Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Martin, Augustus R 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com November 10, 2007, 12:16 am

Author: Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County

AUGUSTUS R. MARTIN. Farming and stockraising have formed the chief occupations 
of Mr. Martin. For many years he has been recognized as an intelligent 
agriculturist of Plainfield Township, whose industry and perseverance have 
brought him prosperity. In the raising of stock his specialty has been Norman 
and Clyde horses, and he has also kept on his place a number of cattle. In 
1894 he erected a commodious farm house, supplied with all of the modern 
conveniences, and this his family have fitted up in a neat and tasteful manner 
so that it affords them a comfortable home. At this writing he rents the land, 
having given up the active management of the place with a desire to spend his 
remaining years in retirement. During colonial days three brothers came to 
America and two of these took part in the Revolutionary war, one being the 
ancestor of our subject and a pioneer of Manchester, N. H. Jesse Martin, our 
subject's father, was born in New Hampshire in 1798. At the opening of the war 
of 1812 he practiced with his rifle in order to gain skill in its use, hoping 
he might see active service at the front, but he was so young that the family 
refused to permit him to go. When a young man he worked in the dressing of 
cloth that was woven by the people of his vicinity. Afterward he engaged in 
lumbering, then cleared a tract of land, finally resuming the dressing of 
cloth. For seven years prior to coming west he carried on a mercantile 
business in Dexter, Me. In 1852 he came to Illinois and purchased the farm 
where our subject now lives. Of the eighty acres forty-five had been broken. 
Later he bought another eighty-acre tract, of which he sold twenty acres. For 
a time he made his home in a small house that stood on the land at the time of 
its purchase, but in 1858 he erected a more commodious and substantial 
residence, and in it he died in 1893. In religion he was of the Universalist 
faith. In 1856 he left the Democratic party and joined the ranks of the 
Republican organization, voting for Colonel Fremont. He afterward remained a 
Republican. It was while he engaged in business in Maine that he married Mary 
Sprague, daughter of Elijah Sprague, who was an early settler of his county 
and served as sheriff and in other offices. By this marriage three children 
were born, one of whom died in childhood and another, Joseph P., who was one 
of the earliest commercial travelers from Plainfield, died in 1899. The birth 
of our subject occurred in Dexter, Penobscot County, Me., October 3, 1832. He 
was educated in public schools and assisted his father in the store. Since 
coming to this county he has resided on his present farm, assisting his father 
until the latter's death, since which time he has owned the place. He is well 
posted concerning topics of current interest, and is a Republican in his 
political views. His religious faith is that of the Universalist Church. In 
1859 he married Sarah Sloper, of Waterville, Me., whose grandfather came to 
this country from England. They became the parents of three children, but only 
one is now living, Annie, who is a talented musician and has received 
excellent advantages in that art.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present, Biographical 
Publishing Company, Chicago, 1900

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