John Andrew Martin (April 10, 1868 - December 23, 1939) raised and for ten months was in command of the First Battalion, Second Colorado Regiment. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, a son of Hugh and Ann (Bohan) Martin. His father was a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting for active duty with the Union army, and was assigned to service on a gunboat on the ]. His brother Hugh Martin Jr. was the first sheriff of Woods County, Oklahoma after statehood was achieved.
Major John A. Martin was the eldest in a family of five sons and one daughter. He acquired a public school education in Mexico and in Fulton, Missouri, and afterward took up the study of law in Colorado under private instruction. He had come to this state in 1887, and having determined upon law practice as a life work, he spent some time in the office of Fred A. Sabin, of La Junta, while later his preceptor was Dan B. Carey. now of Denver. He was admitted to the bar in 1896 and opened an office in Pueblo.
On the 6th of September, 1892, Major Martin was united in marriage to Miss Rose M. Chitwood, and to them was born a daughter. Stella, who is now the wife of Gordon W. Spencer. (Actually, Stella was Rose’s daughter by a previous marriage.) (CMC)
In his political views Major Martin was a Democrat and was very active in party ranks. He served as a member of the general assembly of Colorado and for two terms represented his district in congress. He was also city attorney.
While he was studying law he devoted two years to the publishing of the La Junta Times and in 1887 he worked on the construction of the Colorado Midland Railroad, which was the first standard railroad across the plains. He recognized the value of such a line and set about to secure the fulfillment of his plans.
While serving as city attorney he resigned his position to raise the First Battalion. Second Colorado Infantry, and was commissioned a major by General Baldwin. The company was recruited along the Arkansas valley and sent to San Diego, California, but because of his age Major Martin was honorably discharged and returned to Pueblo.
