Edward Lowe Martin

Edward Lowe Martin was born in Maysville, Kentucky on March 12, 1842 to parents William Martin and Margaret Sheridan Martin. Edward's parents emigrated to Kentucky from Belfast, Ireland in 1822. Edward was educated in private schools in Kentucky until age 16, when he began working in the field of business.

Edward Martin began his business career at age 16 as a shipping clerk for a wholesale grocery house. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Martin was placed in charge of the business when the owner was jailed as a Confederate sympathizer. Martin liquidated the business and returned the proceeds to the family of the owner. Martin's next occupation was that of head bookkeeper at the largest hardware store in his region of Kentucky. He remained in that position until 1864, when he resigned and moved to a similar position at a large wholesale grocery company in Cincinnati, Ohio. After a year, Martin became a partner in the business and remained there until 1868.

In 1868 Martin moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he was the head of the E. L. Martin & Company wholesale liquor business and organized the Kansas City Distilling Company.

He became mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, in 1873. Martin was also active in the Board of Education in which he served from 1875 to 1896.

Edward Lowe Martin is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri.

Missouri Valley Special Collections : Home at www.kchistory.org Missouri Valley Special Collections
Local History - Kansas City Public Library at kclibrary.org Kansas City Public Library
The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Martin, E to F at politicalgraveyard.com Political Graveyard