Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
JOHN P. MARTIN, one of the commissioners
of Lincoln county, well and favorably known to a large circle of acquaintances,
resides four miles north and east of Sherman. He was born in Mower
county, Minnesota, January 1, 1863. His parents, Peter and Annie
(Anderson) Martin, were born in Norway, the father coming to the United
States in the early 'fifties. He now resides near Sherman, cultivating
four hundred acres of land. The mother, who was married in Norway,
came to this country with her husband, and died in Minnesota in 1872.
Minnesota was the field
of our subject's youthful exploits, where he remained until he was twenty-five
years of age, attending school and working on a farm. At that age
he married and removed to Washington, locating on the property where he
at present resides. He cultivates four hundred and eighty acres,
mainly devoted to wheat. He has two brothers, Andrew and Martin,
who are prosperous Minnesota farmers. His sister, Mary, is the wife
of C. Jorgenson, a Mower county, Minnesota, farmer. He has three
half brothers, Albert, Henry, and Emil, boys living at home with their
parents, and three half sisters, Clara, wife of Julius Nordby, a Douglas
county farmer and stock raiser; Petra, wife of Newton Spiegel, of Wilbur,
Washington; and Lizzie, living at home.
Mr. Martin was married,
in Mower county, Minnesota, March 2, 1888, to Mary Bergeson, daughter of
John and Annie (Jorgenson) Bergeson, both natives of Norway. They
now live in Freeborn county, Minnesota. Mrs. Martin has one brother,
Elmer, and several sisters.
Politically, Mr. Martin
is a Republican, and has taken as active an interest in party issues as
his business would permit. In 1902 he was elected county commissioner,
running ahead of his ticket and polling the second heaviest vote in the
county. He has served as delegate to county conventions. Fraternally,
he is a member of Tuscan Lodge, No. 81, A. F. & A. M., Wilbur, Washington,
and the A. O. U. W., of Wilbur. He is a popular, influential, and
progressive citizen of Lincoln county, and one whose business sagacity
and sterling honesty have won the confidence of all.