BIO: Jere C. MARTIN, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 129-133. _________________________________________________________________ JERE C. MARTIN is conspicuous among the prominent and influential members of the Beaver County Bar, - being a partner of his brother, J. R. Martin, with the firm name as Martin & Martin. His popularity and executive ability have been appreciated by the citizens of Beaver, to the extent that he has been honored with the office of chief burgess of his adopted town, and he is at present officiating in that capacity. He was born in Darlington township, Beaver county, April 11, 1867, and his ancestors have been residents of this county for more than a century. He is a son of ex-Sheriff James Powers Martin, grandson of James Martin, and great-grandson of Hugh Martin. Major Hugh Martin was born in the north of Ireland and was of Scotch-French origin; he came to America in 1770 and served during the Revolutionary War as an Indian scout and captain of a reconnoitering party, in which capacity he met with many thrilling adventures, which he often related with pleasure. He was commissioned major during the latter part of the war. About the year 1798, he settled in Westmoreland county, Pa., near Greensburg, and there he took up a tract of fifteen hundred acres of land; the larger part of it extended into Beaver county, Darlington township. Upon his death his estate was divided among his three sons, William, John and James. James Martin received the homestead and one hundred and seventy-five acres of choice land; the first set of buildings was made of logs, but James Martin built large brick and stone buildings, all of which are still in constant use, and are owned by the heirs of his son, James P. Martin. James Powers Martin was one of a family of twelve children; those who grew to maturity were Hugh, Daniel, Leasure, Jesse, Robert, John, James P., Eliza J., and Maria. James Martin died aged seventy-two years, leaving a large estate; his wife, Elizabeth Leasure, also died at an advanced age. The father of Jere C. Martin was born on the homestead in 1828, and bought out the heirs of his father's estate upon the latter's death; his entire life was principally devoted 130 BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES to agricultural pursuits, but he was at one time associated with an oil refinery built on his farm, -the oil being manufactured from cannel coal. He was elected sheriff of Beaver county on the Republican ticket and served from January 1, 1876 to 1879. On the evening of December 24, 1892, Mr. Martin accompanied his daughter, Mrs. A. Duff, and family, to the railway station in a conveyance, and, upon their departure, he started on his way home, walking down the track, but just before leaving the track he was struck by an engine. This occurred about seven o'clock in the evening, and on the next day at one o'clock he departed from this world. He was popular, widely known throughout the county, a good citizen and friend, and his many excellent qualities and courteous bearing gained for him the esteem and respect of all who knew him. He was married in 1850 to Mary Imbrie, a daughter of John Imbrie, a prominent farmer of Big Beaver township, this county. She was born in 1831, and died in 1877. They were the parents of the following children: James Rankin, a partner in the law firm of Martin & Martin; John Imbrie, ex-sheriff of this county; Rose, the wife of A. Duff of Beaver Falls; Mary I., the wife of Isaac Hall; William H., a prominent real estate dealer of Beaver Falls; De Lorma E.; Lilla J., the wife of Dr. J. R. McQuaid, of Leetsdale, Pa.; and Jere C. The subject of this sketch was intellectually trained in the public schools, in Greersburg Academy, and in Washington and Jefferson College at Washington, Pa.; from 1891 to 1893 he served as deputy sheriff under Sheriff John Imbrie Martin, his brother, and during this period he devoted his spare time in the study of law, having access to his brother's law library. September 19, 1894, he was admitted to the bar and immediately became a partner with his brother, J. R. Martin. Since January 1, 1897, he has served as chief burgess of Beaver, being elected on the Republican ticket. The borough of Beaver is located on the north hank of the Ohio River and near the mouth of Beaver River. Under the administration of Hon. Thomas Martin, then Governor of Pennsylvania, in 1791, the town was surveyed and laid out. Martin & Martin, attorneys-at-law, have a fine office in the Dawson Block on Third street, and also one in Beaver Falls. Jere C. Martin has only been practicing a little over four years, but is recognized as exceedingly bright, of excellent address, quick to see the point and application of law, of unusually good judgment, accurate in the preparation of legal papers or causes for trial, and as having a clear legal mind and giving promise of standing high in the ranks of his profession. His partner, J. R. Martin, is a hard and conscientious worker, thoroughly equipped for his profession, and he has merited the confidence reposed in him, his progress having been deservedly rapid. Jere C. Martin was wedded in 1894 to Miss Rose Best, a daughter of Charles L. Best of Enon, Lawrence county, Pa., and two children have been born to them, Dorothea and Griselda. He is the owner of a fine home in Beaver. Socially, he is a member and past BEAVER COUNTY 133 master of St. James Lodge, F. &. A. M.; and is also a member of the Elks; and the K. of P.