Martinton Township
Martinton Township occupies a position in the center of the northeast quarter of Iroquois County. The first settlers put up homes in the eastern part of the township, called Beans Grove. The first actual settlement in the future Martinton Township was located near what is now the "Old Burg Cemetery."
In 1871 the Chicago, Danville, and Vincennes Railroad (known as C&EI) completed their line into Danville. The railroad which passed about two miles east of the old Martinton settlement was located on a 40 acre tract donated by Adam Wamba, the landowner. The business firms in old Martinton began to move to the railroad site. The first one to move was J. W. Stearns store.
The "new" Martinton was incorporated as the village of Martinton in 1875. The first village election was held October 23, 1875, with the following trustees: Isaac Pilotte, Peter Gamache, Barney Martin, Samuel Lottinville, Levi Case, and August Belgard.
In 1873 the post office was moved to the"new" Martinton with Victor Peltier as postmaster. A bank was established by R. F. Cummings, Thomas McSorley, and J. A. Armfield in 1902. It was purchased by the Vanderpoortens a year later and served the community until 1933, at which time it merged with First Trust & Savings Bank of Watseka.
Early in the morning of February 2, 1913, a fire broke out in the DeWitt Hotel. The flames spread to F.H. Luebchow's store, harness shop, and residence owned by Carl Wilds.
In 1917 a motor driven fire truck was purchased. In 1946 a new fire house was built. On September 16, 1958, an election was held and it was voted to install a new water system. J. P. Miller Company of Brookfield, Illinois drilled the new well for the waterworks. With the present fire department, training, equipment, and water supply, fires can be more easily controlled. Martinton now has seven EMT's.
The post office has been house in various buildings since it was in Steran's store. In 1960 a new brick building was constructed and at the present date it still houses the Martinton Post Office. Margaret Hurliman is now acting postmaster, and John Moore is the rural mail carrier.
The first public school was erected in 1875, with an enrollment of 74 students from the village and surrounding areas. Later years out lying schools were built: Liberty, College Corner, Old Burg, Pittwood, Jarvis, Weygandt, Pleasant Valley, and Schoon. A two-story building was constructed in 1896 and the first teacher was V. A. Hathaway. In 1911 a brick school, costing $12,000 was built. It consisted of eight grades and two years of high school. Later the same building houses a three-year high school. In 1948, consolidation was voted on to create Community School District #3. Classes continued in Martinton until the fall of 1967. The new elementary school was built three miles west of Donovan. It now serves Beaverville, Beaver, Concord, and Martinton Townships. All high school students of these townships go to Donovan High School.
A telephone company serving Clifton and Martinton was organized in 1903. Officers at the time were J. L. Shaw, S. I. Vanderpoorten, and L. H. Baron. In a few years it was serving many of the surrounding towns. In May 1909, the enterprise was purchased by a larger system and is now owned by General Telephone. Martinton has a relay station, but no telephone office.
In early years the community's business firms included two elevators, a lumber yard, harness shop, two livery barns, two general stores, a bank, restaurant, butcher shop, bakery, millinery, blacksmith, hatchery, implement dealer, newspaper, hardware store, barber shop, hotel and saloon.
In 1985 Martinton businesses included an elevator, fertilizer plant, tavern, grocery and restaurant, two insurance companies, two drainage contractors, a used car lot, a building contractor and supplies, a drapery shop, three beauty shops, and a car repair shop.
For years the population of Martinton has consisted mostly of older people. At the present date the younger generation is moving back to live.
(from Iroquois County History-1985 page 61 transcribed by Carrol Mick)