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biographies

Alexander MARTIN, proprietor of the Vendome Hotel at Baraga, Baraga County, Michigan, and one of the town's prominent citizens, was born in 1846 in Brussels, Belgium, and is a son of John J. and Adeline B. (Osel) Martin, the surviving members of the family at the present time being our subject and two sisters. The latter are: Celine, who married Francis Hannan, of Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Marie Eleanor Odrate, who married Joseph Dyne, now deceased, and lives at Green Bay. ,Joseph Dyne was a soldier in the Civil War and died from disease there contracted.

Alexander Martin was about five years old when his parents came to America and settled near Philadelphia, at Manyunk. Shortly after they removed to Green Bay, Wisconsin, which at that time was an insignificant town, and there they reared their children. Alexander commenced business life in the capacity of clerk in a clothing store at the age of 14 years, and the outbreak of the Civil War found him there.

In the spring of 1862, when 17 years old, Mr. Martin enlisted in Company G, 17th Reg., Wisconsin Vol. Inf., as a drummer boy, and saw hard service in the armies of the West and the Potomac and accompanied General Sherman on that memorable march to the sea. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg and later returned with his command for three months to this beleaguered and conquered city. It was his fortune to also participate in the battle of Gettysburg and at the time of the surrender of General Lee he was with Sherman's forces near Richmond.

At the close of the war Mr. Martin returned to Green Bay, having escapes both wounds and imprisonment, although he faced many marvellous adventures and often was in great danger of both life and liberty. Mr. Martin then passed some time on a Wisconsin farm and in 1871 he came to the Northern Peninsula and engaged in clerking until he embarked in the business for himself. in 1886, remaining at Hayfield from 1887 until 1895, when he removed to Baraga. He conducted the McKinley House in Baraga for five years, and in 1899 took charge of the Vendome Hotel, where he has been established ever since. He is a very popular host and by those kindnesses, courtesies and comforts which warm the weary traveler's heart, he has won the bulk of tile patronage in the town.

On April 23, 1868, Mr. Martin married Adelaide Gauyan, who was born at Kewaunee, Wisconsin. No children had been born to this union, but Mr. and Mrs. Martin have given kindness and protection to three adopted children. Fratemally Mr. Martin is associated with the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America.

 

Source : (collective work) : Biographical record, Houghton, Baraga and Marquette Counties; Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1903, 378  pgs.