Martinsburg embraces township 114-32. It is bounded on the north by Hector, on the east by Sibley county, on the south by Wellington township, on the west by Palmyra township. W. T. Grummons being a county commissioner and a resident of this town at the time it was organized, named it after a son of his named Martin.

The first claims in this township were filed July 2, 1873, by William Chalk in section 20, and by Thomas Torbenson in section 18, October 21, 1873. In 1874 Winfield S. Jones filed on section 10. In 1875 James Smith filed on section 28.

Martinsburg township was organized September 3, 1878, and an election was ordered to be held at the home of J. B. Mohan in section 22, on September 24, 1878. Owing to insufficiency of notice the election was not held until November 5, 1878, with the following result: Supervisors, Luna Benson (chairman), Ferdinand Marquardt and Friedrich Schwarz; clerk, Smith Dewees; constable, Swan Pearson. The present officers are: Supervisors, John P. Bergman (chairman), Gustav Mueller and Fred Kammrath; Clerk, Ernest Hertel; treasurer, F. J. Macheledt. In 1892 the township erected a town hall in the southwest corner of section 15.

The first real estate assessment in Martinsburg, 114-32, then a part of Wellington, was made in 1874. Those assessed were: Isaac Root, section 20. In 1875 there was added to the list: Winfield S. Jones, section 10. By 1878 there were added to this list: P. D. Winchell, section 20; James Smith, 28; Thomas Torberson, 18; Fred Schwartz, 24; Henry Boland, 22; James Hanna, 32; John M. Anderson, 18. In 1880 the following names were added: John Borgeson, section 30; Reinhold Fritz, 18; Samuel Gilbertson, 6; August Kreiger, 23; William F. Lange, 2; Andrew Machledt, 13; Mathew Nolan, 27; Anna L. Smith, 28; Ellen Tompkins, 30.

The first personal property assessment of Martinsburg township, 114-32, was made in 1879. Those assessed were: August Lind, Andrew Magellet, Aug. Kreuger, Casper Magellet, Charles Marquet, Eugene Dodge, E. Stone, Fred Lindorf, Fred Schwartz, Fred Marquette, Henry Schwartz, Mathias Schnickels, Henry Koehler, Halford Olson, John Mahom, John M. Anderson, James Tompkins, Johannes Morgeson, J. Ameson, James Hanna, Joseph, Armstrong, James Smith, John Bartell, L. W. Benson, Martin Mathson, M. John Hokenson, Olrich Bodicher, Patrick K. Mohan, Patrick Rodgers, Smith Dewees, Swan Peterson, Thomas Torbinson, Thomas Maxwell, W. F. Simmons, William Brown, Willlam Callahan.