Martin - William K. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

True biography has a more noble purpose than mere fulsome eulogy. The historic spirit, faithful to the record; the discerning judgment, unmoved by prejudice and uncolored by enthusiasm, are as essential in giving the life of the individual as in writing the history of a people. Indeed, the ingenuousness of the former picture is even more vital, because the individual is the national unit, and if the unit be justly estimated the complex organism will become correpondingly intelligble. The world today is what the leading men of the past generations have made it, and this rule must ever hold good. Fromt he past comes the legacy of the present. Art, science, statesmanship and government are accumulations. They constitute an inheritance upon which the present generation have entered, and the advantages secured from so vast a bequeathment depend entirely upon the fidelity with which is conducted the study of the lives of the principle actors who have transmitted the legacy. One of the men of Montgomery County who is entitled to a biographical record in a work of the province assigned to the one in hand is William K. MARTIN, one of the best known and most progressive of Crawfordsville's business men, having long devoted his energies to various lines of important endeavor which he has carried to scucessful issue here. Mr. Martin was born in this city on August 7, 1869. He is a son of William and Elizabeth GRIMES Martin. T he father was born on May 10, 1838 in Union Township, MOntgomery County just south of Crawfordsville four miles. He is now living in Crawfordsville. The mother of our subject was born in 1843 in Union Township, this county and she grew to womanhood here and was educated in the local schools. Her death occurred in 1904. William Martin was a farmer in early life. He organized the first dairy business in Crawfordsville and in 1873 went into the ice business, in which he has continued ever since, the firm being known as the Crawfordsville Ice & Cold Storage Company, and is now incoporated. A very large business is carried on, which has gradually grown with advancing years under the able management and wise foresight of Mr. Martin. To William Martin and wife 3 children were born : Matie, born in 1864, has remained single; Eva born in 1866, married AE REYNOLDS and they are living in Crawfordsville and William K, subject of this sketch is the youngest. William K. Martin received a common and high school education, later attending Wabash College from which he was graduated with the class of 1887. In January 1895, he married Julia BROMLEY who was born in this county in 1870, a daughter of William and Angeline CRANE Bromley, a well known and highly respected family of this locality. These parents were born in Ohio, from which state they came here in an early day and became very comfortably established through their industry, and here Mrs. Martin grew to womanhood and was educated in the common and high schools. The unino of our subject and wife has been without issue. Mr. Martin, after finishing school went into the ice business with his father, in which he has remained to the present time. In 1904 he became connected with the Citizens National bank of Crawfordsville, was at first a director, then became VP in 1906, the duties of which position he is still discharging in a manner that reflects much credit upon his ability and honesty and to the satisfaction of patrons and stockholders. He was one of the first trustees of the local electric light company when it went out of the hands of the city government and was placed in the hands of trustees. He was trustee of this company for about 4 years, giving satisfaction to all concerned. IN 1907 he purchased an interest in the Home Telephone Co. Mr. Martin was manager of this company two years until the company was sold. In Dec 1909 he was made general manager and director of the Crawfordsville heating company and he has been secretary of the ice and cold storage company in which he and his father are interested since its incorporation in 1897. He is also connected with the Crawfordsville Trust Co. in which he is a stockholder. He was also for a time connected with the Ben Hurt Traction Co until it was sold in 1910. he has been very successfully in a financial way and is one of the substantial and influential business men of Crawfordsville in which city he owns an attractive and modernly apointed home. Mr. Martin is a member of the natioanl district heating Assoc; the Indiana Bankers Association; and the Indiana Ice Manufacturing Association; the Middle States Ice Manufacturing Association and director in the Indiana Manufacturers and Shippers Association. Politically, he is a Republican. He is affiliated with the First Methodist Episcopal Church. When in college he belonged to the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red men, the Tribe of Ben Hur and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Unknown source: Crawfordsville ?   Year?

Ice! Ice! iCE! Ice! William Martin - Will commence furnishing ice from wagons Monday, May 2. Persons wishing ice can see him on route or at old state No 9 North Green Street, Crawfordsville. Season customers, 20 weeks, 10 lbs per day for $5.  Irregular customers one-half cent per pound.

Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Review, July 30, 1881

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Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Review, March 26, 1881

William Martin, the veteran ice dealer, has a large quantity of the fine st ice which he will furnish to customers cheap. Mr. Martin has been in t he ice business long enough for his patrons to rest assured they will g et the best.

Source: Weekly Argus News, Jan 14, 1893

Martin & Son finished their ice harvest late last evening. Every house is packed to the rafters and there is enough coolness stored in the four large houses to supply the wants of Crawfordsville for three seasons. The last blocks measured a thickness of 12” and were as clear as crystals. A considerable quantity of thin ice, which was packed last year was carted out to make room for a like quantity of ice of a high grade.  Skaters will now take possession of the dam.