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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.