John Andrew Martin (April 10, 1868 – December 23, 1939) was an American journalist, attorney, soldier, and politician, who represented Colorado in the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms from 1909 to 1913, then three more terms from 1933 to 1939. He recruited troops and commanded the 115th Supply Train, Fortieth Division during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

Early life and education

He was born in

Cincinnati Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

, a son of Hugh and Ann (Bohan) Martin. He acquired a public school education in the towns of

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

and

Fulton, Missouri Fulton is the largest city in and the county seat of Callaway County, Missouri, Callaway County, Missouri, United States. Located about northeast of Jefferson City, Missouri, Jefferson City and the Missouri River and east of Columbia, Missouri, ...

, until he was twelve years old and began working in a tobacco factory. He moved with his parents to Kansas in 1884 and worked on a farm in Turon.

Career

He came to Colorado in 1887. He was employed on railroad construction work and as a locomotive fireman from 1887 to 1894; He worked on the construction of the

Colorado Midland Railroad The Colorado Midland Railway ,Railway Equipment and Publication CompanyThe Official Railway Equipment Register June 1917, p. 786 incorporated in 1883, was the first standard gauge railroad built over the Continental Divide in Colorado. It ran fr ...

and then as a locomotive engineer on the Santa Fe. He became publisher of the ''La Junta Times'' and was member of the city council of La Junta in 1895 and 1896. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1896. In 1897, he began practicing law in Pueblo.

First stint in Congress

He was a member of the State house of representatives in 1901 and 1902. He was the city attorney in 1905 and 1906. He was elected as a Democrat to the 61st and 62nd Congresses (March 4, 1909 – March 3, 1913). He declined to be a candidate for reelection in 1912 and resumed the practice of law. In

1914 This year saw the beginning of what became known as the First World War, after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the Austrian throne was Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip ...

, he challenged incumbent U.S. Senator Charles S. Thomas for the Democratic nomination, but dropped out of the race before the primary election. He was again the city attorney in 1916 and 1917.

World War I

At the outbreak of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, he was attempted to enlist, but was denied due to his age and he was the head of a family. Undeterred, he recruited a volunteer battalion of National Guardsmen in Pueblo and was commissioned a major over the group of men that he recruited. He commanded the 115th Supply Train, Fortieth Division. After the war, he was a member of the San Isabel Chapter Number 2 of the

Disabled American Veterans The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is an organization created in 1920 by World War I veterans for disabled military veterans of the United States Armed Forces that helps them and their families through various means. It was issued a federal ch ...

of the World War. He was also post commander of the Pueblo Post Number 2 of the

American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...

Return to Congress

He resumed the practice of law in Pueblo, Colorado. Twenty years after his first service in the House of Representatives, he was elected to the

73rd Congress The 73rd United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1933, ...

and to the three succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1933, until his death. During that time, he worked on the Railroad Retirement Act of 1935 and the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. Among his other efforts, he framed holding company legislation while on the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee.

Personal life

On September 6, 1892 or 1902, he married Rose May Chitwood at

Wellington, Kansas Wellington is a city in and the county seat of Sumner County, Kansas, Sumner County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population of the city was 7,715. History 19th century Wellington was platted i ...

. They had a daughter, Stella. He wrote a novel based on the lives of his wife's parents who were pioneer settlers in Kansas. Published in 1908, it depicted the "dawn life of the prairie West and its people."

Death and burial

He contacted a case of

ptomaine poisoning Foodborne illness (also known as foodborne disease and food poisoning) is any illness resulting from the contamination of food by pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites, as well as prions (the agents of mad cow disease), and toxins such as ...

and died in Washington, D.C., on December 23, 1939. He was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Pueblo, Colorado.

Electoral history

References

External links

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John Andrew Martin (1868-1939)
at politicalgraveyard.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, John Andrew 1939 deaths 1868 births Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Colorado Democratic Party members of the Colorado House of Representatives 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives 20th-century members of the Colorado General Assembly