Alameda-San Mateo-El Dorado County CA Archives Biographies.....Martin, William H. 1846 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 9, 2005, 4:17 am Author: Lewis Publishing Co. WILLIAM H. MARTIN, a representative pioneer of California, and a highly esteemed citizen of Pleasanton, Alameda County, came to the Golden State in 1850. He was born in Canada, near Quebec, April 19,1837, and at an early age was brought into the United States by his parents, who settled in Missouri. They were John and Catharine Martin, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to Canada in 1825, and in 1840 to Missouri. In 1850 they came across the plains by ox team to California, arriving at Ragtown, or Diamond Spring, September 8. They went directly to Searsville, San Mateo County, where William finished his schooling and clerked in his father's hotel until 1858. The family then removed to Dublin, Alameda County, and engaged in farming there. In 1863 William, took a trip to the State of Sonora, Mexico, where he engaged in mining for one year. Returning to California, he located at mission San Jose and conducted a hotel there for eighteen months; then he was a resident at Dublin again for twelve years, engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1877 he engaged in the butchering business, in addition to his interests in the farm, which he still owns. In 1886 he moved to Pleasanton, where he is now successfully engaged in carrying on a meat market on Main street, opposite the Rose Hotel. He keeps three wagons in his employ to supply the local trade. He was united in matrimony to Miss Katherine Riley, at mission San Jose, July 13, 1865, and they have two children—Mary and W. J. Dennis Martin, uncle of the preceding, died June 18, 1890, at San Francisco, at the age of seventy-two years. The name of Dennis Martin will long be remembered by the early pioneers of California, as he was among the very first. A native of Ireland, he came to Canada in 1825, to the United States in 1838, and in 1844 he started with his father's family of six children across the plains by ox team, he being the leading spirit of the company. They arrived in Carson Valley, now the State of Nevada, where they were snow-bound. Later the entire family successfully crossed the Sierra Nevada mountains on snow-shoes, arriving at Slitter's Fort on Christmas day. This trip Mr. Martin claims to have been one of the greatest hardships of his life. In the spring of 1845, Mr. Martin returned to the valley and in due time brought over his wagons and outfit. Settling in San Mateo County, he put up the first sawmill in this State, working in the Redwoods of that county. In 1853 he converted it into a flour-mill, building another saw-mill near the site of the first. Mr. Martin had a family of six children, of whom there are three now living. Additional Comments: Extracted from Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. "A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendents." – Macauley. CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1891. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/alameda/bios/martin96nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb