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Below is a family biography included in History of Shawnee County, Kansas and Representative Citizens by James L. King, published by Richmond & Arnold, 1905.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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CLARENCE H. MARTIN.
Clarence H. Martin, who for 18 years was one of the leading educators of Northeastern Kansas and a favorite Normal School teacher and lecturer, is a well-known resident of Topeka and since January, 1905, has been the accredited agent of the Home-Seekers’ Land Company, a corporation controlling a million acres of Western lands. Mr. Martin was born in 1862 in Laporte County, Indiana, and is a son of Abraham H. and Mary A. Martin.

The parents of Mr. Martin were born in the State of New York. His father was a college man and in his earlier years taught school. Later he removed to Kansas, settling first in the old, historic town of Centropolis, in Franklin County, and removed from there to a virgin farm in Douglas County, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. His family consisted of seven children,—two sons and five daughters.

The subject of this sketch was three years old when his parents came to Kansas and six years old when they settled in Douglas County. Being the eldest son, he was accustomed to farm work from boyhood. His educational advantages were those obtainable in the district schools, which he attended for 29 months, the nearest school house being located four and a half miles, from his home. He was a youth of quick perceptions and very ambitious and was assisted as far as possible by his father. In his 19th year he entered the State Agricultural College and after two years work in this institution began teaching. Subsequently, in 1896, he graduated from Ottawa University and also obtained a State certificate the same year. During his 18 years as an instructor, Mr. Martin filled many very important and conspicuous positions. Prior to coming as principal to the Richland School in Shawnee County, in 1890, he had served elsewhere in the same capacity. He remained in charge of the Richland School for two years. His period of teaching in Shawnee County, including one year at the State Reform School, and as principal of Oakland and Belleview schools, covered seven busy years. His work in the normal schools of Shawnee and Osage counties was as instructor in physics, physiology and elocution.

For some time after leaving the educational field, he engaged in contracting and building, but in January, 1905, he embarked extensively in the real estate line, and, as mentioned above, became associated with one of the large organizations of the country. He is also the real estate representative of the Union Pacific Railroad Company for Shawnee County and has met with much success, disposing of over 50 sections of land for the company within two months. He has also a large, personal, real estate business, having on his list over 500 choice farms and 400 residences. His home is on Topeka township in what is known as Belleview Addition, a pretty suburb of Topeka, where he takes great pride in the propagation of all kinds of fruit and a large variety of flowers and shrubs. His well-appointed offices, located at No. 819 Kansas avenue, Topeka, are shared by his brother, Scott Martin, who is a law student, attending Washburn College.

Mr. Martin was married in 1885, at Centropolis, Franklin County, Kansas, to Anna M. Stanton, who was born in West Virginia. They made their home at Lyndon, Osage County, for several years. They have three children, viz: Walter, a manly youth of 19 years, a member of Battery B, Kansas National Guard; Vera, five years old; and Evelyn, a beautiful babe of six months. On account of old associations and personal regard for Rev. Mr. Hutchinson, the family retain their membership in the North Topeka Baptist Church. Fraternally, Mr. Martin belongs to the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is a typically self-made man, one who has attained personal success through personal endeavor without favor or financial assistance from any one.

Mr. Martin takes quite an interest in literature and belles-lettres, being a lover of good books. He has gradually built up a remarkably fine library, which now contains upwards of 3,000 volumes. The classics are especially well represented. The fields of history, biography and travel are well covered as well as those of poetry, essays, the drama and standard works of fiction.

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This family biography is one of 206 biographies included in History of Shawnee County, Kansas and Representative Citizens by James L. King, published by Richmond & Arnold, 1905.  For the complete description, click here: Shawnee County, Kansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Shawnee County, Kansas family biographies here: Shawnee County, Kansas

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