The Martin Families of Henry County, Iowa

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Lebanon County, Pa., born in 1809. Four children have graced their union: Josiah, a resident of Delaware, Pa.; Sarah A., wife of Jerry Martin, a bricklayer in Sharaokin, Pa.; William, who has been married twice, his first wife being Mary Bealer, and to them were born a son and daughter, Thornton and Ida; Mrs. William Martin died in 1880, and he was again united in marriage, with Mrs. Elizabeth Baxter, and now resides in Marion Township. Rebecca, wife of Joseph Howard, a resident of Mt. Pleasant. Mary, the mother of these children, died in 1842 in Pottsville, Pa. Mr. Martin was a second time united in marriage, on the 21st of December, 1843, to Miss Eliza Bird, a native of Catawissa, Pa., and by this union there were seven children: Emma, wife of Alva Lindley, a resident of IMt. Pleasant; Grace, at home; George, a farmer near Hastings, Neb., wedded Mary Reed; Elliot P. married Emily Orr, now residing at Plattsmouth, Neb.; Maggie, wife of Collins Lindley, a farmer in Taylor County, Iowa: Charles, a resident of Plattsmouth, Neb., was united in marriage with Susan Greusel; Mary, wife of Robert Garard, residing near Plattsmouth, Neb. Mrs. Martin dei);uted this life March 5, 1876. She was a kiTid mother, a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was greatly esteemed by all. Mr. Martin's third union was with Mrs. William Ogg, and her maiden name was Sabina J. Frame. She was born in Laporte County, Ind., Feb. 24, 1838, and by her first husband she had two children: Nellie and Jennie, who are both at home. By this third union there is but one child, ClilToid.

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Mr. William Ogg was born Sept. 23, 1834, and was Mrs. Martin's first husband, and father of Nellie and Jennie. Mr. Ogg enlisted in Company K, 4th Iowa Cavalry, Oct. 5, 1861, at Mt. Pleasant, and was discharged from the United States service Dec. 18, 1863, at Vicksburg, Miss., by reason of reenlistment on the 19th of December, 1863, at Vicksburg. He served until Aug. 8, 1865, and was discharged at Atlanta, Ga., after serving nearly four years. His death occurred at Mt. Pleasant, March "23, 1871, of consumption, contracted while in the army.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. MARTIN, inventor of the reversible \/jj// Monitor or Roadgrader, of Mt. Pleasant, was born in Schuylkill County, Pa., on the 16th of February, 1848. His father, John L. Martin, the first stonemason and contractor of Mt. Pleasant, was also a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother was Carrie (Bird) Martin. They were married in Pennsylvania, and in 1856 emigrated to Henry County, Iowa, settling in Mt. Pleasant, where he embarked in his business, residing here until his death, which occurred in 1880. Mrs. Martin resides at Des Moines, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Martin were the parents of five children, two of whom are dead; the living are: William, who is a stonemason, of Brighton, Iowa, and Wellington J., the subject of this sketch, and Clementine E., wife of W. H. Penn, a postal clerk, residing in Des Moines. John L. Martin held the political views of the Whigs until the organization of the Republican party, always since then voting with that party.

Our subject received his education at the common schools. He is a carriage-maker and mechanic by trade. In the year 1877 he was united in marriage to Miss Clara Picking, daughter of ('. Picking, of Nebraska. By this union there are four children: Pearl P., Harry, Florence and Lydia.

In the year 1877 Mr. Martin patented the road grader, of which mention will be made in another part of this book; the thought flashing across his mind all in an instant, he set to work to invent that

JU most useful machine. He has now another machine under consideration which he hopes soon to complete. As a machinist, he has more than ordinary ability. having no superior and few equals in this region.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin are highly esteemed by all who know them, and have the confidence and love of the whole community. Mr. Martin is a member of the I. 0. 0. F., and also the Knights of Labor. Politically he is a Democrat.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

MYRON B. MARTIN.

Myron B. Martin, actively interested in general farming in Wayne township, was born in Geauga county, Ohio, October 25, 1845, and is descended from New England ancestry. His paternal grandparents, Isaac Mitchell and Philena (Guernsey) Martin, were natives of Woodbury county, Connecticut. Their son, Bennett Martin, was born in Litchfield, Woodbury county, and when ten years of age went with his parents to Schoharie county, New York, where he remained for about five years. The family then drove to Ohio and he began chopping wood in the midst of the forest. When he had reached adult age he was married to Miss Asenath Smith, whose birth occurred in Warren county. New

York, and her parents were Elijah and Asenath (Woodworth) Smith, the former a native of Massachusetts and the mother of the Empire state. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bennett Martin came by wagon to Henry county, Iowa, starting on the 6th of April about the time the ground was breaking up and the roads were very muddy. This made travel very difficult and they passed through the main street of Chicago when it was like a mortar bed. They reached Wayne township on the 21st of May and entered from the government a tract of land, which he developed, comprising the southeast quarter of section 9. He remained there three years and built a house and stable of logs, and in 1852 some land sharks, taking advantage of him, he lost the place and afterward bought eighty acres on the northwest quarter of section 9, Wayne township, purchasing the same from the government at one dollar and a quarter per acre. There was not a fence upon the place nor stick of wood of any description, nor had a furrow been turned. He built a frame house and stable, fenced the land and further continued the cultivation, development, and improvement of the property up to the time of his death, which occurred on the loth of May, 1876. His wife long survived him, dying upon the old homestead on the 8th of July, 1891. Myron B. Martin was the youngest of four children, two sons and two daughters. Philena, the eldest, lived upon the old home place until her death, November 15, 1904, at the age of seventy years. Eliza Ann died at the age of six years. Sheridan S. Martin remained at home until December, 1863, when he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting as a member of Company G, Eleventh Iowa Infantry. The regiment was sent to the south, where he was engaged in active duty and on the 226. of July, 1864, in the siege of Atlanta he was taken prisoner and sent to Andersonville, where he died on the 19th of September, being buried there.

Since brought to his present farm in his boyhood days Myron B. martin has resided continuously upon this place, having here a good tract of land of forty acres which responds readily to the care and labor he bestow upon it, the fields annually yielding good harvests. He was married on the 9th of January, 1889, to Miss Hattie H. Smith, who was born in Lake county, Ohio, a daughter of Loring W. and Caroline (Gardner) Smith. Her father was a native of 'warren county. New York. Mr. and Mrs. Martin now have three children, Loring B., Edith L. and Harmon E, all at home. The parents are de\'0ted members of the Congregational church, in which Mr. Martin has served for fifteen years as clerk and for three years as trustee. Almost his entire life has been passed in this locality, for he was less than a year old when brought from Ohio to Henry county. In the sixty years which have since come and gone he has witnessed many changes as the wild, unimproved country has been reclaimed and the work of development has been carried forward. There erenow splendidly improved farms with here and there a church and schoolhouse to indicate the intellectual and moral development of the community. Towns and villages have sprung up and these are imbued with the commercial and industrial life that leads to rapid advancement. Mr. Martin has concentrated his energies upon his business affairs with good results and is classed with the enterprising agriculturists in Henry county.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.