Martin E. Conlan (c. 1849 – September 20, 1923) was a

Democratic Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

state legislator in South Dakota. He lived in

Alexandria, South Dakota Alexandria is a city in central Hanson County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 649 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Hanson County. History In 1879, the community was founded with the name Clarksville. Its post offic ...

, Hanson County, South Dakota for most of his life, but he was born in

Raymond, Wisconsin Raymond is a village in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,903 at the 2020 census. The unincorporated communities of Kneeland and Raymond are located in the town, as was the ghost town of Raymond Center. The unincorpora ...

, of Irish ancestry. He was educated in the

public school Public school may refer to: * State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government * Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England an ...

s, and made his way to Dakota Territory in 1880 where he went into the flour and feed business. Martin was also a real estate dealer and the owner of a gravel pit and several farms. He served as postmaster, a member of the Alexandria city council and board of education. In 1888, Conlan was elected to serve in the first

South Dakota State Senate The Senate is the upper house of the South Dakota Legislature. It consists of 35 members, one representing each legislative district; it meets at the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. Composition :''92nd Legislature (2019)'' Officers Li ...

for the term from 1889 to 1890 and was elected to serve again from 1893 to 1894. He and his wife Johanna had seven children, only the following names were known: Mary, Fred, Nellie, Eileen and Bessie. Conlan died in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on September 20, 1923.Biographical Directory of the South Dakota Legislature 1889-1989. Volume one of two volumes, compiled by the South Dakota Legislative Research Council (Pierre: The Council, 1989) page 206

Notes

1840s births 1923 deaths South Dakota city council members Democratic Party South Dakota state senators People from Racine County, Wisconsin People from Hanson County, South Dakota American people of Irish descent {{SouthDakota-politician-stub