Biography of W H Martin, Greene Co, AR

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Submitted by: Michael Brown
        Date: 5 Sep 1998
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas

page 161

W. H. Martin, a farmer of Blue Cane Township, was born in Caldwell County, N. C., in
1832, and is the son of William R. and Anna (Hood) Martin, who were of English and
Scotch ancestry respectively, and were natives and farmers of the “Old North State.”
W. H. Martin resided in his native State until sixteen years of age, when he left
home and went to Union County, Ill., where he engaged in the sawmill business as a
hand sawyer. He was married there in 1856 to Mary Jane Hartline, a daughter of John
and Margaret (Rendelman) Hartline, who were among the pioneer settlers of that county
and State, from North Carolina. The father was a farmer by occupation and died some
years ago. The mother is still living. Mr. Martin remained in Illinois until 1866,
when be went to Texas, where he purchased an improved farm and remained until the
fall of 1869. Selling his property, he came to Greene County, purchasing an improved
farm on Crowley's Ridge. Here his wife died in 1880, having borne a family of six
children, three of whom survive: Willis A., Walter L., and Eliza Jane. The latter is
the wife of C. L. Sides, and resides on Crowley's Ridge. In the fall of 1880 Mr.
Martin married Mrs. J. F. Lewis, a widow of Jacob Lewis, of Stoddard County, Mo.; he
was reared in Illinois, where he resided on a farm until 1869, when he came to Greene
County, Ark., and bought eighty acres of land, which he improved and added to. He was
conservative in politics. He died in 1879 and left his widow with two children to
care for: William Franklin and Myrtle May. Mr. Martin owns lands to the amount of 480
acres, 200 being under cultivation, and has taken an interest in fruit culture,
having on his home farm a fine orchard. He raises and buys considerable stock, and is
one of the successful farmers of the county. He votes with the Democratic party, and
has been a member of the school board ever since his residence in Arkansas. Socially,
he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Danley Lodge No. 3, and is a member of the
Knights of Honor, at Rector. He and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist
Church, and are the parents of one child: Edgar C. Mr. Martin has seen many changes
in the growth and prosperity of the county since coming here; he often went to Cape
Girardeau, a distance of 125 miles, to do his marketing, when now it is only
necessary to go a very few miles to obtain all the articles one desires.