Biographies of Martin Brothers, Randolph Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Bridgette Cohen Date: 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northeast Arkansas Copyrighted and Published 1889 by Goodspeed Publishing Company Martin Brothers compose a general mercantile firm at Reyno, Ark., and have been well and favorably known to the people of this community since 1875. They do an annual business of $24,000, besides which they own 10,000 acres of land, and are engaged in successfully conducting 400 acres that are under cultivation, and which they devote mainly to the raising of cotton. Their father, James Martin, was born in Richmond, Va., in 1808, and was one of the pioneer citizens of Ste. Genevieve County, Mo., but in 1833 came to Pocahontas, Randolph County, Ark., and established a store on his farm just north of where the town now is. He cleared and improved a large area of land, and made this place his home throughout the remainder of his days. He served as judge of the county a number of terms, and was a man noted for his interest in public affairs, and for his liberal contributions to every charitable purpose. In the positions of honor and trust which he filled, the interests of those whom he served were always considered, and he thus gained the esteem and approbation of his constituents. Although not a member of any church, he was always strictly moral, and his honor throughout life was unimpeachable. He died. in 1863, at the age of fifty-four years. His widow is residing in Reyno, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was twice married, but only one of the children borne him by his first wife is now living: V. Ellen, the wife of Capt. Webb Conner, a prominent resident of Pocahontas. James T. was a major in the Confederate army during the late war, and at the time of his death, in 1876, was a successful lawyer of Pocahontas. Joseph P., another son, was a captain in the Rebel army, and was killed at Helena, Ark. To Mr. Martin's last union the following children have been born: Henry, who died in St. Louis in 1864, while a student; Tina A., the deceased wife of A. M. Kerr, of Virginia; Julia, who died in childhood, and Andrew, Joseph, John F. and James, all members of the firm of Martin Brothers, at Reyno. Joseph was married, February 9, 1888, to Anne E. Reynolds, a daughter of D. W. Reynolds, of Reyno, whose sketch appears in this work.