arl E. Martin, who was born in Red Oak, Iowa in 1883, arrived in Seward in 1909 and headed for the Cache Creek country in search of gold. Unsuccessful in his quest, he began hauling freight out of Knik and Susitna Station. In 1910, after the Iditarod trail was opened, Carl carried the first mail from Seward to Iditarod via dog team.

Lucille Black, born in Chicago, Illinois in 1898, arrived in Knik in 1911 with her parents who were working a gold claim on Friday Creek. She and Carl met at Susitna Station while he was freighting into the Cache Creek country. They were married in 1917 at the home of old friend Oscar Gill. The young couple lived a hard life, as Lucille accompanied Carl on the trail, sleeping outdoors on spruce boughs and putting up with the rigors of the trail. After a short period of time they gave up the freighting and took out a homestead near Matanuska, where they were actively engaged in raising potatoes for the nearby markets.

In 1919, they moved to Anchorage from the homestead. Carl was employed by the Anchorage Commercial Company as a master steamfitter and head of their mechanical department. He later was engaged privately in the plumbing business. His civic activities included serving on the Anchorage City Council for eleven years. He was the town’s first volunteer fire chief, and an Exalted Ruler of the Elks. Lucille was noted for her large garden, where she raised hybrid tea roses. Carl died in 1958 and Lucille passed away in 1983, and both are buried in the Elks Tract, Anchorage Memorial Park. Their home at 626 D Street remained standing long after their passing, and because of its location in the center of downtown Anchorage, it was remodeled to house various business enterprises.

The Martins had three children. Son Carl, Jr., born in 1919, was lost in his plane while on a flight to interior Alaska in 1945. Daughter Dorothy, born in 1920, married and had three children: Michael, Patrick and Robert Rogers. Daughter Bonnie, born in 1921, married Don McGee. They had three children, Don M., John S. and Kellyjo. Dorothy Martin Rogers and Bonnie Martin McGee both died in 1996.
Carl and Lucille Martin, circa 1945.     Carl E. Martin, born in Red Oak, Iowa, 1883 and Lucille Black Martin, born in Chicago, Illinois, 1898.
1   2
Lucille and friend at Susitna Station, 1916.     Digging potatoes at the Martin homestead, Matanuska Valley, 1918.
3   4
Carl Martin, Jr., 1919-1945.     Lucille, a friend and dogs, Susitna Station, 1916.
5   6
Dorothy Martin Rogers, 1920-1996.     The Martin family at home, 626 D Street. Left to right: unidentified man, Carl, Sr., Lucille, Dorothy, Bonnie and Carl, Jr.
7   8
Bonnie Martin McGee, 1921-1996.     The Martin home at 626 D Street.
9   10
Click any photo to see a larger version.
Photo captions:
  1. Carl and Lucille Martin, circa 1945.


  2. Carl E. Martin, born in Red Oak, Iowa, 1883 and Lucille Black Martin, born in Chicago, Illinois, 1898.


  3. Lucille and friend at Susitna Station, 1916.


  4. Digging potatoes at the Martin homestead, Matanuska Valley, 1918.


  5. Carl Martin, Jr., 1919-1945.


  6. Lucille, a friend and dogs, Susitna Station, 1916.


  7. Dorothy Martin Rogers, 1920-1996.


  8. The Martin family at home, 626 D Street. Left to right: unidentified man, Carl, Sr., Lucille, Dorothy, Bonnie and Carl, Jr.


  9. Bonnie Martin McGee, 1921-1996.


  10. The Martin home at 626 D Street.


    11.