ROBERT I. MARTIN.

ROBERT I. MARTIN.
Robert I. Martin, publisher and editor of the Saratoga Sun, a paper issued at Saratoga, in Carbon county, was born September 30, 1879, near Rochford, South Dakota, and has the distinction of being the second white child born in the Black Hills. His father, William M. Martin, is a native of New York and belongs to one of the old families of that state of Scotch-Irish lineage. He was reared and educated in New York and in young manhood, following the discovery of gold in California, crossed the plains to the Pacific coast and devoted some years to mining in that state. He also became connected with mining in Nevada, in Montana, Idaho and in South Dakota and afterward returned to the east. He took up his abode in South Dakota in 1877. He was employed on the building of government forts in Montana in the early days and but a short time after the Custer massacre he with others crossed the spot on which the fight between the Indians and the white men had occurred. During his many years' residence upon the western frontier he, too, had become an Indian fighter and took part in many of the early battles with the red men when they displayed hostility toward those who wished to reclaim the districts for the purpose of civilization. Mr. Martin is familiar with every phase of frontier life and experience, meeting many of the hardships and privations incident to the settlement of the frontier and at all times taking a helpful part in advancing the welfare of the district in which he lived. In 1883 he became owner of a ranch in Pennington county, South Dakota, and there continued until the Sioux Indians went upon the warpath. He was the last of the settlers to leave the valley but at length knew that it was no longer safe for him to remain and removed to Hot Springs in 1885. There he engaged in the hotel business, residing in Hot Springs during the boom days in that vicinity. During the widespread financial panic of 1893, however, he lost a large amount of the fortune which he had accumulated and since that year he has made his home at Bellefourche, in South Dakota, where he is now living retired. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Loretta H. Brown, is a native of Illinois and is of Scotch descent, her people having resided at Ottawa, Illinois, for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Martin became the parents of three children: Chester T., who is a resident of Camp Crook, South Dakota, where he is editor and publisher of the Range Gazette; Robert I., of this review; and Anna, who became the wife of a well known Chicago journalist. Robert I. Martin was reared and educated at Hot Springs, South. Dakota, where he attended the public schools, advancing through successive grades to the high school, while later he became a student in the Black Hills College, a Methodist institution of Hot Springs. He was but thirteen years of age, however, when he started out to learn the printer's trade. He served his apprenticeship, which he completed at the age of eighteen years, and during this time he also attended school, devoting the vacation periods to the trade. He was employed as a journeyman until 1902 and then removed to Thermopolis, Wyoming, where he published the Thermopolis Independent, which he leased and conducted for a year. He then returned to Greeley, Colorado, where he was employed on various papers, and later he conducted several papers at different places on his own account. Among these was the Clyde Park Herald, published at Clyde Park. Montana. In March, 1917, he purchased the Saratoga Sun from John D. Paulson, who had purchased the plant from the estate of the late J. F. Crawford, who had successfully conducted the paper for a period of twenty-five years*. Since becoming owner of the Sun, Mr. Martin has greatly improved the plant, adding a linotype machine of the latest design and modern presses, and today the plant is equal to any in the state. He has abandoned the political policy of the paper, which was formerly republican. He now publishes the Sun as a strictly independent journal and has no political obligations to fullfill, and in consequence is free to say what he deems best for the majority. He stands unequivocally for what he , believes to be right. Since he assumed control the paper has shown a steady and healthful growth and from all standpoints is proving satisfactory to the owner and to the patrons. In February, 1902, Mr. Martin was united in marriage in Colorado to Miss Ethel. V. Pelham, a native of South Dakota and a daughter of the late J. D. and Mary Pelham, who were representatives of an old Missouri family. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two children, Robert D. and Anna Kathryn. Fraternally Mr. Martin is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He is widely and favorably known in Saratoga, and a social nature and genial disposition have gained for him the warm regard of those with whom he has been connected through business or social relations.

Robert I. Martin, publisher and editor of the Saratoga Sun, a paper issued at Saratoga, in Carbon county, was born September 30, 1879, near Rochford, South Dakota, and has the distinction of being the second white child born in the Black Hills. His father, William M. Martin, is a native of New York and belongs to one of the old families of that state of Scotch-Irish lineage. He was reared and educated in New York and in young manhood, following the discovery of gold in California, crossed the plains to the Pacific coast and devoted some years to mining in that state. He also became connected with mining in Nevada, in Montana, Idaho and in South Dakota and afterward returned to the east. He took up his abode in South Dakota in 1877. He was employed on the building of government forts in Montana in the early days and but a short time after the Custer massacre he with others crossed the spot on which the fight between the Indians and the white men had occurred. During his many years' residence upon the western frontier he, too, had become an Indian fighter and took part in many of the early battles with the red men when they displayed hostility toward those who wished to reclaim the districts for the purpose of civilization. Mr. Martin is familiar with every phase of frontier life and experience, meeting many of the hardships and privations incident to the settlement of the frontier and at all times taking a helpful part in advancing the welfare of the district in which he lived. In 1883 he became owner of a ranch in Pennington county, South Dakota, and there continued until the Sioux Indians went upon the warpath. He was the last of the settlers to leave the valley but at length knew that it was no longer safe for him to remain and removed to Hot Springs in 1885. There he engaged in the hotel business, residing in Hot Springs during the boom days in that vicinity. During the widespread financial panic of 1893, however, he lost a large amount of the fortune which he had accumulated and since that year he has made his home at Bellefourche, in South Dakota, where he is now living retired. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Loretta H. Brown, is a native of Illinois and is of Scotch descent, her people having resided at Ottawa, Illinois, for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Martin became the parents of three children: Chester T., who is a resident of Camp Crook, South Dakota, where he is editor and publisher of the Range Gazette; Robert I., of this review; and Anna, who became the wife of a well known Chicago journalist.
Robert I. Martin was reared and educated at Hot Springs, South. Dakota, where he attended the public schools, advancing through successive grades to the high school, while later he became a student in the Black Hills College, a Methodist institution of Hot Springs. He was but thirteen years of age, however, when he started out to learn the printer's trade. He served his apprenticeship, which he completed at the age of eighteen years, and during this time he also attended school, devoting the vacation periods to the trade. He was employed as a journeyman until 1902 and then removed to Thermopolis, Wyoming, where he published the Thermopolis Independent, which he leased and conducted for a year. He then returned to Greeley, Colorado, where he was employed on various papers, and later he conducted several papers at different places on his own account. Among these was the Clyde Park Herald, published at Clyde Park. Montana. In March, 1917, he purchased the Saratoga Sun from John D. Paulson, who had purchased the plant from the estate of the late J. F. Crawford, who had successfully conducted the paper for a period of twenty-five years*. Since becoming owner of the Sun, Mr. Martin has greatly improved the plant, adding a linotype machine of the latest design and modern presses, and today the plant is equal to any in the state. He has abandoned the political policy of the paper, which was formerly republican. He now publishes the Sun as a strictly independent journal and has no political obligations to fullfill, and in consequence is free to say what he deems best for the majority. He stands unequivocally for what he , believes to be right. Since he assumed control the paper has shown a steady and healthful growth and from all standpoints is proving satisfactory to the owner and to the patrons.
In February, 1902, Mr. Martin was united in marriage in Colorado to Miss Ethel. V. Pelham, a native of South Dakota and a daughter of the late J. D. and Mary Pelham, who were representatives of an old Missouri family. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two children, Robert D. and Anna Kathryn.
Fraternally Mr. Martin is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He is widely and favorably known in Saratoga, and a social nature and genial disposition have gained for him the warm regard of those with whom he has been connected through business or social relations.