MARTIN BIOGRAPHIES, Henry County, Missouri ==================================================================== MARTIN, Charles H. - b: 1869 Clinton, Henry Co, MO source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 463 residence: Fairview Twp Charles H. Martin, who is managing the Martin estate of 420 acres in Fairview township, Henry County, was born in Clinton, Missouri, the son of James B. Martin, one of the widely-known old settlers of Marshall Creek and a Union veteran now deceased. The Martin farm is situated on Marshall Creek, which, according to one of the old settlers who formerly resided in this neighborhood, should have been called "Jim" Creek on account of the fact that James or Jim Kirk, James or Jim Plecker, and James or Jim Henry Dunning, settled on this creek in the early days. However, the creek received the name of "Marshall" and the name has ever held. James B. Martin was born March 24, 1838 and departed this life on June 29, 1910. He was born in Henry County, Illinois but was reared in Kentucky. He was the son of one of the old-time school teachers known everywhere as Uncle Billy Martin. When the Civil War broke out, James B. Martin enlisted at Louisville, Kentucky, in the Tenth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry and served for three years and four months with the Union Army. He was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga and lay in the Government hospital for eighteen months. The wound crippled him for life, a shot or minnie ball taking effect in his left heel. January 1, 1865, he came to Clinton, Missouri, and sometime later swam the Deepwater when it was filled with ice in order to escape from a band of guerrillas who were still attempting to wage war against Union people. Edward A. Martin, a brother, preceded him to this county and Edward was tending cattle on the north side of the Deepwater at the time James B. Martin was a noted swimmer who at one time swam the Tennessee River while foraging after roasting ears. He was carried a mile down the river by the swift current with a companion named Alex Moore. Soon after coming to Henry County, he was married to Ann Eliza Bridges, daughter of Charles Bridges of the Marshall Creek neighborhood. The Bridges came from Springfield, Illinois, to Henry County. Ann Eliza Martin was born in 1848 and died in 1915. Six children were born to James B. and Ann Eliza Martin, as follow: Charles H., subject of this review; Edward A., Coffeyville, Kansas; Mrs. Jessie A. Wolford, Fairview township; Emery, living on the Martin home place; James Claude, living on the home place; Clifford B. makes his home with Charles Martin. James B. Martin was an independent Republican. He was a member of the Christian Church and was affiliated with the Free Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Grand Army of the Republic. James B. Martin was a Henry County citizen worth while. He was an honest, upright, and industrious man of affairs who had the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county. ==================================================================== MARTIN, Grant - b: 1867 Clinton, Henry Co, MO source: History of North Washington, Published 1904 residence: Stevens County, Washington Grant Martin is not only a land owner and farmer of the western part of Stevens county but is also interested in the manufacture of lumber. His mill is located about six miles east from Fruitland in cedar canyon, while his farm of one-half section is about five miles north from Hunters. Grant Martin was born in Clinton, Missouri, on April 10, 1867, the son of Azariah and Lutitia (Ingman) Martin, natives of Indiana and Missouri, respectively. The father was a miller, belonged to the Home Guards in Missouri, and was an active business man. Our subject was with his parents in Missouri, Illinois and finally came with them to Washington. He had secured a good education from the public schools and in Washington, near Spokane, he embarked in the sawmilling business with his father. In 1891, he came to Hunters and here he has made his home since. On April 19, 1894, Mr. Martin married Miss Georgia, daughter of George A. and Phoebe (Messinger) Cornwall. The wedding occurred in Hunters and Mrs. Martin was born in California. They have one child, Reuel E., born October 26, 1898. Mr. Martin has his place well improved but is now making his home near the mill. It is a well equipped plant with machinery for making all finished products needed in building, as finished lumber, lath, singles, together with all kinds of lumber. Mr. Martin has a partner, George McCullough. He was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, on November 8, 1875, and is an experienced sawmill man. His father, Rev. A.W. McCullough, was a professor in the high school and a minister in the Lutheran church. Mr. McCullough came west in 1895 and since he made his home in this vicinity most of the time. He owns two hundred and twenty acres of land and is a young man of good standing. (transcribed by: Candy Grubb, candyg@theofficenet.com) ==================================================================== MARTIN, John - b: 1867 Germany source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 737 residence: Fields Creek Twp John Martin, one of the leading farmers of Fields Creek township, was born in Germany, June 21, 1867, and as he says, he came to America when he was twenty years old to escape Prussian military servitude, and has never regretted the day that he made the decision. He landed in New York City, October 11, 1887. He worked in a cooper shop eighteen months. He then went to