Constant Martin (May 11, 1830 – June 16, 1894) was a Belgian-American civil servant. Elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1866, he represented Kewaunee County in the Assembly.[1]
Constant Martin | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Kewaunee County district | |
| In office 1866–1866 | |
| Succeeded by | David Youngs |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 11, 1831 Province of Brabant, Belgium |
| Died | June 16, 1894 (aged 64) Green Bay, Wisconsin, US |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Fannie Gillion (m. 1853-1870) Mary Louisa Rosenberg (m. 1870) |
Biography
editMartin was born on May 11, 1830, in the Province of Brabant, Belgium.[2] After working as a clerk during his young adult life, Martin immigrated to Philadelphia and started studying English.[2] He married fellow Belgian immigrant Fannie Gillon there in 1853; the couple had their first child in 1855 or 1856.[2] The family moved to Red River, Wisconsin, in 1859 and took up residence there.[3]
During his time in Red River, Martin was a land dealer and insurance agent.[2][4] In 1866, he was elected to a one-year term in the Wisconsin State Assembly.[2] He was a Democrat in his political views.[5] Martin was among the first Belgian-Americans from northeastern Wisconsin to make it to the Assembly; the group also included Joseph Wery, Benjamin Fontaine, John B. Eugene and Grégoire Dupont.[1] Martin moved on from elected positions to become a government assessor in 1867, something that tied in well with Martin's previous experience as a prominent real estate dealer in northeastern Wisconsin.[2]
1870 was a pivotal year in Martin's life; his wife had a second child but then perished along with both children later in the year.[2] Also in that year, Martin married New York native Mary Louisa Rosenberg.[2] In his professional life, Martin stepped into new roles as a United States Marshall, postmaster of Red River and town chairman of Red River, a position he held for another four years.[2][1] He was also a local justice for five years and superintendent of Kewaunee County schools for two years in the early 1870s.[2]
In 1874, Martin moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and served on the school board from 1885 to 1892.[2] He died on June 16, 1894, at age 64.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c Martin, Xavier (1895). Thwaites, Reuben (ed.). The Belgians of Northeast Wisconsin (13th ed.). Madison, WI: Democrat Printing Company. p. 19.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Commemorative biographical record of the counties of Brown, Kewaunee and Door, Wisconsin, and containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families. Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co. 1895. pp. 38, 39. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ "Relief Matters". Green Bay Weekly Gazette. November 11, 1871. Retrieved September 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "City Notes". Green Bay Weekly Gazette. August 25, 1877. Retrieved September 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Democratic Congressional Convention - Fifth District". The Appleton Crescent. September 22, 1866. Retrieved September 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.