Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Martin, James E ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com December 3, 2007, 6:34 am Author: Past & Present, 1907 James E. Martin, a resident farmer of Channahon township, owning and cultivating two hundred and forty acres of land on section 34, was born April 4, 1857, in this township and is of Irish lineage. His parents, Thomas and Ellen (Kiney) Martin, were natives of County Longford, Ireland, the former born in 1820 and the latter in 1817. They were married in their native country and the father afterward left his wife in Liverpool while he came to America in 1852 in order to provide a home for his family in the new world. He worked for a short time in New Jersey and in 1853 he came to Channahon township, Will county, Illinois, and soon after sent for his family. In order to provide for the support of his wife and children he worked at farm labor for some time, when in 1868 he invested his savings in one hundred and sixty acres of land. His remaining days were devoted to agricultural pursuits and he brought his farm under a high state of cultivation. He died in the year 1886, while his wife survived until the 19th of August, 1893. They were the parents of six children, of whom James was the fifth in order, of birth. Those still living are: Mrs. Mary Cruise, a resident of Wilmington; Thomas and John, who are living in Wilmington township; and Mrs. Ellen Smith, of the same township. James E. Martin acquired a common-school education in his youth and during the periods of vacation assisted in the work of the farm. His entire life has largely been given to the work of the fields and as the years have passed he has shown himself to be a practical, energetic and prosperous farmer, managing his business interests so capably that he is now is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of rich land, constituting one of the excellent farms of the township. On the 29th of April, 1890, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Riley, of Channahon township, who was the second of the seven children of Thomas and Catherine (Carroll) Riley, both natives of County Roscommon, Ireland. The mother, who was born in June, 1833, died March 16, 1905, while the father, whose birth occurred in 1816, passed away December 10, 1890. He crossed the Atlantic to America in 1835, and for about two years remained in New York, whence he went to Canada, where he spent eight years. In 1849 he arrived in Channahon township and in 1850 he married Catherine Carroll, who had come to the United States in 1843 and to this county in 1848. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Martin are: Mrs. Mary Woods, living in Wilmington township; Bernard P., a resident of the same township; Mrs. Catherine W. Raleigh, of the city of Wilmington; Thomas G., of Chicago; Michael F., of Channahon township; and James J., of the same township. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have five children; Mary, Thomas, Ellen, Catherine and James E., Jr. Mr. Martin supports the democratic party but has never sought or desired office, for his attention is fully occupied with his business interests. He has an excellent farm and carefully manages the work of improvement and development. Additional Comments: Past and Present of Will County, Illinois, by W. W. Stevens, President of the Will County Pioneers Association. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/martin1925nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb