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GARFIELD
COUNTY, COGENWEB PROJECT
James Albert "Al" Martin
Here is another area pioneer, from his obituary.
Al
Martin Died Tuesday, October 9, 1934; One of State's Pioneers
Another of the
pioneers of western Colorado took the last trail over the mountains when "Al"
Martin passed away quietly in his sleep early Tuesday morning at his home on the
Government road. Death was caused by a heart ailment.
Funeral services will
be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Sayre mortuary with burial in the
Rose Hill Cemetery.
James Albert Martin was born May 1, 1858 in Pittsburgh,
Pa., on farm land now occupied by the Carnegie steel works. His parents had come
previously from Scotland and settled in the United States.
Orphaned by the
death of his father when 3 years of age, Mr. Martin largely made his own way
through life. Deciding to follow the flow of population west, he came to
Colorado in 1878 and got his first job here punching cows in the plains country
near Kiowa.
Later he moved to Breckenridge and through Middle Park and the
Gore range into this locality, taking up a homestead on the Thornburg
battleground. While there he, with a party of others were surrounded by Ute
Indians, had his horse shot from under him and lived on unsalted venison six
days before help came.
For many years he freighted in the necessary supplies
for the rapidly growing Meeker country, first from Rawlins, Wyo., then from
Rifle, when the Rio Grande Western railroad penetrated that far down the
Colorado river.
During the latter part of his life he was interested in
farming and stock raising and operated ranch properties on Piceance creek,
Whiteriver, and the Government road.
He was married October 8, 1900 and died
on the day following his 34th wedding anniversary.
Mr. Martin was one of that
hardy group of pioneers who wrested western Colorado from the wilderness and his
passing leaves another gap intheir rapidly thinning ranks.
Besides his wife,
Mrs. Marie Martin, Mr. Martin is survived by a brother, William J. Martin of
Kimball, S.D.; a half brother, Dave Young; half sister, Mrs. Margaret King, both
of Oakland, Calif. And other relatives.
His father was Samuel Martin and his
mother Henrietta Bennett. Mrs. Bennett had come to America from Scotland in 1849
when just sixteen years old. Her parent's were John and Ann (Kennedy) Bennett.
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