Christian Martin

As printed in 1902

CHRISTIAN MARTIN.

Christian Martin is numbered among the progressive and influential farmers of Green township, where he has also been extensively engaged in stock raising and the breeding of shorthorn cattle. He is well posted.on the latest and best methods of practical farming, his valuable farm being kept in good condition, On it he raises cattle of good grade, and is authority in his community on the subject of shorthorn cattle, having had wide experience in the raising of these, in which occupation he has met with excellent success. Mr. Martin was born in Washington county, Maryland, October 20, 1836, and is a son of Emanuel and Anna (Doyle) Martin. The parents both died in Maryland, the father at the age of eighty-one years and the mother at the age of sixty-six.

On the home farm in Washington county, Maryland, Christian Martin was reared, receiving the privileges of a fair common

He worked on the farm for his father until he was about twenty-seven years of age, or until the time of his marriage, and from the time of reaching his school education.

majority he received from him a remuneration for his services. On the Ist of January, 1863, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Bowers, a former schoolmate, who was also a native of Washington county, Maryland. She was born December 10, 1843, and was a daughter of Jacob and Mary Ann (Bergesser) Bowers. Her father died in Maryland at the age of fifty years, while her mother is still living at the age of ninety years, making her home in Springfield.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Martin received from his father the earnings that had accumulated during the years he had worked on the home farm—about five hundred dollars. With this start he began his domestic life and rented a farm for five years. On the expiration of this period he had acquired about five thousand dollars. In 1869 he removed to Ohio, settling in Green township, Clark county, where he purchased eighty acres of land and lived thereon for In the meantime he about sixteen years. had purchased eighty acres upon which his home now stands, and on his removal to the latter place he rebuilt the house and also erected a substantial barn. The neat and thrifty appearance of the farm indicates the careful supervision of the owner, who is ever awake to the improved methods of the day in regard to farming and stock raising. Everything is in good sanitary condition, the farm is rich and productive, and the success of Mr. Martin has been assured from almost his first business venture, showing that he has sound business judgment and executive force to carry to a successful completion plans which seem to him to be best. His landed possessions are considerable. Besides the property above named, he owns a lot in Springfield and one hundred and sixty acres of land between the Springfield pikes.

Eight children have graced the union of Mr.. Martin and his wife, but one died in infancy. Harvey Grant, born March 27, 1864,-in Washington county, Maryland, is a graduate of Wittenberg College, in Clark county, of the class of 1889, and has engaged for some time in teaching; Silas Clinton, born in Washington county, Maryland, De-. cember 4, 1865, also received a good education; Emanuel Jacob, born September 12, 1867, in Washington county, Maryland, married Anna German, and resides in Springfield township, with his wife and five children: Ernest F., Lola, Walter, Jennie and Charles Lewis; John Henry, born January 15, 1869, in Washington county, Maryland, married Edith Davis, and has two children, Edna May and Alice Lenora; Charles Lewis, born February 21, 1872, died in March, 1872, in Springfield; Mary Catherine was born June 23, 1873; Albert Lewis, born October 17, 1876, married Ethel Grindle and has two children: Cecil and Harry Leo; Jessie Lulu, born August 30, 1882, was a graduate of Clifton College, in the class of 1899, receiving high honors.

Mr. Martin has strong faith in the principles of the Republican party, and has always advocated its cause, although he is retiring and does not desire office, preferring rather to devote his time and attention to his business pursuits. Both he and his wife were reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, but are now identified with the Presbyterian church, as are two of the children. The family is highly respected for their genuine worth of character, and in the enjoyments of the comforts of life and many of its pleasures, which are the result of their years of ` industry, they live in peace with their fellow men, respected and honored by all.

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.