John Allen “Jack” Martin was born on November 10th, 1911 in Calgary, AB. He married Ethel in Calgary on October 25th, 1935. Following their marriage they lived in Calgary until Jack’s enlistment in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps and the outbreak of World War II. Jack was an army supply accountant for five and a half years, spending two and a half years overseas. He was wounded in Belgium in 1944. Jack visited the Peace Country in 1949 and filed for a homestead. He returned to the Codesa area in 1950 to begin farming the land. The family lost their home to fire in 1951, so they returned to Carstairs until they could reside in the Peace Country again. Moving back in 1952, Jack purchased the Eaglesham pool hall. Farming became a financial struggle, at which time the family moved to Grande Prairie where Jack worked as an accountant to subsidize the farm. Jack was active in the Legion, curling and in the Codesa Community Club. Jack went on to work for J. H. Bennion and Co. In March of 1959 he became an accountant for the municipal hospital and was appointed Hospital Administrator in May 1963 until his death on January 10th, 1974 at the age of 62. He is buried in the City of Grande Prairie Cemetery.
- Smoky Peace Triangle, 1991, p 295 & 296