Martin E. Conlan was a Democratic state legislator

Legislator

A legislator is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are usually politicians and are often elected by the people...

 in South Dakota

South Dakota

South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...

. He lived in Alexandria, South Dakota

Alexandria, South Dakota

Alexandria is a city in Hanson County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Mitchell, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 615 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Hanson County.-History:...

, Hanson County, South Dakota

Hanson County, South Dakota

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,139 people, 1,115 households, and 848 families residing in the county. The population density was 7 people per square mile . There were 1,218 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...

 for most of his life, but he was born in Raymond, Wisconsin

Raymond, Wisconsin

Raymond is a town in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,516 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of North Cape is located partially in the town...

, of Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 ancestry. He was educated in the public schools, and made his way to Dakota Territory

Dakota Territory

The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...

 in 1880 where he went into the flour and feed business. Martin was also a real estate

Real estate

In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...

 dealer and the owner of a gravel pit and several farms. He served as postmaster, a member of the Alexandria city council

City council

A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...

 and board of education. In 1888, Conlan was elected to serve in the first South Dakota State Senate 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

Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...

on September 20, 1923.