Bartholomew County IN Archives Biographies.....Essex, Martin 1830 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 26, 2007, 9:08 pm Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) MARTIN ESSEX. In pioneer times the Essex family was established in Bartholomew county and more than seventy-three years have come and gone since Martin Essex first opened his eyes to the light of day in the county, his birth occurring in Flat Rock township on the 4th of November, 1830. His ancestors were connected with pioneer life in other parts of the country and the representatives of the family have taken an active and helpful part in developing and improving new districts. The paternal great-grandfather, Joel Essex, on leaving his home in Philadelphia, removed to Kentucky and settled in a fort on the Licking river, but returned to Carolina again later. The Indians were still very numerous in that state at the time and in later years he frequently related many incidents concerning them and their methods of living and of warfare. One of his daughters was captured by the Indians and taken to Canada, and although she never returned home she frequently wrote to her family. John Essex, the grandfather of the subject, was born in Philadelphia, in 1771, and his death occurred in Bartholomew county in the year 1871. Had he lived forty days longer he would have been one hundred years old. One of his daughters reached the advanced age of ninety-five years. He was a farmer by occupation and provided for the wants of his family. His children were nine in number and the father of the subject was the first one to pass away, being sixty years of age at the time of his demise. The family is noted for longevity. The children of that household were: Bessie, born in 1796; Philip, in 1798; Catherine, in 1800; Solma, in 1802; John, in 1805; Thomas, in 1807; Lucy, in 1809; Lewis, in 1812; and Gertrude, in 1814. John Essex, the father of the subject, was born in North Carolina, in Stokes county, in 1805, and in early life learned and followed the carpenter's trade, but afterward engaged in farming. He came from North Carolina to Indiana in 1828, settling in Columbus township, and in 1829 he purchased a farm in Flat Rock township, thereon spending his remaining days. In 1829 his brother, Thomas Essex, settled in Haw Creek township, but later died at Columbus, after holding many public offices. In early manhood John Essex married Miss Hannah McCollin, whose birth occurred in Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1809. They became the parents of eight children: Martin; Elizabeth, the wife of D. F. Larimore; Aaron, who married Sarah Newton and is engaged in farming the homestead and in the operation of a sawmill; Eliza, who married Frank Gonce and after his death became the wife of Alvin P. Davis, a farmer and cabinetmaker; Maria, the wife of John M. Lee, who married Barbara Leyman and engaged in farming and conducting a sawmill until his death; Herman, deceased, who wedded Mary Porter; Susanna, the deceased wife of Jordan Drake. The father cleared a large amount of land and thus aided in reclaiming the wild districts of Bartholomew county for the purposes of civilization. He always followed farming and became the owner of a valuable property of two hundred acres. He erected his own buildings and improved his property until he had a very fine farm, and thereon died December 2, 1865. Martin Essex was reared in this county under the parental roof and in his youth was trained to habits of industry and economy on the home farm. In the winter months he attended the public schools and in the summer seasons worked in the fields. Since attaining his majority he has followed various pursuits, although farming has been his chief occupation. For several years he worked at the millwright's trade and he also engaged in the operation of a sawmill for the manufacture of lumber. In his home farm, situated in Flat Rock township, he has ninety-four acres of valuable land, well improved with good buildings and modern equipments that facilitate the farm work and render the fields more productive. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine land in Clay county, Illinois; and likewise has town property at St. Louis Crossing. In the year 1857 Mr. Essex was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Drake, a daughter of Henry and Julia (Harper) Drake, of Ohio. Her father was a farmer and came to Bartholomew county in 1835, settling in Flat Rock township. His birth occurred December 5, 1804, and he died on the 9th of November, 1872, when about sixty-eight years of age. In his life work he had been successful and had accumulated a valuable property, owning six hundred acres of rich land at the time of his demise. He voted with the Democracy and was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In his family were five children, namely: Jane, the wife of Samuel Seward; John; Catherine, the wife of B. F. Simmons, who is now deceased, since which time she married Dr. Writer, also deceased; Sarah, the wife of Joseph Rogers; and Martha, the wife of Mr. Essex. Mrs. Essex is a most estimable lady and holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, molding her life in harmony with its teachings. Mr. Essex proudly cast his first presidential vote for the candidate of the Whig party and continued to affiliate therewith until the organization of the Republican party, when he joined its ranks. He has always lived in the county of his nativity and has never seen occasion to change his place of residence because of the advantages here afforded and of the business opportunities given to its citizens. He has prospered in his work and at the same time has aided in many measures proving of benefit to the county. He has remarkable memory concerning people and events of prominence in the county and can relate many interesting incidents of the early days. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. 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