Early Martin History
John Swallow secured a patent fee to his Indian allotment November 1, 1910. This included Lots 3 and 4 and east half of the southwest quarter and the southeast quarter of Section 18, Township 37, Range 37
On January 17, 1912, petitions for organization with 150 valid signatures were presented to Governor Robert S. Vessey. The governor then set April 9, 1912, as a special election day. Since this was a special election, only a temporary county seat and temporary officers could be elected. Martin townsite won over Lacreek.
The first county commissioners elected were Edgar Fire Thunder, E. G. Ward and Joseph E. Livermont. They held their first meeting on April 27, 1912, at which time commissioner districts and school districts were established. They also passed a resolution that a court house should be built.
On June 11, 1912, the contract for the building of the courthouse was let to L. E. Stuart of Cody, Nebraska and the 32 x 36 foot building was completed in the first part of September, 1912.
In the fall election of 1912, Martin was declared to be the permanent county seat.
As a result of an election held in October, 1929, Martin, South Dakota, became incorporated.
The first fair was held in September, 1910, before Bennett County was organized. It was held at the place where Myron Johnson lives now. Grandstands and a racetrack were built. Mary Rolfe had a meadow where livestock was kept during the fair, and people came from all over to enjoy the festivities. A well was dug, and the fair was held at the same location on the following year as well. County fairs are now held yearly at the Bennett County Fairgrounds in Martin.
Martin is located at the junction of Highways 18 & 73, midway between the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations.
Martin has a population of about 1,500.
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The Logo
The cow and calf represent the importance of the cattle industry to the economic growth of Bennett County. The sandhills in the background represent the southern edge of the county and the extreme northern tip of the world-famous cattle country.
The wheat shows that it is the main agricultural crop grown in Bennett County.
The building to the right shows the old court house in Martin. The old court house represents a link from early Martin until relatively modern times. It was not only the very heart of Bennett County's civic and political life but was one of the first and largest buildings in Martin.
It also shows the flat, wind-swept plain, devoid of trees that was early Martin.
The arrow on the top represents the Indian heritage of the area and the buffalo skull represents the hundreds of thousands of theses animals that once roamed Bennett County and the high plains in the early days.
History and logo information courtesy of Ken Moreland.
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