1879. In 1883 he married Mary Ann Dahl of St. Paul. This
second marriage produced 6 children.
The following
information is found in The History of the St. Paul Police and
Fire Departments Manual, published in 1898, Pages 243 and 244.
First Assistant Chief Arthur Martin
The First
Assistant Chief Engineer of the fire department, Arthur Martin,
has had one of the longest careers in the service. And as a
career highly honorable in itself as well as being full of
victories won, step by step, he has much reason to be proud of
it. Detroit, Michigan, was Chief Martin's birthplace 45 years
ago. He came to St. Paul with his parents in 1855 at the age of
2. He attended school here and learned the trade of coppersmith,
which he pursued for a long time. His first fire service was
rendered in April of 1870, he was foreman of the old Trout Brook
or No. 4 Engine Company. In June of 1878 he re-entered the
department as a hoseman, serving 2 years at No. 4. In August of
1880, he was promoted to the position of Captain and by special
request 3 years later was appointed stoker of Engine Co. No. 2.
In June, 1885 he again became Captain of Engine No. 2. When
Engine Co. No. 7 was organized he was placed in charge, and was
subsequently transferred as Captain to Chemical No. 2, and Hook
and Ladder No. 4. He remained at this last fire house until
April 4, 1889, when he was promoted to First Fire Chief
Engineer.
When he retired
from the Fire Department, about 1904, and went into partnership
with his brother-in-law, Edward Dahl, selling life, home and
fire insurance.
He built his home
at 728 East Fifth St. in St. Paul. It was here he raised his
family and the home remained in the family until the mid 1960's.
Arthur died July 19, 1924. His wife Mary Ann, died in 1940. Of
his children only one son married, that being Edward L. Martin,
Sr. His other children from the second marriage were 3 sons
Arthur Jr, Harry J. and Louis M. and two daughters Mary Margaret
and Catherine G. Arthur Jr. died at the age of 7, Henry at the
age of 31, Louis at age 72, Catherine at 68, and Mary at age 92.
From his first
marriage, his daughter Jennie died at age 7 months and son
William at age 86.
