BIO: DAVID M. MARTIN, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Joe Patterson OCRed by Judy Banja Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/ _____________________________________________________________ >From Biographical Annals of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, Chicago: The Genealogical Publishing Co., 1905, pages 387-388 _____________________________________________________________ NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios: http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cumberland/zeamer/ DAVID M. MARTIN, a substantial farmer of Middlesex township, Cumberland county, was born June 22, 1853, in that township, a son of Jacob and Mary (Mohler) Martin. He is of Welsh and German extraction. David Martin, grandfather of David M., was born in Lancaster county, Pa., and there married Fanny Rutt, of West Donegal township. They removed to Middlesex township, Cumberland county, where Mrs. Martin died, and in 1836 he moved to North Middleton township, dying two years later. His children were as follows: Joseph, who died in Franklin county; David, who died at Carlisle; Mary, Mrs. Abraham Goodyear, who died at Boiling Springs; Jacob, father of David M.; Fanny, Mrs. Daughterty, whodied in Lancaster county; Barbara, Mrs. Martin Ebersole, who died in Lancaster county; Levi, who died in the West; Angeline, Mrs. Daughterty; and Annie, Mrs. Ebersole, living in Illinois. Jacob Martin was born Oct. 15, 1821, in Lancaster county, and first attended a subscription school conducted by a local teacher in a vacant house across the line in Dauphin county. Later, when about thirteen years old, he attended the free school in Cumberland county, which was the beginning of the great common school system. This, like every innovation, had its opponents in those early days, but public sentiment was with the movement and it eventually became a great success. In March, 1846, Jacob Martin married Mary Mohler, daughter of Jacob Mohler, and the following children were born to them: William, of Middlesex township; Annie, Mrs. Levi Beck, of Cumberland county; Samuel, who went to Chicago, where he had the contract for lighting the streets in the days of the use of oil, later going to Texas; David M., of this sketch; Sadie, Mrs. Wesley Glatfelter, of Middlesex township; Mary, Mrs. Frank Nace, of Middlesex township; John, of Lancaster, who married Dora Bombarger; George Washington, of this township, who married Susan Ensminger; Ida, Mrs. Harry Bucher, of Silver Spring township; and Emerson, of Logansport, Ind., married to Alta Batt. After his marriage Jacob Martin lived in South Middleton township until 1850, and then removed to Middlesex township and followed cabinet-making, carpentering and other occupations until 1856, when he bought his present home, on which he has resided ever since. It is one of the most productive in the township, noted for its fine vegetables, Mr. Martin being the first farmer 388 CUMBERLAND COUNTY. in this section to raise fruits and vegetables for the Carlisle market. In politics Mr. Martin was early a strong Whig, later becoming just as closely affiliated with the Republican party. He is one of the venerable and most highly considered men of Middlesex township. David M. Martin was reared in Middlesex township and attended the district schools. In the fall of 1872 he became apprenticed to the blacksmith trade, with John Buttorf, of Middlesex township, and after serving three years remained as Mr. Buttorf's assistant for five years more. In 1880 he opened a shop of his own on the Middlesex pike road, in the lower part of the township, which proved so good a stand that he remained there for the succeeding eighteen years. Mr. Martin was a skilled workman and did all kinds of work in his line that drifted his way, nothing in the shape of bolts, bars, tires or horseshoeing being beyond his skill. In 1901 he gave up shop work and located on his present fine farm of 153 acres, where he carries on general farming, meeting with deserved success. On Nov. 20, 1879, Mr. Martin was united in marriage in Silver Spring township with Lizzie Crozier, who was born Oct. 12, 1857, daughter of Armstrong and Mary Jane (Updegraff) Crozier, both of whom were born in Perry county, Pa., where they died before Mrs. Martin was ten years old. She then came to Dickinson township to live with her uncle, William Crozier, who at that time kept what was known as the "Stone Tavern," on the Bottom road. She remained there, a member of his household, for two years, and then went back to Perry county for two years more, and then came to Middlesex township after her marriage. A family of nine children has been born to this union, all ranking among the most intelligent people of this locality, being well and favorably known in church and social circles: Frank A. (a school teacher), Charles Edgar (deceased), Raymond Crozier, Chester, James, Cora Myrtle, Ruth May, J. Earl, Mary Susannah and Paul W. In politics Mr. Martin is identified with the Republican party. Mrs. Martin is a valued member of the Evangelical Church, which Mr. Martin also attends and liberally supports. He is known all over the township and, like his father, enjoys the esteem of all who know him, many of his best friends having watched his industrious career from boyhood.