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David Martin, who has
departed this life, became closely associated with the agricultural
development of Alberta in the vicinity of Edmonton and there developed a
tract of land which he brought under a high state of cultivation. His
activities were of a character that contributed to the material
upbuilding of the section in which he lived and he was regarded as one
of the representative residents of this part of the Province. his birth
occurred in the province of Ontario, Canada, in the year 1854, and there
he was reared and educated. His parents came from Perthshire, Scotland,
where the ancestors of the Martins had lived for centuries.
David Martin
Having arrived at years
of maturity, David Martin wedded Margaret McCreadie, a native of
Kilmarnock, Scotland. They continued to make their home in Ontario until
1876, when they crossed the border into the United States and made their
way westward to North Dakota. There Mr. Martin took up a homestead claim
in Traill county, thirty miles north of Fargo, and with characteristic
energy began the development and cultivation of the soil, upon which not
a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made when he located
thereon. He continued to follow farming in North Dakota until 1899, when
he returned to Canada, this time becoming a resident of Alberta. Here he
purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land adjoining Edmonton and
a portion of this is now within the city limits. He then took up the
work of farming here, with the result that his land was soon converted
into rich and productive fields, from which he annually gathered golden
harvests. He was busily engaged in agricultural pursuits to the time of
his death, which occurred in the year 1901. He is survived by his widow
and the property which he owned is yet in possession of his heirs.
To Mr. and Mrs. Martin
ten children were horn, eight of whom are living: Grace Cothart, who is
the wife of D. C. McEachern of Edmonton; Chester D., a real estate
dealer of Edmonton; Frances Fern, the wife of Dr. Seymour Archibald of
Edmonton; Edith, who is living at home; Robert McCreadie, a civil
engineer of Edmonton; Helen Reid, who is the wife of Cecil Rutherford of
Edmonton; Pauline Drinnan, the wife of Gerald Brophy of Regina; and
David Q., a railroad man living at home.
While residing in North
Dakota, Mr. Martin had filled the office of justice of the peace but was
never active as an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his time and
energies upon his individual business interests. He was a member of the
Presbyterian church and its teachings characterized his entire life,
making him a man worthy the respect and esteem of all with whom he was
brought into contact. Though many years have passed since he was called
to his final rest, he is well remembered by those who were his
associates during the period of his residence in Alberta and his memory
is most tenderly cherished by his family, to whom he was a devoted
husband and father. |
