{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Martin Solan Hector | image = File:Martin Hector, circa 1913.jpg | caption = Portrait of Martin Hector, circa 1913 | birth_date = {{birth date|1852|12|21}} | birth_place = Hammerfest, Norway | death_date = {{Death date and age|1938|03|14|1852|12|21}} | death_place = Fargo, North Dakota, US | citizenship = American | occupation = Businessperson, banker | spouses = Caroline Paulson | children = 4 | signature = }}
'''Martin Solan Hector''' (December 21, 1852 – March 14, 1938) was an influential citizen and businessman of Fargo, North Dakota. He first leased and then later donated land to the city for the airport, which still bears his name (Hector International Airport).
== Early life == Martin was born in Hammerfest, Norway, on December 21, 1852, to Frederick and Caroline (Holmgren) Hector.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Eriksmoen|first=Curt|date=2009|title=Hector played a big role in world's fair, airport|url=https://bismarcktribune.com/news/local/hector-played-a-big-role-in-worlds-fair-airport/article_0d6e03dc-e7f3-59e4-9b5e-09a097b82dea.html|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=Bismarck Tribune|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1938-03-15 |title=Obituary for MARTIN HECTOR |pages=1 |work=Morning Pioneer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/morning-pioneer-obituary-for-martin-hect/137929391/ |access-date=2024-01-03}}</ref> The Hector family immigrated to the United States in the mid-1860s and settled in Chicago.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Yakowicz |first=Susie |title=The Hector Story |url=https://www.fmhectorfoundation.org/hector-story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630034322/https://www.fmhectorfoundation.org/hector-story |archive-date=2021-06-30 |access-date=June 22, 2021 |website=The Hector Foundation |language=en}}</ref> Caroline (Holmgren) Hector died not long after arriving in Chicago.<ref name=":0" /> The family later moved to Duluth, Minnesota. Martin's older brother Jacob Hector was already there working in the fishing and tugboat business on Lake Superior.<ref name=":1" />
== Liquor business == Martin began working for the Northern Pacific Railroad, and this work brought him to Moorhead, Minnesota, in 1872.<ref name=":1" /> While he was in Moorhead, a fight started and the owner of a saloon was killed. Earlier, this saloon owner had ordered a large shipment of liquor. It soon arrived in Moorhead by train. Martin seized an opportunity and purchased this unclaimed liquor with the money he had earned from his railroad work. He then purchased land near the railroad and started what would become a prosperous wholesale wine and liquor business.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=NDSU Libraries |title=Martin Hector {{!}} Fargo History |url=https://library.ndsu.edu/fargo-history/?q=content/martin-hector |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210629013653/https://library.ndsu.edu/fargo-history/?q=content/martin-hector |archive-date=2021-06-29 |access-date=June 22, 2021 |website=library.ndsu.edu}}</ref>
Because Fargo was growing more rapidly than Moorhead, Martin moved his business across the Red River to Fargo, Dakota Territory. When North Dakota entered the union as a dry state in 1889, Martin was forced to close this business.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
== Banking == When his liquor business closed, Martin moved into the banking industry. He purchased stock in the Citizen's National Bank, which was Fargo's first bank, and was named vice president.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />
In 1896, the Citizen's National Bank failed. However, Martin and other businessmen reorganized the bank and renamed it the Fargo National Bank. The bank opened in 1897, and Martin served as its president for 41 years.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Fargo Commercial Club|date=1910|title=Fargo: The Biggest Little City in the World|url=https://www.digitalhorizonsonline.org/digital/collection/ndsl-books/id/3530|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=www.digitalhorizonsonline.org|language=en}}</ref>
== Public service == With his success in the private sector, Martin became involved in several projects in the public sector. He invested himself in the Fargo-Moorhead community and the state of North Dakota.
In 1892, he was appointed by Governor John Burke to North Dakota's World's Columbian Exposition board. The board was tasked with creating a plan for a state exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. Martin was chosen to serve as president of this board.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=State Board of World's Fair Managers for North Dakota|date=1894|title=North Dakota at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, 1893|url=https://www.digitalhorizonsonline.org/digital/collection/ndsl-books/id/76317|access-date=June 22, 2021|website=www.digitalhorizonsonline.org|language=en}}</ref>
In 1895, he was appointed to the North Dakota Interstate Board of Immigration. He was also involved with the Fargo Commercial Club and the city council, serving as president for many years.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Griggs County Historical Society |title=Hon. Martin Hector |url=http://www.griggscountyhistoricalsociety.com/online/compendium/hector_hon_martin.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203625/http://www.griggscountyhistoricalsociety.com/online/compendium/hector_hon_martin.php |archive-date=2021-06-24 |access-date=June 22, 2021 |website=www.griggscountyhistoricalsociety.com}}</ref>
In 1937, a bridge was planned to be built across the Red River. However, because of the Great Depression, not enough money was raised. Martin paid the difference to allow construction to continue. After the dedication, Martin drove the first vehicle across the bridge.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />
== Airport == Martin's most notable contribution to the community was the airport. In 1927, Martin leased a quarter-section of land to the city. In 1931, Martin donated the land to the city. Several years later, Martin's daughter-in-law, Margaret Hector, donated more acres of land to the city. The airport was named Hector Field in honor of Martin Hector. The airport was later named Hector International Airport.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://fargoairport.com/airport-authority/history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628171528/https://www.fargoairport.com/airport-authority/history/ |archive-date=2021-06-28 |access-date=June 22, 2021 |website=Hector International Airport |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Butcher |first=Carole |date=2026-04-06 |title=April 6: Martin Hector's Legacy |url=https://news.prairiepublic.org/podcast/dakota-datebook/2026-04-06/april-6-martin-hectors-legacy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260406130814/https://news.prairiepublic.org/podcast/dakota-datebook/2026-04-06/april-6-martin-hectors-legacy |archive-date=2026-04-06 |access-date=2026-04-06 |website=Prairie Public |series=Dakota Datebook |language=en}}</ref>
== Family == While still involved with the liquor business, Martin married Caroline Paulson. The couple had four children: Martina "Minnie," Frederick "Fred," Evelyn, and Clay.<ref name=":1" /> Clay Hector died as an infant.
A brother of Martin's, Henry Hector, also came to Fargo in 1878, and he started a grocery business. He later became involved with the Continental Hose Company and served as its president. Henry also served on the Fargo city council.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NDSU Libraries |title=Henry Hector {{!}} Fargo History |url=https://library.ndsu.edu/fargo-history/?q=content/henry-hector |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628175117/https://library.ndsu.edu/fargo-history/?q=content/henry-hector |archive-date=2021-06-28 |access-date=June 22, 2021 |website=library.ndsu.edu}}</ref> Henry died in 1940.
Jacob Hector, Martin's brother who lived and worked in Duluth, remained in Duluth. He died in 1910.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hector, Martin}} Category:19th-century American businesspeople Category:1852 births Category:1938 deaths Category:Bank presidents and chief executive officers Category:People from Cass County, North Dakota Category:People from Fargo, North Dakota Category:Merchants from Dakota Territory Category:Norwegian emigrants to the United States Category:People from Hammerfest Municipality Category:Bankers from North Dakota