In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1906) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1832
From Past and present of Pike County, Illinois (1906), Portrait and biographical album of Pike and Calhoun counties, Illinois .. (1891)
UTSON MARTIN, a prominent and influential member of the agricultural community of Pike County, is located on section 27, Derry Township. His estate consists of two hundred and eighty acres, well supplied with substantial and commodious farm buildings, and carried on according to the best methods of the modern agriculturists. In past years Mr. Martin has done much of the physical work which has brought the land to its present fine condition of tillage and improvement, but he now rents it, bus-- ing himself only in management.
Mr. Martin is a native of this State, born in Vermilion County, January 16, 1832. He lived in his native county until he was fourteen years old, attending the subscription schools in a log building with an open fireplace, greased paper windows, slab benches and a writing desk beside the wall und(U the windows. He came to Pike County with his mother in 1846, when deer and other game was still to be found here and much of the land was yet undeveloped. He has cleared over one Iiundred acres of heavy timber.
Mr. Martin was married when but twenty years old and began life for himself, renting land for a time, but ere long buying sixty acres on section 34. From time to time as his means would admit, he added to his landed estate and increased the extent of his farming operations. He has raised considerable stock, keeping nil kinds, though he has perhaps made the most money from swine. His work in life has been carried on in a spirit of cnterpri.'e and he has ever been ready to learn from observation, reading, or converse with others of his calling, ways in which he could advance more rapidly and r.ap l)better and larger crops.
The marriage rites between Mr. IMartin and Miss Lydia A. Chamberlain were solemnized at the bride's home July 31. 1851. Mrs. Martin was born in Ohio but came either with her parents, Aaron and Rachael Chamberlain in 1835, when only six months old. She was born September 16, 1834. She is devoted to the interests of her husband and family and knows well bow to make her home comfortable and attractive. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have had seven children, namely: Isaiah B., now deceased; William A., Gilbert N., Mrs. Mary J. Taylor, Mrs. Delia R. Adams, Lydia A., and Flora, the last named having died at the age of six years.
It is doubtful if the entire Prairie Slate contains a man who is more firmly convinced of the worth of Republican doctrines or more steadfast in devotion to his principles than Hutson Martin. During the war his life was threatened by Southern sympathizers on account of his stanch support of the Union, but those who drew revolvers on him then, learned to respect him for his firmness on the side of what he thought was right. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 388, at El Dara. He was reared by a Christian mother and although not identified with any religious bod\', is moral and upright, receiving the respect of his acquaintances.
William Martin, the father of our subject, was born in the Buckeye State in 1808, reared there and in Indiana, and adopted the occupation of a farmer. He was married in Ripley County, Ind., to Sarah F. Weatherby, who was born in Chautauqua County,
As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Pike and Calhoun counties, Illinois .. (1891). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
HUTSON MARTIN.
Hutson Martin, a retired farmer living in Rockport, was born in Danville, Vermilion county, Illinois, January 16, 1832, and is the third in a family of seven children, whose parents were William and Ceraphena (Wetherby) Martin. The father was a native of Virginia and, taking up his above in Vermilion county, Illinois, at an early day, was there engaged in farming up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1838, his remains being interred in a cemetery near Danville. His wife was a native of the state of New York and was married in Indiana to William Martin. Subsequent to his death she became the wife of Samuel Purcell, and in 1846 they removed to Pike county, settling in Derry township, where Mr. Purcell rented a farm and carried on general agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Purcell spent her last days in Adams county, Washington, where she died in 1890, her remains being interred at near Washtucna.
Hutson Martin, whose name introduces this review, was a youth of about fourteen years when he accompanied his mother, stepfather and other members of the family to Pike county. He remained with the Purcell family for a time and later started out in life on his own account. In 1854, when twenty-two years of age, he bought a farm of sixty acres in Derry township, and at once began its improvement and development, continuing its cultivation until 'he had transformed it into a very valuable and productive property. As his financial resources increased he kept adding to his place until he had two hundred and eighty acres of good farming property in Derry township. As the years passed by he prospered and stored up a capital sufficient to enable him in the evening of life to enjoy a well earned rest. Their children were Matilda, Oliver, Hutson, Tarble W., Henry, Amantha and Martha. Four of the number, however, have passed away, the surviving members of the family being Hutson, Matilda and Tarble.
Mr. Martin was married to Miss Lydia Chamberlin, a daughter of Aaron and Rachael (Bryant) Chamberlin. Her father was a native of New Jersey and her mother of Ohio, their marriage being celebrated in Butler county of the latter state. They came to Pike county, Illinois, in 1835, settling in Derry township among the early residents of the locality. Mr. Chamberlin began farming and continued to follow the pursuit up to the time of his death, which occurred in May, 1850, his remains being interred in the Taylor cemetery. His wife long survived him, passing away February 6, 1889, at the home of her daughter, Mrs.' Martin. She was then laid to rest by the side of her husband in Taylor cemetery. In their family were three sons and one daughter, Alfred, James W., John B. and Lydia A., but the first two are now deceased.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Martin have been born seven children, three sons and four daughters: Isaiah B., who died upon his father's farm February ii, 1872, and was buried upon this place, a part of the farm being donated for cemetery purposes, and now known as the Taylor cemetery; Willard A., who resides in Louisiana, Missouri, where he is proprietor of a grocery store; Gilbert N., who carries on general agricultural pursuits on the old homestead farm; Flora M., who died October 7, 1867; Mary J., the wife of Charles H. Taylor, who resides on a farm in Atlas township; Delia R., the wife of George S. Adams, who is living in the town of Atlas; and Lydia A., the wife of H. Wallace Haines, of Rockport.
Throughout his active business career Mr. Martin carried on general farming, but is now living retired, having acquired property and capital sufficient to enable him to spend the evening of his life in the enjoyment of well earned ease. For long years he and his wife resided upon the farm, which is yet their home; and its well improved appearance is largely due to the labor and care which he bestowed upon it. In all his business dealings he was just and fair, never taking advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen in any trade transaction; and he gained for himself an honorable name as well as a comfortable competence.
As printed in Past and present of Pike County, Illinois (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: George S. Adams (b. 1862) H. Wallace Haines (b. 1870)
Their biographies name Hutson Martin: John P. (b. 1832)
The printed record stops around 1906. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.