History of Springfield, (Delaware County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Charles Cyril Martin, civil engineer, was born in Springfield, Pa., Aug. 30, 1831; son of JameS and Lydia (Bullock) Martin; grandson of James and Judith (Read) Martin and a descendant of John Martin, who came from England about 1666, a descendant of Martin de Tours, who went to England with William the Conqueror. He was graduated from the Rensselaer Polytechnic institute, C.E., 1856; was assistant in geodesy there, 1856-57, and removed to Brooklyn, N.Y., where he entered the employ of the Brooklyn water works as rodman and was advanced to assistant engineer. He perfected himself in iron construction work as applied to bridge building and in 1860-61 he was engaged in building an iron bridge across the Savannah river. He returned north, was superintendent of the Trenton Locomotive and Machine Manufacturing company and of the Wiard Ordnance company, 1861-64. He conducted a series of experiments at the Brooklyn navy yard for the U.S. navy department, 1864-66, to determine the respective merits of vertical and horizontal tubular boilers. He was superintendent of the laying of a forty-eight-inch water main to distribute water from the Ridgewood reservoir in Brooklyn; in 1867 was appointed chief engineer of Prospect park, where he inaugurated a system of roadmaking and drainage which proved eminently satisfactory, and also constructed the great park well. He was first assistant engineer of the New York and Brooklyn bridge during its construction and in May, 1883, was made chief engineer and superintendent of the completed structure. He was elected a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1872 and was vice-president, 1894-96.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Springfield, (Delaware County) Pennsylvania

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