Martin, James C. (Peck) 1882-1943

MARTIN, BAILEY, MCNEAL, SAGE, HINK, MCDOWELL

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 1/12/2014 at 13:10:16

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register
July 1, 1943

J.C. MARTIN WAS
BURIED TUESDAY
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Lost Life In Burlington On
Friday.
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Lived In Grinnell For Years.
Mrs. Martin Is Charley
McNeal's Sister.
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James C. (Peck) Martin, aged 60, for many years a popular resident of Grinnell, was instantly killed Friday in Burlington when he was pinned beneath a falling telephone pole at the Iowa Ordnance plant. He was a line foreman in the plant's telephone maintenance department and was working on a pole with Hugh L. Doran of Burlington when it toppled. Doran was thrown free but suffered an arm injury and shock. Plant officials said that the men were removing wires preparatory to resetting the pole.

Funeral services were held at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon from the Methodist church conducted by Rev. C.D. Loose. Burial was in the Montezuma cemetery. Pall bearers were Ross Coutts, Phillip Garrigan, Ed Speth, Charles Hink, Dave Haines and Guy Gorsuch.

GAVE FAITHFUL SERVICE.

"Peck" Martin spent 28 or 30 years of his active life in Grinnell as a faithful and competent employee of the Interior Telephone Co., retiring on account of ill health. When he became better he worked for a time for the college and a little over a year ago moved to Burlington to become electrical superintendent for the ordnance plant, a position in which he had done an outstanding job.

He is survived by his wife and a number of relatives. A niece, Mrs. Midge Bailey, whom Mr. and Mrs. Martin brought up as their own daughter, came Monday from Mexico.

"Peck" had made many good friends during his years of residence in Grinnell and his untimely death is deeply regretted by all who knew him.--Herald-Register.

Many friends of the Martins came to the funeral yesterday. Mrs. Martin is a sister of Charley McNeal of this city and both Mr. Martin and Mrs. Martin have many friends here.

It is understood that Mr. Martin, who had made exceptionally good at Burlington was not supposed to have climbed the pole, but did so, because he could not get his men to do as he thought it should be done. He fastened his safety belt and had he not done this he might have been thrown clear when the pole fell.

Workmen had excavated too close to the pole, which caused it to topple over.

Among those from Grinnell who came to the funeral in the Howard Sage car were Mr. and Mr. Sage, his mother, Mrs. Richard, Mrs. Charles Hink and Mrs. McDowell.