These are the papers of James L. Martel(1823-1893)who was a member of the Society of California Pioneers, joining on Feb. 1, 1886. He was a real estate broker in San Francisco and a veteran of the War with Mexico having served on board the " U. S. Sloop Dale". He was born in New Orleans, LA but lived in California since the year 1846.

James L. Martel,(1823-1893) was a member of the Society of California Pioneers, joining on Feb. 1, 1886 . He arrived in California on December 15, 1846. He was a real estate broker in San Francisco and a veteran of the War with Mexico having served on board the " U. S. Sloop Dale". He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but lived in California since his arrival in 1846. Many of the papers refer to his military service and detail the ships which he sailed on and his many different ports of call. Also in this collection are a few of his business cards, which are in English and French, his service pension declaration, an official copy of his birth certificate, and several letters regarding business transactions made with his customers concerning real estate. There is also a newspaper clipping from 1893 about Mr. Martel and a ribbon regarding his veteran status. One of the documents is typed and is dated April 19, 1906, and states that Mr. Martel has been deputized to act as a police office in response to the 1906 earthquake. He also was appointed Inspector of Customs in San Francisco, but the years are unknown. He has a short Reminiscence written for the Pioneers, and it is digitized at the Online Archive of California.

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