Iowa, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising until 1913. During that year he came to Missouri and bought two hundred forty acres of land in Fields Creek township, four miles northwest of Clinton. He has improved this place considerably since that time, having built a large barn, a silo and other farm buildings and today has one of the well-improved and valuable farms of the county. He follows general farming extensively and is also well known as a successful stock raiser. He specializes in high-grade horn and white-faced cattle and Poland China hogs. He makes a practice of finishing for the market all the cattle which he raises on the place and usually markets about two carloads of cattle and two car loads of hogs each year. Mr. Martin was married in Iowa City, Iowa, February 22, 1894, to Miss Julia Lohrer, a daughter of Lawrence and Elizabeth Rist Lohrer, natives of Germany. Mrs. Martin was born in Germany in 1868 and came to America with her sister, Mary, in 1886. Mrs. Martin has a brother, John, and a sister, Mary, who reside in Lane County, Iowa, and the following brothers and sisters live in Germany, Anthony, Helen, Louise, Leo and Joseph. To John Martin and wife have been born the following children; Elizabeth, a teacher in St. Matthews Parish, St. Louis, Missouri; Ernest, farmer in Iowa; Herbert, farming in Iowa; George, resides at home and is. now a student in the Commercial College at Clinton. Otto, also a student in that institution; Joseph and Lawrence. Mr. Martin takes a deep interest in local affairs and is always ready and willing to lend his co-operation to any movement for the betterment and up-building of his township and county. He is the present clerk of School District No.40. When he left his native land and came to this country he was without capital but the opportunities offered here, coupled with his industry and good management, has won for him a competence and comfortable home. When he left Germany, he had much difficulty in escaping the vigilance of the officers. In order to escape he made the trip through Switzerland, France and Belgium and in that way evaded the officers. In order to avoid suspicion he carried no baggage whatever and all his earthly possessions consisted of the clothes which he wore. His recollection on the military system of Germany is anything but pleasant and he has no patience with any man who has prospered and made a home offered by America that has any vestige of sympathy with any other country. His doctrine is that if they love their native land that is where they should have remained. In politics he is a Republican. He and all of his family are members of the Catholic Church. Herbert is a member of the Knights of Columbus. ==================================================================== MARTIN, W. A. - b: 1862 Marshall, Clark Co, IL source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 621 residence: Clinton, Clinton Twp W. A. Martin, one of the most extensive and successful merchants of Clinton, whose mammoth store is known as the "Home of Low Prices," is located on South Artesian avenue. Mr. Martin is a native of Illinois. He was born in Marshall, Clark County, November 23, 1862, and is a son of Andrew J. and Jane Caldwell Martin, the former a native of Missouri, and the latter of Illinois. Andrew J. Martin, the father, was a soldier in the Civil War and died at Nashville, Tennessee while in the service. His wife died at Pierce City, Missouri. They were the parents of three children as follows: Lewis, now deceased; Mrs. Sarah McHenry of Clinton, Missouri, and W. A., the subject of this sketch. W. A. Martin was reared near Versailles, Morgan County, Missouri, and educated in the public schools, and for a number of years was engaged in the sawmill business and later farmed in Saline County. He came to Henry County in 1884, where he was engaged in farming and gardening until 1892, when he engaged in business at his present location. He first started in a small way with a limited stock of goods in a store building 16 by 20 feet. After two years he found it necessary to enlarge his store room to accommodate his rapidly growing business, and as his business has developed he has added more store room, more warehouse room and more clerks until his business has grown to be one of the largest commercial enterprises in Henry County. His present store building is 44 by 66 feet, with basement, and he has two warehouses, 30 by 40 feet and 36 by 40 feet. When Mr. Martin began business at his present location it was outside of the city limits, but in 1902, the city limits were extended which included the Martin store. There are many contributing elements to the success of such a business as Mr. Martin has built up in Clinton. Square dealing and strict honesty and integrity are fundamentally the basic principles of success. These Mr. Martin has closely followed and in addition he has given close attention to details. He buys for cash and thereby gets the advantage of discounts. Owing to the rapid growth of his business he has been able to buy his goods in large quantities, which has given him an advantage in prices over smaller buyers, and thus enabling him to sell to his customers lower than his competitors and at the same time make a reasonable profit. Mr. Martin is a capable business man and his square methods have won the confidence of the people. May 6, 1881, W. A. Martin was united in marriage with Miss Mollie L. East of Pettis County, Missouri. She is a daughter of Thomas W. and Camelia W. East. Her father was a Union veteran of the Civil War and was in the service four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin have been born the following children: Lewis, a painter, Clinton, Missouri, married Lula Thomas; Walter L., in business with his father, married Rosa Hoppe; Laura, wife of W. D. Hunt, Clinton; Charles, farmer, Clinton, Missouri, married Mabel Cook; George, proprietor of the Martin Green House, Clinton, Missouri; Minnie, married Edwin Bennett, Clinton, Missouri; May, married James Dodson, Calhoun, Missouri; Ralph, Clinton, Missouri; Nellie, Pauline and Albert, residing at home with their parents. In addition to his mercantile business, Mr. Martin is interested in breeding Hereford cattle, and at this writing has about forty head on his farm which is situated four miles south of Clinton. