Constant Martin
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Kewaunee County district
In office
1866–1866
Succeeded byDavid Youngs
Personal details
Born(1831-05-11)May 11, 1831
Province of Brabant, Belgium
DiedJune 16, 1894(1894-06-16) (aged 64)
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic Party
Spouse(s)Fannie Gillion (m. 1853-1870)
Mary Louisa Rosenberg (m. 1870)

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]

Biography

Martin 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] Martin is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Martin, Xavier (1895). Thwaites, Reuben (ed.). The Belgians of Northeast Wisconsin (13th ed.). Madison, WI: Democrat Printing Company. p. 19.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 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.
  3. ↑ "Relief Matters". Green Bay Weekly Gazette. November 11, 1871. Retrieved September 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "City Notes". Green Bay Weekly Gazette. August 25, 1877. Retrieved September 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Democratic Congressional Convention - Fifth District". The Appleton Crescent. September 22, 1866. Retrieved September 18, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Constant Martin (1830-1894)". Find a Grave. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
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