Superintendent

Joseph W. Martin

Veteran → Accident
End of Watch November 13, 1908
Age 70
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Superintendent Joseph Martin died after falling down a flight of stairs in the Rahway Reformatory's superintendent's quarters on November 1st, 1908.

He was attempting to free a gas valve which had been stuck in the on position for several days and needed to be cleaned. He lost his footing while working on the valve and fell down a flight of stairs. His leg suffered two fractures as a result of the fall and the injury caused his health to quickly deteriorate until his death on November 13th, 1908.

Superintendent Martin was a Union Army veteran of the Civil War and had served as the superintendent of the Rahway Reformatory for seven years. He was survived by his wife and four sons. One of his sons, who had served as assistant superintendent, was appointed to replace him as superintendent.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and four sons.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnrtrp1cvdqgn97zx08x
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Joseph. Claim this record.

Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Joseph is one person.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Superintendent Martin gave the New Jersey Department of Corrections 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of New Jersey. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Corrections
Location Trenton, NJ
Platform Identity njdcorr.mercer.nj.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 13, 1908
Tour of Duty 7 yrs
Age 70
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Joseph W. Martin served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Accident

Joseph is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1908, 36 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 111th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Joseph was 70. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Joseph had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

November holds 8.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 15.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

New Jersey Department of Corrections has 32 officers remembered here, Joseph among them.

VI

Where

Superintendent Joseph W. Martin

New Jersey Department of Corrections · End of Watch November 13, 1908

Military Service

Joseph W. Martin served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit Joseph W. Martin’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 26-E

Also Remembered

salute.nw →

↑