Martin was a hamlet on the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad seven miles north of Plainwell in Allegan County.
Image info: A steam locomotive is stopped in front of the GR&I Martin depot in the late 1800's. Note the unique train order signal in front of the depot. [CMUL]
1898. December. Burglars visited the village of Martin, Allegan county, and broke into the GR&I station by forcing a window. They drilled the door of the new safe in the office and inserted a stick of dynamite, completely shattering the safe. The work of the burglars went for naught, as the money was kept in an old safe in another room. A burglar alarm connecting the depot with the station agent's home awoke the agent and he and his assistant armed themselves and hurried to the station and gave battle to the robbers. The latter opened fire first, and Marshall Wyck, the assistant agent, fell with a bullet in his hip. He managed to wing one of the thieves in the leg. The safe blowers ran to a neighboring barn and stole two horses and rode desperately to the north. The whole population turned out, armed with all sorts of weapons and gave chase. One of them was caught at Wayland, the other at Gunn Lake. They made a peaceable surrender and thus saved their lives, as the posse was in no mood for temporizing. Wyck's wound is said to be of a serious nature. [AR-1898-1202]
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