Obituary as published 5-23-1889 in "unidentified" Howard Co.,IN newspaper - most likely
The Dispatch - referred to in the obit
(copy of obituary provided by the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library)

The announcement of the death of Dr. I.W. Martin, of Ervin township, on the streets of this city Tuesday morning, came in the nature of a shock. Strong, robust, in seeming perfect health, he had greeted friends here Saturday. Even as late as Monday morning he had been able to attend to the duties of his practice. It hardly seemed possible that death could work so quick a victory over this stalwart physique and constitution of iron. Some days ago a pustule showed itself upon his upper lip. It was troublesome - nothing more. Monday afternoon malignant erysipelas set in. Medical aid was summoned, but swift as Hecate's philter the poison swept his system and 1 o'clock Tuesday morning found him a corpse.

Dr. Martin came of good Pennsylvania Dutch stock, prudent, frugal, industrious, and was born in the Keystone State 62 years ago. He studied medicine, and, having fitted himself for the practice, removed to Ervin township in 1859. He grew to occupy a large field in that community, being not only a valued and successful medical practitioner but a man of considerable public enterprise, generous, and energetic in schemes of general good. Originally a Republican and a pronounced Abolitionist, he left that party in the Greeley campaign of 1972 and went down to defeat with the Liberal movement. During the succeeding ten years his chief affiliations were with the Democracy, but in 1884 he joined the Prohibition movement and was a stanch supporter of that party up to his death. He was appointed postmaster of Ervin post office by President Lincoln in 1862 and held the place through all succeeding administrations. He had been agent for The Dispatch and correspondent from the Ervin community since the establishment of the paper nineteen years ago. He developed a liking for newspaper work and wrote considerable for the papers, contributing much poetry of a crude but not wholly indifferent character. He was the father of thirteen children, nine of whom, with the mother, survive him. They are left in comfortable financial circumstances.

While not holding strictly to the tenets of orthodox Christianity, Dr. Martin lived, to all purposes and intents, by the precepts of Christian teaching. His religion was the Golden Rule, and he observed it in every relation of his existence. He was a man whose loss the community will mourn as a friend, adviser, and neighbor.

Services were held yesterday and interment was held in Union cemetery, near his late home, in the Masonic rites.
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Record of birth from: Trinity Tuplehocken Reformed Congregation Births
Lebonon Co., PA, 1800-1856
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