Primary Name: Martin, David
Filed as: david_martin
Also known as:
Occupation / Association: Merchant; Fur Trader; Charter Member, Juneau Men's Igloo No. 6
Born: c. 1853, England
Died: April 3, 1916, Juneau, Alaska
Parents:
Spouse:
Children:
Associated places: England; San Francisco, California; Wrangell, Alaska; Cassiar District; Stikine River; Haines, Alaska; Sitka, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Nome, Alaska
Keywords: David Martin, Martin David, Juneau merchant, Juneau fur trader, Juneau Men's Igloo No. 6, Pioneers of Alaska, San Francisco theatrical business, Alaska pioneer merchant
Biography
David Martin was born in England about 1853 and moved with his parents to San Francisco, California, as a small child. Before coming to Alaska, he and a brother were engaged in the theatrical business in San Francisco.
Martin first came to Alaska in 1869, landing at Wrangell. From there, he traveled to the Cassiar country and later returned by way of the Stikine River in 1871. In the years that followed, he lived in several Southeast Alaska communities, including Wrangell, Haines, and Sitka, where he was associated with his father in business.
In 1881, Martin moved to Juneau, where he established a general merchandise store at the location later occupied by Winter & Pond. The store was a major business for many years before he eventually left the mercantile trade. Afterward, he entered the fur business and continued working in that trade in Juneau.
Martin lived in Juneau continuously from 1881 onward, with the exception of a single trip to Nome, where he spent approximately one year. He was a charter member of the Juneau Men's Igloo of the Pioneers of Alaska.
David Martin died on April 3, 1916, at St. Ann’s Hospital in Juneau from complications of organic illness.
Sources
Alaska Daily Empire, April 3, 1916; Biographies of Alaska-Yukon Pioneers 1850–1950, Vol. 5, p. 178, Ed Ferrell (May 1, 2004)
Tags: David Martin, Martin David, Juneau Men's Igloo No. 6, Pioneers of Alaska, Juneau merchants, Alaska fur traders, Wrangell Alaska residents, Sitka Alaska residents, Nome Alaska residents