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Clinton and he is recognized as one of the progressive citizens of Henry County. ==================================================================== MARTIN, William Frank - b: 1852 McDonough Co, IL source: 1883 History of Henry Missouri , National Historical Co. - page: 751 residence: Osage Twp William Frank Martin, farmer and stock feeder, section 15, a native of McDonough County, Illinois, was born February 26, 1852. William Martin, his father, was a Virginian by birth, and there grew to manhood and married Martha C. Kirk, of the same state. Upon leaving Virginia he went to Kentucky, where he resided for a number of years, moving thence to Illinois, and being one of the pioneers of McDonough County. In 1856 he came to Missouri and settled in Henry County, where he entered land and improved a farm. Frank grew to manhood here, enjoying fair opportunities for acquiring a common education. He was married in September, 1876, to Miss Julia Renfro, of this county and a daughter of John H. B. Renfro. They have two children: James C., born November 30, 1877, and Edna F., born December 3, 1880. Mr. Martin has 640 acres of land, of which about 340 are under fence and in cultivation and pasture, with fair buildings and improvements, and a young bearing orchard. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding cattle and feeds on an annual average about three car loads of steers and 100 head of hogs. He went to Texas in 1872 and was occupied four years in the stock business in that state. ==================================================================== MARTIN, William G. - b: 1864 Jefferson Co, IA source: 1919 History of Henry Co MO, Uel W. Lamkin, Historical Publishing Co - page: 686 residence: White Oak Twp William G. Martin, a prominent pioneer and stockman of White Oak township, ranks as one of the leading citizens of Henry County. He was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, June 9, 1864, and is a son of Claudias B. and Ann Eliza Martin, both natives of Virginia. Claudias B. Martin with his family located in Henry County, Missouri, in 1866. He settled on a farm and was engaged in farming and stock raising until the time of his death in 1873. His wife died in 1917. They were the parents of the following children: James N, who now resides in California; Mrs. Margaret Cornet, Ozark, Arkansas; Hamilton, died at the age of twelve; Edden H.; Mrs. Virginia Jennings, who resides in California; Claudius B., California; Joseph F., deceased; William G., the subject of this sketch, and Ruth E., deceased. William G. Martin received his education in the public schools, attending school at the Hickory Grove district. He recalls that his first teacher was William R. Owens, and that the old school house was equipped with hand-made benches, made of native walnut. The old school building of the pioneer days stood on the site of the present modern school building at Hickory Grove. After reaching maturity William G. Martin remained on the home farm with his mother until he was thirty-three years of age. In 1911 he bought out the interest of the other heirs and thus became the owner of his father's old homestead, which is located six miles southeast of Urich in White Oak township. The place consists of eighty acres and while Mr. Martin is not one of the large land owners of Henry County he owns enough of land for modern-day conditions, and no doubt the intensified farming of the future will require the ownership and operation of much less than eighty acres for each individual to get the best results from the soil. The day of what has been well termed agricultural locusts is rapidly passing. The West has come to recognize that less land, better tilled, means more than the loose methods of the past in undertaking to cultivate large acreage. Mr. Martin was united in marriage in 1897 with Miss Dora B. Sevier, a daughter of George and Mary (Dunn) Sevier, pioneers of White Oak township. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin have been born the following children: Ray Paul, now a student in the Electric College at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Ruth B., the wife of William Harbstreet of White Oak township, Henry County. Mr. Martin takes an active interest in local political and civic affairs, and stands ever ready and willing to co-operate with any movement for the social betterment and up-building of White Oak township and Henry County. He has served as a member of the local school board and he and Mrs. Martin are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Martin family stand high in the community in which they live and are prominent. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by the Henry County MOGenWeb http://www.rootsweb.com/~mohenry/henryco.html Contact the Henry County Coordinator for comments or corrections. ====================================================================