From the book History of Walworth County Wisconsin, by Albert Clayton 
Beckwith, publ. 1912 - Pages 612 - 614
 
MISS HELEN MARTIN.  The life history of the estimable and popular 
superintendent of schools of Walworth county, Miss Helen MARTIN most happily 
illustrates what may be attained by faithful and continued effort in carrying 
out noble purposes.  It is a story of a life whose success is measured by its 
usefulness - a life that has made the world better and brighter.  Her career 
has been dignified and womanly, her manner unaffected and her actions, 
springing from a heart charged with love and altruistic sentiment for 
humanity., have been a blessing to all who have come within range of her 
influence.  She is a representative of one of the sterling pioneer families of 
this county, and is the second woman to hold the office of county 
superintendent in Walworth county, the first having been Miss Lillian WEBSTER, 
now the wife of Charles GREENE, who served one term.  The office of county 
superintendent is not a political office in Wisconsin and the election is held 
in April.  There were three candidates in 1909, and Miss MARTIN proved an easy 
winner.
 
Miss MARTIN was born in Spring Prairie township, this county, and there she 
attended the district schools; later the family moved to Elkhorn and she was a 
student in the public schools there, and was graduated from the high school.  
She then spent three years in the University of Wisconsin, after which she 
taught in the schools of Elkhorn with a great degree of success until elected 
county superintendent.  She has in her charge one hundred and four country 
schools and fourteen grades schools, of which seven are high schools, in fact 
all the schools of the county, except those of Whitewater and Lake Geneva, are 
under her jurisdiction.  She has given eminent satisfaction in the discharge 
of her duties in this important office and her course has been highly 
commendable.
 
Miss MARTIN's father, Charles MARTIN, was born in Delaware county, New York, 
November 12, 1818.  He learned the carpenter's trade when a young man, which 
he continued after coming to Walworth county, Wisconsin, in 1844, building 
several house in Spring Prairie township.  In 1845 he married Elizabeth 
MARTIN, a cousin, who was born in Hartford county, Connecticut.  After their 
marriage they turned their attention to farming.  Mrs. MARTIN passed away in 
1850, leaving one daughter, Delia.  In 1854 Mr. MARTIN was united in marriage 
with Caroline FOWLE, who was born in Wyoming county, New York, and her death 
occurred on January 30, 1891.  She was the daughter of Samuel and Harriet 
(INGRAHAM) FOWLE, who moved with their family to Walworth county, Wisconsin, 
about 1840 and settled among the pioneers in Darien township, where Lawson 
school house now stands and some ten years later the parents moved to Iowa.
 
The death of Charles MARTIN occurred in 1906.  He was an active member of the 
Spring Prairie Baptist church, and for a period of twenty years he was 
superintendent of the Sunday school there.  He was also a member of the 
Walworth County Agricultural Society.  He as a wide reader and kept well 
informed on current topics of public interest.
 
Delia MARTIN, mentioned above, became the wife of Emery D. WILLIAMS, a native 
of Jefferson county, New York, born January 6, 1841.  He enlisted in 1861 in 
Company I, Twenty-eight Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in which he served 
gallantly as a private for four years.  After his marriage he moved to Carroll 
county, Missouri, where his death occurred in December, 1879, leaving three 
children: Alice, now deceased; Ira M. and Charles A., both living in 
California.  Mrs. WILLIAMS returned to Elkhorn in 1880.
 
Four children were born to Charles MARTIN and his second wife, two of whom 
died in infancy, and a son died when sixteen years old, leaving Helen, the 
subject, who makes her home with her half-sister, Delia.
 
Miss MARTIN's great force of character and ripe scholarship, together with her 
ability as an organizer, enabled her to bring to her work the results of her 
professional experience with marked effect, and it was not long until the 
schools under her supervision advanced to the high standing of efficiency for 
which they are now voted.   Many things tending to lessen the teacher's labors 
and at the same time make them effective have been introduced; the course of 
study modified and improved; the latest and most approved appliances purchased 
and everything in keeping with modern educational progress tested, and, where 
practical, retained.  She takes a great interest in her teachers, all of whom 
are selected with special reference to their ability to fill acceptably the 
positions to which assigned.  That the advantages of a liberal education may 
be generally disseminated, she has encouraged young people of the county to 
attend high school by giving them every possible consideration.  She possesses 
the personal charm and tact which makes her popular with the young and it is 
nothing unusual to see her on the street or in the school-yard surrounded by a 
group of urchins.  By entering into their spirit and pastimes, sympathizing 
with them in their troubles, in short, making their interests her own, she has 
become the idol, almost, of the juveniles of the city, her being one with them 
rendering the teachers' work easy and adding greatly to her own popularity, 
not only with the children but also with the adult portion of the populace.
 
Unlike so many of her calling who spend their lives in the school room, who 
become narrow and pedantic, Miss MARTIN is broad and liberal in her views and 
has the courage of her convictions on all the leading public questions and 
issues, keeping in touch with the trend of modern thought, and having an 
acquaintance with the best general literature of the past and present.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)