MARTIN, Philo J. 1860-1919

MARTIN, AYERS, HEMSWORTH

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 5/16/2013 at 20:00:22

[Waterloo Evening Courier, Monday, February 17, 1919, Waterloo, Iowa]

PHILO J. MARTIN FUNERAL WILL BE TUESDAY AT 2 P.M.

Former Mayor of Waterloo Succumbs at His Home After a Long Illness.

A grand lodge funeral with a Knight Templar escort, is being arranged for P. J. Martin, who died Saturday midnight at his residence, 331 Fremont Street, after a lingering illness.

Services will be held at Grace M. E. church at 2 p.m. tomorrow, following a brief prayer service at the home. The casket will be open at the home from 10 to 12 tomorrow and not open at the church, lnterment will be in Fairview.

Arrangements for the grand lodge, of which Mr. Martin was a past grand master, are being made by Newton S. Parvin, Cedar Kaplids, the grand secretary. The escort will be furnished by the commanderies of Waterloo. Cedar Palls and Waverly. Rev. Harry Leroy Haywood, of Davenport, will hare charge of the services. Rev. Mr. Haywood is a former pastor of Libleral Christian church, where Mr. Martin attended and where he gave support.

The body of Mr. Martin will rest at the Petersen Brothers' mortuary until tomorrow morning.

As a member of the Masonic fraternity Mr. Martin was especially well known. He held many positions of honor and trust in the various branches and departments of this order. He was past grand master of Iowa Masons, past grand patron of the Order of Eastern Star, treasurer of the grand charity fund of the grand lodge, chairman of the board of trustees of Templar Park association, secretary and treasurer of the Masonic Temple association of Waterloo, past grand master of Waterloo lodge No. 105, past illustrious master of Crescent council No. 116, past worthy patron of Waterloo chapter No. 108, O. E. S., past eminent commander of Ascalon cotnmandery, and had been designated for the thirtythird degree, one of the few men of Iowa thus honored. He never was able to take this highest work in the Masonic fraternity, altho hoping it might be possible for him to take the work at Washington, D. C.

Not only in the fraternity which absorbed much of his attention in later life was Mr. Martin widely known, but his. acquaintance among business men and the home folks was unusually extensive. Having been a railroad operator and agent in. his younger days, a man of wide travel, he had friends in almost every section of Iowa.

Mr. Martin was also active in the Knights of Pythias lodge and in other fraternal orders.

The event which took Mr. Martin's name, and with it a distinctive fame, far and wide, even into foreign lands, was his renowned "sewer banquet." When he was mayor he was able to bring about the reclamation of a large area in the west section of the city thru the construction of a monster storm water sewer. This improvement, expensive in its initial cost, but economical from the viewpoint of territory reclaimed for residential purposes, took the place of a dry run which occasionally went on rampages that inundated all contiguous territory and spread out over considerable distances. Ever since the town was settled this dry run had been a source of terror to the residents in the spring breakups and after torrential rains.

Mr. Martin was enthusiastic in his determination to eliminate this eyesore and cause of damage.

After the sewer had been constructed the mayor arranged for a big banquet. He was ably assisted by the contractor and the councilmen, who made it possible, by use of ladders, for 300 guests to descend into the sewer and eat a sumptuous repast at the tables, placed end to end, for half a block. The sewer was illuminated with electric lights and an orchestra furnished 'music. A flashlight photo was made of the strange scene and newspapers in this country and in England reproduced the pictures and gave lengthy descriptions of the underground feast.

It was Mr. Martin who originated the plan of selling lots to those who wished to build their homes, at $1 down and $1 a week. Lots put on the market on these terms went like hot cakes. Mr. Martin was engaged by those who platted property to conduct the lot sales, and he probably had the distinction of selling more building lots than any other man in his time.

Philo J. Martin was born in Hardin County in 1860. He was reared on a farm there and his early career did not differ materially from that of thousands of other farmers' sons. He remained on the homestead until he bad reached 21 and then took up the study of telegraphy. Soon he was able to master the key and for 13 years was operator and station agent for the Chicago & Northwestern and tho Iowa Central Railroad companies. At this time Mr. Martin turned his attention to pharmacy and conducted drug stores at Lake Mills and other cities in Iowa.

In 1897 Mr. Martin came to Waterloo, where he opened a real estate office. It was in this business that he spent his succeeding years until the time he took to his bed. in June, 1917. He extended his business interests in his later years and became interested in several local enterprises.

Mr. Martin was twice elected mayor of Waterloo and served four years, 1901-5. At that time he acted
as police judge and his sentences were always tempered with mercy, except when wife beaters, drunkards who "repeated" and other more serious offenders faced him, who always received the limit.

Mr. Martin was united in marriage with Miss Jessie L. Ayres, of Eldora, la., in 1884. To them were born three children: Miss Blanche, a teacher; Mrs. C. A. Hemsworth, and Miss Dorothy, a nurse.

Medical records will contain few examples of such fortitude in suffering, such a determination to stave off death, such a persistency to conduct his ordinary business even in the shadow of the Dark Angel, as marked the long illness of Mr. Martin.

For years before he took to his bed in June, 1917, Mr. Martin had suffered from diabetes. He had been told life for him at best must be short. This doleful prophecy did not appear to disturb Mr. Martin farther than to cause him to vow that he should conquer the disease that had laid such, a firm hold upon him. Diet and attention to health rules kept him in fairly good condition. Up to the time he was forced to his bed, Mr. Martin did an enormous amount of work. He had a large part in the entertainment of visiting Masonic bodies. When any one wanted a witty program compiled for the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Martin was called upon to prepare the copy. He was an omnivorous reader, a deep student and a ceaseless worker.

For months after being stricken Mr. Martin was close to death. He lived in the shadow of the grave, but refused to admit it. He maintained he would yet rout the disorder that was sapping his life away. After more than a year of serious, even critical illness, never leaving his bed. Mr. Martin had a turn for the better. He was able to sit up, then to be wheeled about in a chair and finally to be taken to the lodge room, where his thoughts constantly dwelt.

About six weeks before his death, Mr. Martin again took a turn for the worse and had frequent sinking spells. But even then he refuse to give up and conducted his lodge business, making out his reports, dictating his correspondence, signing his business papers, up almost to the last day.

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