Edward Martin

Edward Martin (1818–1882) was a British-American pioneer. After joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Britain, he immigrated to the United States and spent much of his life serving in various positions within the church. He is most prominently known for his role as captain of the Martin Handcart Company, a Mormon Handcart Pioneer company that suffered heavy losses when they encountered harsh winter conditions while traveling through Wyoming. He is one of many figures that played a prominent role in the Westward Expansion of the 19th century.

Early life Not much is known about Edward Martin's life before he emigrated to the United States. He was born on November 18, 1818, in Preston, England. His parents were John Martin and Ann Slater.

Life in America (1841–1851)

Shortly after his marriage to Alice Clayton, they emigrated from Liverpool to New Orleans aboard the Sheffield, arriving on March 30, 1841. He was discharged in Los Angeles on July 16, 1847, after marching 1500 miles to California in the war with Mexico.

Missionary and pioneer service (1852–1856) Edward Martin and 17 other missionaries in Liverpool. Edward is on the far right of the middle row. Four years after arriving in Salt Lake City with his family, Edward was called to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in England. He was assisted by two counselors: Jesse Haven, a cousin of Brigham Young, and 68 year old George P. Waugh. The Saints aboard the ship reported that Edward was very invested in his role overseeing the general welfare of the company, working dawn to dusk and visiting each part of the ship 6 to 7 times a day. which officially was known as the Martin Handcart Company. He was still working as a painter and glazier in 1861. The gallery was located opposite of the Walker's Store, on the west side of East temple between first and second south in Salt Lake City. He focused primarily on portrait photography, which were printed on Cartes de visite, which were approximately the size of a business card. He also sold other items such as fruit, confectionery, and groceries at his store. He took several prominently known photographs of the new tabernacle, including a series of panoramic views of the Salt Lake Valley from the top of the tabernacle in 1867. By early 1874, advertisements for his photography business largely disappeared from local newspapers and city directories, likely due to competition from other prominent photographers in the region.

Edward was also engaged in a wide variety of other activities during this time. Individuals interested in attending the Anniversary Ball of the Mormon Battalion on July 17, 1865, were required to report to him on or before July 15, 1865. He married Rachel Brimley on August 23, 1869, in Salt Lake City. He had a family photo taken by his competitor, Charles W Carter, around 1870. The photo included his wife Eliza Salmon and their seven children: Charlotte, Edward Thomas, Emma, Brigham, Eliza, Napoleon, and Martha. He was a Real Estate Agent in 1879, and a Hackman in March 1892.

He died on August 8, 1882, at the age of 63 in Salt Lake City's 14th ward. He was buried on August 9, 1882, in Salt Lake City, Utah.